1999 FORD F-250 Steering Problems

My fiancé & I were driving down a 35mph road & I told her my steering wheel was a little crooked & I don't remember hitting anything to knock out of alignment. We got to my friends house to move a car trailer for him up his steep driveway. I hooked up to the trailer pulled it out, moved it around to line up to back up driveway & making the last adjustment all of a sudden I was turning my steering wheel but the tires were not turning, jumped out to find the output shaft of the steering box was cracked in half diagonally & the steering arm was laying on the street. When I got under the truck & looked at the part that broke you could see it was fractured for a long time. There was only about an 1/8" on one side that was raw metal from just finally breaking. Thank God we are alive if it would have happened going fast probably would have killed someone.

I WAS GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY @ 65MPH AND I NOTICED MY STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING IN THE NORMAL WAY. I HAD MADE IT TO A EXIT AND STOPPED AT LIGHT TRIED TO MAKE RIGHT TURN TRUCK CONTINUED STRAIGHT, AND I WAS STOPPED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN CA. GOT OUT AND SAW MY SECTOR SHAFT HAD BROKEN OFF MY STEERING GEAR BOX.

Mileage: 369,323

THE SECOND GEAR HAS GONE OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *JB *SC THE LIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WERE INOPERATIVE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Mileage: 73,000

I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PAINT STORE PARKING LOT AFTER LEAVING A MAJOR HIGHWAY (M-32) WITH MY 1999 FORD F250 (69000 MILES) AND NOTICED A SLIPPING FEELING IN MY STEERING. WHEN I TRIED TO BACK UP TO LEAVE THE PAINT STORE MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS POINTED TO THE FAR RIGHT AND MY LEFT WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT. I LOOKED UNDER THE RIGHT WHEEL AREA AND SAW THE TIE ROD END WAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING ROD. I HAD THE TRUCK TRANSPORTED ON A FLAT BED TO A REPAIR SHOP. I HAD ALL THE TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP, BEDFORD'S MUFFLER & BRAKE (9893458732) HAS SEEN THIS SAME TYPE OF FAILURE RECENTLY ON A FORD. I HAVE THE FAILED PARTS AND HAVE CONTACTED FORD OVER A WEEK AGO. THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. *LA

Mileage: 69,000

WHILE MECHANIC WAS INSTALLING NEW TIRES HE NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WAS SEVERELY WORN, DESTROYED. *AK

THE FRONT TIRE ROD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK BOTH FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 55,364

WHILE REVERSING , VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S BEING TURNED. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SECTOR SHAFT HAD BROKE.

Mileage: 57,000

THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, THE TIRE WERE CUPPING ON THE EDGES, THE CLOTH SEAT WERE WEARING, THE RADIUS ARMS WERE LOOSE, THE LIGHTS WERE INOERATIVE, THERE WAS A SQUEAK IN THE COWEL, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED GASKET AND SEAL PROBLEMS, HOWEVER ONCE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, IT BURNED OIL FAST.*SCC *JB

Mileage: 4,678

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THIS FAILURE WAS AS A RESULT OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

THE VEHICLE HAD A TWISTED SECTOR SHAFT. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SECTOR SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.*AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN POWER STEERING RETURN LINE POPPED OUT CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES, THIS OCCURANCE ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT .*AK *NLM

WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY AT 30 MPH THE TIE ROD END FELL OFF.*AK *NLM

STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIIED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

STEERING SECTOR SHAFT BROKE. IT HAPPENED JUST AS CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.*AK *TT

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE/APPLIED BRAKES, AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE TURNED WHEEL AND HEARD ANOTHER NOISE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED A POWER STEERING GASKET. A FEW WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE/APPLIED BRAKES, AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE TURNED WHEEL AND HEARD ANOTHER NOISE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED A POWER STEERING GASKET. A FEW WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE IDLE ARM CONTROL VALVE. WHAT IT IS USED FOR AND WHY IT WOULD GO BAD?*AK

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VERY HARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN JULY OF 2000 THE NEWSPAPER IN BECKLEY, WV , THE REGISTER-HERALD, RAN AN ARTICLE THAT NHTSA REPORTS THAT THE FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY TRUCK HAD PROBLEMS OF LOSING THEIR STEERING AND BRAKES. AND THEY COULD GO OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. FORD DENIES KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE REPORT? I HAVE ASKED TO TALK TO FORD ENGINEERS AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?*AK

MY TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. MENTION WAS MADE BY THE DRIVER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMED TO GO OUT. I IGNORED HIS COMMENTS AND SIMPLY ASSUMED THAT HE WAS DRIVING TOO FAST AND LOST CONTROL. ON MAY 11, 2001 I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR THAT INDICATED YOUR AGENCY WAS OPENING AN INVESTIGATION INTO "FRACTURES IN THE STEERING GEAR SHAFT OF FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY TRUCKS. I FAXED THE ARTICLE TO THE SHOP REPAIRING MY TRUCK. HENRY MILLS, MILLS AUTOMOTIVE, MARSHALL, MISSOURI, INSPECTED THE VECHICLE, CALLED ME BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY INFORMING THAT THIS SECTOR HAD BROKE ON MY TRUCK. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO I UNDERSTAND WENT AND LOOKED AT THE VECHILE AND INFORMED MR. MILLS THAT FORD HAD NOT ISSUED ANY BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM AND COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME. I DECIDED I SHOULD BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF YOUR FINDINGS.I*AK

BRAKES COMEPLETELY RELEASE WHEN APPLIED AND HITTING BUMP IN ROAD,MUST DEPRESS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP,ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS.I'VE HAD THREE NEAR ACCIDENTS IN PAST 30 DAYS. *AK

DRIVER WAS PREPARING TO ENTER PARKING SPACE WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENDLY LOST ALL POWER BRAKES AND STEERING POSSIBLY CAUSED BY HYDROBOOST UNIT LOSS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSED BY STEERING SECTOR SHAFT FAILURE, BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. CJ

THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED FROM A STOP TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT MIDWAY IN THE TURN, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD DAMAGING RIGHT CONTROL ARM, AXLE MOUNT, RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND FENDER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED DUE TO FAULTY STEERING COMPONENT. NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE HYDRO BOOST FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES CAUSING THE TRUCK TO DRIFT INTO DITCH RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE SIDE PANEL, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKES AND STEERING SHOULD NOT BE DESIGNED TO BE CONTROLLED BY A COMMON UNIT. NLM

STEERING SHAFT IS CLICKING IN COLUMN WHEN TURNING TO LFET OR TO RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. VHEICLE HAS ABS ON BACK BRAKES ONLY. *AK

NO SUMMARY

I SUFFERED CLOSED HEAD TRAUMA WITH AMNESIA IN THE ACCIDENT. THE TRUCK HAD NO GRASS OR DIRT ON THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE. THE FRONT BODY CLIP WAS DESTROYED AS WELL AS THE SIDE DOORS AND BED. THE LEFT WHEEL STEERING LINKAGE WAS SHEARED OFF. TURNING THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS. I READ IN THE PAPER THAT YOU HAVE UPGRADED INVESTIGATION ON STEERING PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL.

6 ALIGNMENTS IN 24,000 MILES, A BROKEN 14MM SUSPENSION BOLT, A STEERING GEARBOX FAILURE, 3 SETS OF BRAKES & ROTOR/CALIPER REPLACEMENT INDICATES MAJOR DESIGN/MATERIAL & QUALITY PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO LEFT ME STRANDED 5 TIMES FOR OTHER NOT LISTED ENGINE RELATED FAILURES. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS IS USELESS, COULD CARE LESS & IS NON-SUPPORTIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND PULLING A NORMAL LOAD, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES WHEN THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ON 5% DOWN GRADE. AFTER STOPPING SAFLY DUE TO TRAILER BRAKES AND EXHUAST BRAKE. RESTARTED ENGINE AND BOTH RETURNED. TOWED TO BOTTOM OF GRADE. DEALER IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE CHECKED WITH NO INDICATION OF A FAULT. *AK

AFTER MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT SELF CENTER. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FORD DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, AND AS A RESULT OF MAKING A SUDDEN STOP, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REFUSES TO WORK ON THIS UNTIL FORD AUTORIZES. *AK.ET.

THE FAILURE IS THAT STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. THE HARDER THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THE HARDER IT IS TO TURN THE WHEEL, UNTIL A POINT IS REACHED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CAN NO LONGER BE TURNED. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL POP OUT. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *AK

POWERSTEERING HOSE BROKE, CAUSING A LEAKAGE. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THERE WEREN'T ANY BRAKES. CONSUMER PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKES, AND AFTER A DELAY, THE BRAKES KICKED IN. *AK

LINKAGE CAME APART. DRAG LINK AND SLEEVE WERE STRIPPED AT THREADS. REPLACED DRAG LINK AND ADJUSTING SLEEVE.

WHILE DRIVING A BOLT BROKE OUT OF THE STEERING MANUAL SHAFT SECTOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH DRIVER PUSHED THE FRONT STEERING SENSOR BUTTON ON THE GEAR SWITCH AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO START AGAIN / COME TO A STOP. *ML

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN GETTING OFF THE ROAD AND BACK ON, STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND DRIVER LOSES CONTROL. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HWY SPEED STEERING ERRATIC, FLOATING, JERKING. *AK

STEERING IS TO REACTIVE TO MINOR MOVEMENTS OF STEERING WHEEL.MINOR MOVEMENTS OF STEERING WHEEL CAUSES VEHICLE TO RESPOND MUCH TO FAST FOR DRIVER CONTROL.LOCAL FORD DEALER ADVISES TO ADJUST TIRE PRESSURES.ALSO STATES FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT DO NOT HAVE ANSWERS OF WHAT TO DO!

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V116000) & NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. CALLED MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS TO SEND TO DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR STEERING COLUMN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL, UNKNOWN AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, AND WENT THROUGH A MAILBOX/TREE/ EMBANKMENT UNTIL IT STOPPED ON A FIELD ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE BUMPER EXPERIENCED FRONTAL IMPACT DAMAGE, BUT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. CAUSED UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 98V116000, MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER 98S17. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

RECALL # 98V116000 FORD/LOWER CONTROL ARM. OWNER IS STILL EXPERIENCING A PROLBEM WITH TRUCK AFTER HAVING RECALL WORK PERFORMED. WHEN HITTING A BUMP, ETC IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK VIOLENTLY VIBRATES. IN SOME CASES, JERKING STEERING WHEEL FROM HAND. *AK

OWNER WISHES TO NOTIFY NHTSA OF A RECALL CONCERNING THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT WHICH IS MISSING OR HAS CRIMPED RIVETS. OWNER DID NOT LOCATE THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE.

98V116000, STEERING COLUMN SHAFT; CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM FORD ON THE RECALL, AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE OR REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST ONE WEEK OR UNTIL NOTIFIED BY FORD OF THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA RECALL # 98V11600 MFR # 98S17, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL CORRECTED, DEALER UNAWARE OF RECALL. REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS. *AK