NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
39 reportsClear category filter200,000 miles · Feb 5, 2019
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND EXPERIENCED A DEATH WOBBLE. THE DEALER (RAY'S FORD, INC., 385 BY PASS RD, BRANDENBURG, KY 40108, (270) 422-4901) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT MAY NEED TO BE SCHEDULED. IT HAD NOT BE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND EXPERIENCED A DEATH WOBBLE. THE DEALER (RAY'S FORD, INC., 385 BY PASS RD, BRANDENBURG, KY 40108, (270) 422-4901) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT MAY NEED TO BE SCHEDULED. IT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO SPECIAL FIELD SERVICE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09L02 TO PREVENT SHIMMIES. THE VEHICLE WAS HAULING A TRAILER OVER UNLEVELED LAND DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11174499
141,000 miles · Mar 27, 2018
SteeringSuspension
I EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" 3 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH OR BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.
NHTSA ODI #11081526
170,000 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (SUMMERS AUTOMOTIVE) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT I…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (SUMMERS AUTOMOTIVE) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15E014000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11012062
120,000 miles · Feb 14, 2017
Service BrakesSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED EACH TIME WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BRAKE F…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED EACH TIME WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID, BUT WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10954457
55,504 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Steering
POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TOWING A EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR. I AM READING THAT IT IS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA ODI #10749218
71,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or OtherWheels
WHILE DRIVING MY 08 FORD F250 SD, I EXPERIENCE SEVERE SHIMMY GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR SMALL DIP. MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING ABOUT 45 AND I HIT A BUMP AND THE WHEEL JERKS AND THROWS THE TRUCK WHAT FEELS LIKE FEET. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET NOR HAVE I SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER. THE FIRST I EVER KNEW THERE WAS A PROB…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY 08 FORD F250 SD, I EXPERIENCE SEVERE SHIMMY GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR SMALL DIP. MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING ABOUT 45 AND I HIT A BUMP AND THE WHEEL JERKS AND THROWS THE TRUCK WHAT FEELS LIKE FEET. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET NOR HAVE I SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER. THE FIRST I EVER KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM NOTED BY FORD WAS WHEN I RECEIVED AN ALERT ON FLMOWNER.COM AND IT STATED FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER: 09L02 FSA TITLE: CUSTOMER MAINTENANCE REMINDER VEHICLE SHIMMY AND TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE I ALWAYS MAINTAIN PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND HAVE THEM BALANCED AND ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGH DISCOUNT TIRES (WHERE I BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN 2011). I DON'T HAVE A LIFT AND HAVEN'T ALTERED ANY OF THE STOCK SUSPENSION PARTS. MILEAGE AND TIME FRAME ARE AN APPROX AS I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS SERVICE ISSUE PRIOR TO THIS WEEK. THOSE ARE THE APPROXIMATES TO WHEN I MOVED TO CO.
NHTSA ODI #10690980
132,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CAPABLE OF MOVING, BUT FAILED TO DIRECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MOUNT BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED BY THE TECHNIC…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CAPABLE OF MOVING, BUT FAILED TO DIRECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MOUNT BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED BY THE TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA ODI #10659303
35,985 miles · Nov 7, 2014
Steering
STEERING ON VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. THE POWER STEERING PUMP LOST HALF OF THE FLUID. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SIXTY DAYS LATER THE STEERING GEAR BOX BOUND UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO BE TURNED.THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10653504
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 …
Read full complaint
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
161,162 miles · Aug 14, 2014
SteeringCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,162.
NHTSA ODI #10622274
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
Illustration