NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reports80,121 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
62,021 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Service Brakes
WAS TOLD BY DEALER, REAR CALIPER WAS DRAGGING, I REPLACED REAR BRAKES AND IN THE PROCESS NOTICED BOTH BACK CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AT 62000 MILES. ONE PISTON ON ONE SIDE WAS ATTACHED TO THE PAD AND CRACKED IN HALF. THE OTHER SIDE, BOTH PISTONS WERE BROKEN. AT SUCH A SHORT MILEAGE INTERVAL, CALIPERS SHOULD NOT BE DEFECT…
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WAS TOLD BY DEALER, REAR CALIPER WAS DRAGGING, I REPLACED REAR BRAKES AND IN THE PROCESS NOTICED BOTH BACK CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AT 62000 MILES. ONE PISTON ON ONE SIDE WAS ATTACHED TO THE PAD AND CRACKED IN HALF. THE OTHER SIDE, BOTH PISTONS WERE BROKEN. AT SUCH A SHORT MILEAGE INTERVAL, CALIPERS SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE AND DRAGGING ON THE ROTORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10703992
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…
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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
5 miles · Dec 30, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, MOLD WAS BUILDING UP ON THE REAR SEATS AND SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE CABIN AND HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT POTENTIALLY LEAK THROUGH THE MOON ROOF. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, MOLD WAS BUILDING UP ON THE REAR SEATS AND SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE CABIN AND HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT POTENTIALLY LEAK THROUGH THE MOON ROOF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED A STRONG MILDEW ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
NHTSA ODI #10669084
70,000 miles · Dec 13, 2014
Tires
3/13 I BOUGHT A SET OF FEDERAL COURAGIA MT 35X12.50X20 TIRES AND 10 MONTHS LATER THE STEEL BELTS SEPARATED CAUSING TIRE FAILURE. 2/14 I BOUGHT ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME TIRES AND THEY SEPARATED AFTER 8 MONTHS. DOT4113 IS THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE SECOND SET OF TIRES. I DO NOT HAVE THE SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE FIRST SET. I WOULD NOT RE…
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3/13 I BOUGHT A SET OF FEDERAL COURAGIA MT 35X12.50X20 TIRES AND 10 MONTHS LATER THE STEEL BELTS SEPARATED CAUSING TIRE FAILURE. 2/14 I BOUGHT ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME TIRES AND THEY SEPARATED AFTER 8 MONTHS. DOT4113 IS THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE SECOND SET OF TIRES. I DO NOT HAVE THE SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE FIRST SET. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THESE TIRES TO ANYONE AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET COMPENSATED BECAUSE FEDERAL WILL NOT GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664052
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…
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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
45,437 miles · Nov 16, 2014
Tires
1. VEHICLE (FORD 250) NORTHBOUND ON I-5, TOWING AN EMPTY 16-FOOT TRAILER 2. CATASTROPHIC TIRE DETREAD OF LEFT REAR TRUCK TIRE (BFGOODRICH COMMERCIAL T/A LT 265/70R17 LRE M+S). 3. ALL TIRES TO BE REPLACED AND BODY SHOP WORK TO REPAIR VEHICLE DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10655285
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 …
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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
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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