NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reports161,162 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…
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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
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2014
Steering
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I WAS IN OCALA, FLORIDA. AFTER UNHOOKING MY GOOSE NECK TRAILER I THOUGHT MY STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT, I PULL INTO HOMEWOOD SUITES AND COMPLETELY LOSE MY STEERING. I HAD IT TOWED TO OCALA FORD AND THEY FIND THE NUT OF THE PITMAN ARM (STEERING) HAD FALLEN OFF AND WAS SITTING …
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THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I WAS IN OCALA, FLORIDA. AFTER UNHOOKING MY GOOSE NECK TRAILER I THOUGHT MY STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT, I PULL INTO HOMEWOOD SUITES AND COMPLETELY LOSE MY STEERING. I HAD IT TOWED TO OCALA FORD AND THEY FIND THE NUT OF THE PITMAN ARM (STEERING) HAD FALLEN OFF AND WAS SITTING ON THE AXLE. NOW WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY WITH THAT BIG TRAILER FULL OF HORSES. THEY PUT IT BACK ON. TODAY I NOTICED MY STEERING FELT "LOOSE". I HAD MY SON GET UNDER IT AND THAT [XXX] NUT IS READY TO FALL OFF AGAIN> AND I JUST HAD IT AT OXMOOR FORD A COUPLE MONTHS AGO & ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT FOR ME BECAUSE IT SCARED THE [XXX] OUT ME THE FIRST TIME SO I HAD IT CHECKED. WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO TO ASSURE ME THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN??? I REPORTED THIS TO YOU ALL WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME SO YOU HAVE MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10622130
59,427 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Structure
WATER LEAKING INTO REAR GLASS MISC SUBLET TO LEAK SOL TO RESEAL REAR GLASS SUBL. LEAK SOLUTION 16433 PO#235147 $250.00 BASICALLY USED LIQUID METAL TO SEAL REAR WINDOW. I THINK THAT THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE WINDOW FITS INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK ON F150 AND F250. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THERE WAS A LINE OF TRUCKS THAT HAD…
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WATER LEAKING INTO REAR GLASS MISC SUBLET TO LEAK SOL TO RESEAL REAR GLASS SUBL. LEAK SOLUTION 16433 PO#235147 $250.00 BASICALLY USED LIQUID METAL TO SEAL REAR WINDOW. I THINK THAT THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE WINDOW FITS INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK ON F150 AND F250. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THERE WAS A LINE OF TRUCKS THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10621509
53,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Steering
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD AT 35 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP BUT HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE GEAR BOX HAS FAILED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10606370
48,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Steering
I BOUGHT A SET OF WHEEL AND TIRES A YEAR AGO, THEY ARE STOCK SIZE. THE DAY THE TIRES AND WHEELS WERE PUT ON MY TRUCK THE STEERING WAS TIGHT AND WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT WITHOUT RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WENT TO THE TIRE PLACE AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD STEERING GEAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DE…
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I BOUGHT A SET OF WHEEL AND TIRES A YEAR AGO, THEY ARE STOCK SIZE. THE DAY THE TIRES AND WHEELS WERE PUT ON MY TRUCK THE STEERING WAS TIGHT AND WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT WITHOUT RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WENT TO THE TIRE PLACE AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD STEERING GEAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED I HAD A BAD STEERING GEAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY COULD GET ONE. BUT NOTHING ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION. MY HOPE IS THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THE STEERING GEAR IS RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592920
53,841 miles · Mar 3, 2014
Steering
THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD A ISSUE WITH THE STEERING GEAR BOX EVEN AT 53,000 MILES WHEN I BROUGHT IT WHEN ASKED THE DEALER THEY INFORM ME THAT THE GEAR BOXES NEEDS REPLACED AND ITS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THESE TRUCKS TO HAVE THIS ISSUE , AND ITS ONLY GETTING WORSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566863
10,000 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, HOWEVER NO RESULTS WERE FOUND FOR THE FAILURE. THE BRAKES WERE REBUILT, REPLACED, DISSEMBLED AND CLEANED, HOWEVER THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, HOWEVER NO RESULTS WERE FOUND FOR THE FAILURE. THE BRAKES WERE REBUILT, REPLACED, DISSEMBLED AND CLEANED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ODI #10560018
92,000 miles · Nov 5, 2013
Service BrakesSteering
AFTER APPOX. ONE HOUR AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL , COASTING TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH OR LESS TO MAKE A UPCOMING LEFT TURN. AS I STARTED TO TURN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND FOUND IT WAS WITHOUT ASSIST, AND THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR THE STEERING. I APPLIED AS MUCH PRESSURE AS I COULD TO BOTH THE BRAK…
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AFTER APPOX. ONE HOUR AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL , COASTING TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH OR LESS TO MAKE A UPCOMING LEFT TURN. AS I STARTED TO TURN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND FOUND IT WAS WITHOUT ASSIST, AND THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR THE STEERING. I APPLIED AS MUCH PRESSURE AS I COULD TO BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND FORTUNATELY MADE THE TURN WITH OUT INCIDENT. I TAPPED THE FUEL PEDAL AND BOTH THE BRAKES AND STEERING ASSIST RETURNED TO NORMAL. I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE WITH LOSS OF BRAKES BUT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOING STRAIGHT. I REPORT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHOW A ERROR CODE THEY CAN'T FIX IT! AT LEAST IF I DIE IN A CRASH THIS WILL BE MY RECORD. I WILL REPORT THE TRUCK AGAIN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WONT FIX IT. I HAVE SEEN THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING ALSO. I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE TRUCK IT IS NOT SAFE!!! THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THE SYSTEM IS DRAWING FLUID FOR BOTH THE BRAKES AND STEERING FROM THE POWERSTEERING PUMP, ALSO I BELIEVE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE FLUID TRAVELS THRU A SCREEN(FILTER) WHICH CAN PLUG STARVING THE SYSTEM OF FLUID NEEDED TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE STEERING AND BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10551058
99,000 miles · Oct 3, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 11-15-2013. SECOND ATTEMPT ON 11-20-2013 FAILED. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10546666
60,000 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN INDEPENDENTLY SOUNDED A FEW MOMENTS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED FO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN INDEPENDENTLY SOUNDED A FEW MOMENTS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10525199
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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