NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
195 reports14,200 miles · Dec 8, 2018
Power Train
THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVERS FOOT IS FIRMLY PLACED ON THE BRAKE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. VEHICLE CAN BE PARKED ANYWHERE...I.E. IN THE GARAGE, DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. ALL FLAT SURFACES, (SO NO HEAVY TENSION ON THE TRANSMISSION LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE IF PARKED ON A HILL AND THE PARKING BRAKE …
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THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVERS FOOT IS FIRMLY PLACED ON THE BRAKE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. VEHICLE CAN BE PARKED ANYWHERE...I.E. IN THE GARAGE, DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. ALL FLAT SURFACES, (SO NO HEAVY TENSION ON THE TRANSMISSION LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE IF PARKED ON A HILL AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT ENGAGED).
NHTSA ODI #11156999
186,000 miles · Nov 9, 2018
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E026000 (EQUIPMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND TRANSF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E026000 (EQUIPMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.
NHTSA ODI #11150428
70,000 miles · Aug 24, 2018
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V139000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLLEY FORD (1945 AUTO CENTRE DR, GLENDORA, CA 91740, 909-592-4131) WHERE IT WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V139000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLLEY FORD (1945 AUTO CENTRE DR, GLENDORA, CA 91740, 909-592-4131) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #11122212
13 miles · Jul 19, 2018
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE, SHOOK, AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEAL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE, SHOOK, AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13.
NHTSA ODI #11112452
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2018
Steering
THE STEERING SORT OF WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY ON TURNS THEN IT GETS HARD TO STEER, YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60/70MPH SAME ISSUE THEN WHEN OVER A BUMP THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIFT OFF ROAD
NHTSA ODI #11105121
105,000 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Steering
THE TRUCK STEERING IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING ON REGULAR CITY STREETS.TRUCK TURN ON ITS OWN AND GOES INTO THE OTHER LANE. VERY HARD TO CORRECT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO …
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THE TRUCK STEERING IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OVER INTO THE OTHER LANE.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING ON REGULAR CITY STREETS.TRUCK TURN ON ITS OWN AND GOES INTO THE OTHER LANE. VERY HARD TO CORRECT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO 2 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. WE DID HAVE GEAR BOX CHANGED AND HAD IT CHANGED A SECOND TIME TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE STEERING BOX. CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NO MECHANIC CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK AND CAN NOT FIX THIS ISSUE.HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES.HAPPENS VERY TIME IT IS DROVE UNKNOWN PROBLEM! NOT DRIVE ABLE AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA ODI #11101750
75,000 miles · Jun 4, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED FAIRWAY FORD LINCOLN MERCURY AT 888-281-7109 (472 EAST MAIN ST, BRADFORD, PA 16701) AND A NEW STEERING BOX WAS ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED FAIRWAY FORD LINCOLN MERCURY AT 888-281-7109 (472 EAST MAIN ST, BRADFORD, PA 16701) AND A NEW STEERING BOX WAS ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED A FROZEN U-JOINT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #11099579
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2018
Unknown Or Other
2008 FORD LARIAT F-250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERE SHAKING OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *LD *JS
NHTSA ODI #11097410
156,452 miles · Apr 3, 2018
Engine
EXHAUST MANIFOLDS LEAK. FORD USES ALUMINA HEADS WITH STEEL MANIFOLD BOLTS AND CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THE THREE METALS HAVE DIFFERENT HEAT RANGES WHICH CAUSE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO WRAP OR CRACK AND BREAK THE BOLTS CAUSING LEAKS.
NHTSA ODI #11082669
130,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Steering
VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65-70MPH AFTER HITTING BUMP IN THE ROAD. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY OCCURRENCES THAT A NAME HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ISSUE, THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT SEEMS FORD IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS PR…
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VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65-70MPH AFTER HITTING BUMP IN THE ROAD. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY OCCURRENCES THAT A NAME HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ISSUE, THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT SEEMS FORD IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY TRY TO BLAME TIRE PRESSURE ACCORDING TO ONLINE SOURCES. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FORCED BY THE NHTSA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY! I HAD JUST HAD THE TRUCK TIRES ROTATED BALANCED AND AIR PRESSURE CHECKED BEFORE THIS TRIP!
NHTSA ODI #11073630
Official recalls
5Apr 25, 2008
FORD IS RECALLING 64,754 MY 2008 F-250 AND F-350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL, 4X4, 156 INCH WHEEL BASE PICK UP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO PIECE DRIVE SHAFT FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE FUEL SPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A RIGID BARRIER, THE FUEL TANK CAN MOVE FORWARD AND CONTACT A FRAME CROSS MEMBER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FUEL SPILLAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Feb 28, 2008
FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT THE JOINT OF THE SEAT BACK PIVOT BRACKET AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT SIDE PIVOT BRACKET MAY CRACK OR BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE 40% SPLIT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT OR, IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT BACK FRAME WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Nov 21, 2007
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Mar 26, 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF POWER OR ROUGH OPERATION, UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND POTENTIALLY A VISIBLE FLAME OUT THE TAILPIPE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Mar 26, 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LONG TERM CONTACT COULD CAUSE WIRE CHAFE, RESULTING IN COPPER WIRE BEING EXPOSED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE BATTERY B+ WIRE COULD SHORT TO GROUND INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY B+ WIRE LOCATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE WIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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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