NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
9 reportsClear category filter125,000 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE NUMBER EIGHT CYLINDER WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE NUMBER EIGHT CYLINDER WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA ODI #10904538
37,060 miles · Jan 27, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I WAS BACKING UP IN THE PARKING AREA OF MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 F250 (DIESEL), AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND CHANGE DIRECTION. AS I STARTED BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING BACKWARD, AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP…
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I WAS BACKING UP IN THE PARKING AREA OF MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 F250 (DIESEL), AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND CHANGE DIRECTION. AS I STARTED BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING BACKWARD, AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP MOVING BACKWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE VEHICLE HAD 37,060 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10822686
80,121 miles · Apr 8, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
WE PURCHASED THIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY NEW AT THE FORD STORE IN SAN LEANDRO, CA ON JULY 21, 2007 AND CONTINUE TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4 TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TSB 07-26-2 (WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON HPFP) ISSUED AUGUST 2007. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 27, 2015, W…
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WE PURCHASED THIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY NEW AT THE FORD STORE IN SAN LEANDRO, CA ON JULY 21, 2007 AND CONTINUE TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4 TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TSB 07-26-2 (WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON HPFP) ISSUED AUGUST 2007. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 27, 2015, WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY AND AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE DIED. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE ALSO DIMINISHED. I GOT LUCKY AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP (BUD ADAMS - CASTRO VALLEY, CA; BAR#:228593 CAL#:66801). DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET WIRING HARNESS (THE SUBJECT OF TSB 07-26-2 WHEREIN FORD RECOGNIZED ON OR ABOUT AUGUST OF 2007 A PROBLEM WITH UNPROTECTED WIRING WITHIN THE HPFP WIRING HARNESS). REPAIRS WERE EXTREMELY COSTLY ($3,791.89 REDUCED TO $2,591.89) BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH; IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I GOT LUCKY. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINANTS WHO HAD HOURS STUCK IN THE DESERT, SOMEONE WITH A LOAD OF CATTLE STUCK WITHOUT WARNING, THE LIST GOES ON. IN EACH REPORTED INSTANCE THE OPERATOR DESCRIBED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER PLANT WITH NO WARNING. I URGE THE NTSB TO INVESTIGATE THESE UNPLANNED SHUT DOWNS OF THIS VEHICLE'S POWER PLANT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, COLLISION, INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE AUGUST OF 2007 YET HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SOME MAY SAY THIS IS DUE TO THE LARGE COSTS INVOLVED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE HPFP GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS (IN PART INVOLVING THE REMOVAL OF THE VEHICLE'S CAB). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10704582
130,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
EngineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AS A LOUD ABNORMAL POP SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AS A LOUD ABNORMAL POP SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING BOX ON THE FRAME SHEARED OFF. UPDATED 01/08/15
NHTSA ODI #10650840
30,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014
EngineFuel System, Diesel
2008 FORD F 250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4 ENGINE - ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING, WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THIS WAS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TSB 07-26-2 WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM OF AN UNPROTECTED WIRE IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP …
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2008 FORD F 250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4 ENGINE - ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING, WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THIS WAS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TSB 07-26-2 WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM OF AN UNPROTECTED WIRE IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET CHAFFING THROUGH. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR SINCE THE CAB HAD TO BE REMOVED. A REVISED GASKET WITH PROTECTED WIRE WAS INSTALLED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT TOWING OUR 5TH WHEEL AT THE TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. FORD SHOULD RECALL AND COVER THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR AS THIS WAS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626903
160,000 miles · Jun 20, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine
2008 FORD F-250 SD DIESEL NO WARNING DRIVING 55 ON THE FREEWAY TOWING A TRAILER THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN NO POWER. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO WARNING. HOW CAN FORD SELL THEIR CUSTOMERS A TRUCK AS WHAT ONE OTHER PERSON STATES: A $55,000.00 TRUCK THAT IS ADVERTISED TO BE SUPER DUTY AND SHOULD …
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2008 FORD F-250 SD DIESEL NO WARNING DRIVING 55 ON THE FREEWAY TOWING A TRAILER THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN NO POWER. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO WARNING. HOW CAN FORD SELL THEIR CUSTOMERS A TRUCK AS WHAT ONE OTHER PERSON STATES: A $55,000.00 TRUCK THAT IS ADVERTISED TO BE SUPER DUTY AND SHOULD LAST 400000 TO 500000 MILES WITH ONLY MINER ENGINE REPAIRS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. FORD KNOWS FOR A FACT THAT THEY HAVE A FAULTY MOTOR AND FAULTY INTERNAL PARTS ON ALL THE 2008 THRU 2010 6.4 L DIESEL MOTORS. THAT'S WHY THEY DESIGNED A NEW MOTOR AND ARE SUING NAVISTAR THE ENGINE DESIGNER. NOW YOU CAN GO ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FIND THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND MORE. THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME TO ENTER A COMPLAINT IN THE NHTSA (#10435125) DOES ANYTHING HAPPEN WITH THIS INFORMATION? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10520802
179,000 miles · Apr 1, 2013
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT WHITE SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SELF-CLEANING FUNCTION HOWEVER, THE WHITE SMOKE STILL EMITTED AFTER THE FUNCTION WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT WHITE SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SELF-CLEANING FUNCTION HOWEVER, THE WHITE SMOKE STILL EMITTED AFTER THE FUNCTION WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505223
107,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Engine
EXHAUST LEAK FROM BEHIND THE TURBO. EXHAUST ENTERS THE INSIDE OF THE CAB. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE TO FIX. MUST REMOVE CAB FROM FRAME TO REPAIR. HAZARDOUS FUMES ENTER VEHICLE CAUSING HEADACHES. DEALER IS ACTING LIKE THIS IS RARE BUT IN SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVI…
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EXHAUST LEAK FROM BEHIND THE TURBO. EXHAUST ENTERS THE INSIDE OF THE CAB. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE TO FIX. MUST REMOVE CAB FROM FRAME TO REPAIR. HAZARDOUS FUMES ENTER VEHICLE CAUSING HEADACHES. DEALER IS ACTING LIKE THIS IS RARE BUT IN SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
NHTSA ODI #10490351
39,000 miles · Jul 8, 2012
Engine
I NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK AND SUSPECTED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO GAVE THEM SEVERAL TSBSS CONCERNING THE RADIATOR LEAK TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO FORD. OBVIOUSLY THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT TH…
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I NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK AND SUSPECTED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO GAVE THEM SEVERAL TSBSS CONCERNING THE RADIATOR LEAK TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO FORD. OBVIOUSLY THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM (RADIATOR, HOSES AND DEGAS BOTTLE) NEEDED REPLACEMENT, IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY $1,776. I ONLY HAVE 39K MILES ON IT AND I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE REPLACING A RADIATOR THIS SOON. I HAVE ALWAYS BABIED THIS TRUCK AND MAINTAINED IT REGULARLY. I FEEL THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COSTS INCURRED BY ME TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WHO IS TO SAY THAT THIS MAY NOT OCCUR AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD? I HAVE READ THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR TRUCKS NEEDING SEVERAL REPLACEMENT RADIATORS. IT'S CONCERNING TO ME THAT FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF DESIGN FLAW (OR SCAM) WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSION FROM OUR GOVERNMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464620
NHTSA investigations
1PE13014 · Alleged Loss Of Steering
Opened May 7, 2013 · Closed Jan 31, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
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