2003 FORD F-250 SD Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 228,000. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PITMAN ARM. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (16515) FOR THE PITMAN ARM AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

Mileage: 85,000

THE FRONT END VIBRATES AND OSCILLATES WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. THERE IS MORE SLACK IN THE STEERING, AND I HAVE TO SPEED UP ABOVE 50 MPH OR SLOW DOWN BELOW 30 MPH OR JERK THE WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE TRUCK. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED, AND FROM RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FAULTY STEERING BOX, BUT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I READ OF YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO 05 AND LATER FORD TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" SHAKING CAUSING MASSIVE INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM GOES BACK WAY FURTHER BUT I HAVE AN 03 F-250 TRUCK (AND IT IS TOTALLY STOCK) AND IT BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON ANY SURFACE WHETHER IN STRAIGHT LINE OR TURN. I HAVE HAD MANY THINGS LOOKED AT (ALIGNMENT, WHEEL AND TIRE BALANCE, BUSHINGS, TRACK BAR, TIE-ROD ENDS, ETC.) AND "REPAIRED" WITH NO FIX. FORD SAYS EVERYTHING IS WITHIN "SPECS". THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO DRIVE WITH ESPECIALLY WITH CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC. I DON'T THINK FORD WANTS TO OWN UP TO IT BECAUSE OF THE HUGE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DEALING WITH THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WHEN IN AN ALREADY FINANCIALLY CRIPPLED STATE. GUESS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A MORE STABLE VEHICLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS RATHER THAN THE INTERIOR COLOR CHOICES ON THEIR LATEST COMPANY JET. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM GOES BACK INTO LATE 1980S WHEN FORD WAS TOLD BY YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE IN MY VEHICLE WHILE SEARCHING FOR AN ADEQUATE FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

Mileage: 47,000

FORD F-250. LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FROM BOSTER PUMP DRAINED FLUID. WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, LOST BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP AND STEER. REPLACED FLUID TO GET TO DEALER, MEEGAN FORD IN MT. PLEASANT PA. HIGH PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED. I PAID. I HAVE OLD PART. FITTING RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 FORD F-250 WITH 48950 MILES, AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE THE FAILURE CONTINUED. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE.*AK THE POWER STEEERIG FAILED TWICE. UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB

Mileage: 48,950

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER COMING TO A STOP UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED; THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BUILD OF THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL, AND THEREFORE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CONTACT FOUND COMPLAINTS ONLINE SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE HAD. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - *NM

DAD*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB

Mileage: 47,235

THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN AFTER LETTING OFF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER CHANGED VARIOUS PARTS AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE HYDRO BOOST WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THE ENGINE HAD AN OIL LEAK DUE TO THE GLOW PLUG BOSS BAR ORINGS. *SC *JB

Mileage: 5

2003 F-250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 GAS. 46,000 MILES. FOUND 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. WHILE INVESTIGATING EXHAUST LEAK ALSO FOUND 2 FRONT BALL JOINTS BAD. FORD STATES THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 3 YEARS AGO. MOST OF THE MILES ARE TRAVELING BETWEEN TEXAS AND PA. THIS IS A 3/4 TON SUPER DUTY TRUCK. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW FORD F250 TRUCK, VIN 1FTNX20L33E, ON APRIL 17, 2003, FROM ELKHORN MOTORS IN ELKHORN, WI. ON OCTOBER 24, 2004, AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, I ROTATED THE TIRES FRONT TO BACK IN WISCONSIN BEFORE A TRIP TO FLORIDA. AFTER THIS TIRE ROTATION, I NOTICED A TENDENCY FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO OSCILLATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. I ASSUMED IT WAS RELATED TO TIRES AND PLANNED TO REPLACE THEM ON MY RETURN. I PICKED UP A 5TH WHEEL IN FLORIDA AND STARTED BACK ON NOVEMBER 2. THE OSCILLATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MUCH WORSE, SEEMINGLY AGGRAVATED BY THE CHANGE IN CG WITH THE TRAILER ATTACHED. HARD BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS WORSENED THIS CONDITION BUT I WAS MOSTLY ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION FOR THE TRIP HOME. THE TRUCK ACTED COMPLETELY NORMAL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES WITH NEW ONES. I INFORMED MY MECHANIC OF MY SYMPTOMS AND ASKED HIM TO REALIGN THE FRONT END IF HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ELSE AMISS. HE FOUND THE TIE ROD END THREADS WORN SO MUCH THAT THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE WOBBLED INSIDE IT EVEN THOUGH THE BOLTS WERE TIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE FROM RUST PATTERNS THAT THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE AND TIE ROD END HAD BEEN MOVING IN AND OUT. THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $285. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. FORD'S POSITION IS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE AFTER THE WARRANTEE IS OVER. THEY DID NOT EVEN ASK IF THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. (THEY ARE.). *AK

Mileage: 45,000

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F-250. IT HAS SEVERE HANDLING PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU PULL A TRAILER WITH IT, THE TRUCK DRIVES LIKE THE TRAILER IS TRYING TO STEER IT. IF YOU PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, IT IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BACK END STARTS TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE TRAILER TO WHIP BACK AND FORTH. ALSO DURING PANIC STOP SITUATIONS, THE TRUCK DARTS LEFT AND RIGHT AND FEELS LIKE IT IS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS FORD DEALERS. ONE TOLD ME TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND/OR TIRE PRESSURE. I TRIED FROM 35 PSI TO 75 PSI IN 5 PSI CHANGES, IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT ANOTHER TYPE OF TIRES. THEY HELPED A SMALL AMOUNT. FORD HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS HELPED FOR ABOUT 2000 MILES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS STATED "YOUR TRUCK HAS HANDLING PROBLEMS, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR TRUCK". THEY WILL NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE PARTS I FEEL WILL FIX IT. I THINK THE SPRING PACKS AND SUSPENSION BUSHINGS ARE TOO SOFT. I KNOW OF ANOTHER FORD THAT HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FORD BOUGHT THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE CONSUMER AFTER ADMITTING IT HAD PROBLEMS THEY COULD NOT FIX. MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK WHEN PULLING A TRAILER OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

Mileage: 11,088

I HAVE A 2003 FORD F-250. IT HAS SEVERE HANDLING PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU PULL A TRAILER WITH IT, THE TRUCK DRIVES LIKE THE TRAILER IS TRYING TO STEER IT. IF YOU PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, IT IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BACK END STARTS TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE TRAILER TO WHIP BACK AND FORTH. ALSO DURING PANIC STOP SITUATIONS, THE TRUCK DARTS LEFT AND RIGHT AND FEELS LIKE IT IS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS FORD DEALERS. ONE TOLD ME TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND/OR TIRE PRESSURE. I TRIED FROM 35 PSI TO 75 PSI IN 5 PSI CHANGES, IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT ANOTHER TYPE OF TIRES. THEY HELPED A SMALL AMOUNT. FORD HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS HELPED FOR ABOUT 2000 MILES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS STATED "YOUR TRUCK HAS HANDLING PROBLEMS, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR TRUCK". THEY WILL NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE PARTS I FEEL WILL FIX IT. I THINK THE SPRING PACKS AND SUSPENSION BUSHINGS ARE TOO SOFT. I KNOW OF ANOTHER FORD THAT HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FORD BOUGHT THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE CONSUMER AFTER ADMITTING IT HAD PROBLEMS THEY COULD NOT FIX. MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK WHEN PULLING A TRAILER OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

Mileage: 11,088

POWER BOOSTER FOR POWER STEERING COOLANT LEAKS, BLOWN TURBO CHARGER. *JB

Mileage: 297

ON GOING PROBLEMS WILL STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN'T PULL ACROSS INTERSECTION LOSS OF POWER TRANS WILL SHIFT OR NOT STEERING ALL OVER ROAD SMOKES BADDLY WHEN STARTED

Mileage: 4,000

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME WHIEN HIS VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. AT THIS POINT HE COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE THEN SLAMMED INTO A LARGE ROCK IN THE SIDE OF AN EIGHT FOOT BANK. THE VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED ONTO ITS SIDE AND SLID ANOTHER 20-30 FEET. OUR VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD F250 AND NOW HAS $20,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. WE TRIED TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH A FEW OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP WE INITIALLY BOUGHT IT AT. SOMEONE IN SERVICE TOLD US SOMETHING DEFINATLY DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT WITH THE STEERING. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME PROVING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THAT IS NOW DONE TO THE VEHICLE. WE ALSO TRIED DISCUSSING THIS MATTER WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTOR TOLD US THAT THEY MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT PURSUE THE MATTER BECAUSE "NO ONE WAS CRITICALLY INJURED OR KILLED" IN THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT EVEN TAKE A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE IF ANYTHING LOOKED OUT OF THE ORDINARY. MY HUSBAND STRONGLY FEELS THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT HIS FAULT. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ELSE TO TURN FOR HELP. PLEASE HELP US!!

Mileage: 4,750