NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
33 reportsClear category filter14,875 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
DRIVING AROUND AND DIESEL FUEL SMELL CAME INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS A 6.4L JOB 1 DIESEL. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE DRIVING IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AND LIGHT HEADED. FORD TELLS US IT WILL HAPPEN EVERY 100-600 MILES AND LAST 10-40 MINUTES EACH …
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DRIVING AROUND AND DIESEL FUEL SMELL CAME INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS A 6.4L JOB 1 DIESEL. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE DRIVING IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AND LIGHT HEADED. FORD TELLS US IT WILL HAPPEN EVERY 100-600 MILES AND LAST 10-40 MINUTES EACH TIME DURING REGENERATION. FORD SAYS THIS IS A 'NORMAL OPERATION CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE'. THE DEALERSHIP REFERENCED TSB 09-16-9 AND TOOK THE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN AREAS. #1 - I WAS NOT IN COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND #2 - THIS IS NOT A BRAND NEW TRUCK ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE LOW MILEAGE. HOW CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED NORMAL IF IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND NOW MAKES ME SICK WHEN I DRIVE THE TRUCK? THE SMELL IS STILL FAINTLY IN THE HEADLINER OF THE TRUCK. WHAT IS IN THIS STUFF THAT MADE ME LIGHT HEADED AND SICK TO MY STOMACH?*CW
NHTSA ODI #10302987
7,880 miles · Aug 7, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2008 F-250 S/D MANUFACTURED 02/08 AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2009 AND NOW HAS JUST UNDER 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE TWICE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF THIS HAVE BEEN THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER A PERIOD OF EXTENDED DRIV…
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I HAVE A 2008 F-250 S/D MANUFACTURED 02/08 AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2009 AND NOW HAS JUST UNDER 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE TWICE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF THIS HAVE BEEN THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER A PERIOD OF EXTENDED DRIVING AT ABOUT 70 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL, JUST AFTER AN EXHAUST CLEANING CYCLE, AND WHEN I OVERRODE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN PULLING BACK IN TO THE TRAFFIC LANE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AND CAN BE CONTROLLED ONLY BY MAINTAINING HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES UNTIL A SAFE LOCATION CAN BE FOUND TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CUT OFF THE IGNITION. A RESTART IN NEUTRAL WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE RUN-UP IN RPM WHICH REQUIRES A SHUT DOWN OF THE IGNITION. THERE ARE NO "CHECK ENGINE" OR "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHTS DISPLAYED, AND ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERSHIPS, NO CODES REGISTERED IN THE PCM. IN BOTH CASES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE (WITHOUT USE OF CRUISE CONTROL) BY PRESSING A "RESET" BUTTON LOCATED ON THE TOP OF A WHITE SENSOR LOCATED IN THE AIR INTAKE DUCT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORD SAYS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CONSEQUENTLY CANNOT "MAKE A FIX". I AM MOST CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279704
46,000 miles · Aug 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE RADIATIOR IN 2008 F-250 (AND F-350 THROUGH RESEARCH OF OWNER FORUMS) ARE DEFECTIVE AND LEAK AT OVER 40,000 MILES. DEALERSHIPS ARE REPLACIING THESE AT OWNER COST BY THE HUNDREDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279363
13,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A THREE SECOND LAPSE TO GET PAST THE THROTTLE BEFORE THE ENGINE REVS. WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, IT DOES NOT GAIN SPEED LIKE OTHER VEHICLES DO WITHIN TWO SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT THEY COULD…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A THREE SECOND LAPSE TO GET PAST THE THROTTLE BEFORE THE ENGINE REVS. WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, IT DOES NOT GAIN SPEED LIKE OTHER VEHICLES DO WITHIN TWO SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE NEW COMPUTER CHIP THAT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY AND THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA ODI #10277586
10,700 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
SUDDEN INTENSE INTENSE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AT TIME OF EXHAUST CLEANING FROM MY 2008 FORD F250 DIESEL PICKUP (FORD CONSIDERS NORMAL OPERATION OF SYSTEM) WHILE ENTERING A TOLL PLAZA CREATED A SUDDEN AND UNSAFE CONDITION FOR OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THE SMOKE WAS SO HEAVY I COULD NOT SEE VEHICLE BEHIND WHILE PASSING THROUGH A TOLL…
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SUDDEN INTENSE INTENSE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AT TIME OF EXHAUST CLEANING FROM MY 2008 FORD F250 DIESEL PICKUP (FORD CONSIDERS NORMAL OPERATION OF SYSTEM) WHILE ENTERING A TOLL PLAZA CREATED A SUDDEN AND UNSAFE CONDITION FOR OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THE SMOKE WAS SO HEAVY I COULD NOT SEE VEHICLE BEHIND WHILE PASSING THROUGH A TOLL PLAZA. THE LANE I WAS IN UTILIZES A TRANSPONDER TO COLLECT TOLL WHILE TRAFFIC IN THAT LANE NORMALLY DOES NOT STOP. IF A VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACT IN TIME. IT WAS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THEIR VISIBILITY OF THE STRUCTURES OF THE TOLL PLAZA ITSELF WERE SUFFICIENTLY DIMINISHED THAT A COLLISION WITH THE STRUCTURE WAS POSSIBLE. I PASS THROUGH THREE TOLL PLAZAS EACH WAY, TO AND FROM WORK, 5 DAYS A WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259740
54,000 miles · Jan 7, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE RADIATOR FOR A TWO YEAR OLD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE DEFECT IS ON THE SEAM OF THE RADIATOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254131
13,000 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN HOT TEMPERATURE THE TRUCK STARTS BLOWING OUT WHITE/GRAY SMOKE THEN QUITS RUNNING. SET FOR 1 TO 1.5 HRS IT WILL START AND GO ABOUT 30 TO 40 MILES THEN QUIT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT SAYS THAT IT IS AN OVER TEMPERTURE MODULE BUT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME …
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IN HOT TEMPERATURE THE TRUCK STARTS BLOWING OUT WHITE/GRAY SMOKE THEN QUITS RUNNING. SET FOR 1 TO 1.5 HRS IT WILL START AND GO ABOUT 30 TO 40 MILES THEN QUIT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT SAYS THAT IT IS AN OVER TEMPERTURE MODULE BUT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231443
6 miles · Jun 3, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE RPM' S HAD INCREASED TO 4,000. HE SHUT OFF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE RPM' S HAD INCREASED TO 4,000. HE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE BACK OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. HE DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH A NEW ONE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE VERY NEXT DAY AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AGAIN ON MAY 30, 2008. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND GET BACK TO HIM WITH THE RESULTS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6.
NHTSA ODI #10229736
1,000 miles · May 5, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE HAD MANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY 6.4 DIESEL FROM LOSS OF ENGINE POWER , TO LACK OF POWER , WHITE /GRAYISH SMOKE, HESITATION , ENGINE ALMOST DYING TO ACCELERATION AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I EVEN HAD AN OCCASIONAL ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, GURGLING SOUNDS , WHOOPING SOUNDS AND GRINDING ,METALLIC SOUNDS COMING FROM MY ENG…
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I HAVE HAD MANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY 6.4 DIESEL FROM LOSS OF ENGINE POWER , TO LACK OF POWER , WHITE /GRAYISH SMOKE, HESITATION , ENGINE ALMOST DYING TO ACCELERATION AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I EVEN HAD AN OCCASIONAL ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, GURGLING SOUNDS , WHOOPING SOUNDS AND GRINDING ,METALLIC SOUNDS COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS THAT IF THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT THERE IS NO CODE IF THERE IS NO CODE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WAS PROBABLY GOING THROUGH IT'S REGEN PROCESS AND THAT THE TRUCK WILL PERFORM POORLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I NOW HAVE 9000 MILES ON MY TRUCK THIS STARTED AROUND 1000 MILES AND I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIPS , ALONG WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO NOW KNOW I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226669
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED A 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PICK UP TRUCK WITH THE 6.4 DIESEL ENGINE IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. FOR NO REASON SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE POURS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE SMOKE IS SO SEVERE IT WILL BLIND ANYONE …
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EVER SINCE I PURCHASED A 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PICK UP TRUCK WITH THE 6.4 DIESEL ENGINE IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. FOR NO REASON SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE POURS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE SMOKE IS SO SEVERE IT WILL BLIND ANYONE BEHIND THE TRUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CASES WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND LOOSE ALL AVAILABLE POWER. THIS COULD BE A DRASTIC PROBLEM IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME AND THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL FOR THE TRUCK TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN THEY ARE ALLOWING A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO TAKE PLACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216844
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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