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2008 Ford F-350 Sd

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-350 Sd do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 73.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

94 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports
73,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE AIR FILTER WILL GET CLOGGED WITH SNOW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ON 12/30/2010 AT 2PM I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES (ZIP CODE 57201) AND THE AIR FILTER HAD 1/2" OF SNOW ALL AROUND AND INSIDE THE FILTER. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS A NO FIX FOR THIS PR…

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WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE AIR FILTER WILL GET CLOGGED WITH SNOW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ON 12/30/2010 AT 2PM I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES (ZIP CODE 57201) AND THE AIR FILTER HAD 1/2" OF SNOW ALL AROUND AND INSIDE THE FILTER. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS A NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR STRAND PASSENGERS IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373535

70,000 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

08 F350 WITH 70,000MILES ON IT. WE TOW A TRAILER DAILY WITH THIS VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES PER DAY IT STATES "CLEANING THE EXHAUST FILTER". ON SEPT. 29, 2010, IT SAID "CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER AND STOP SAFELY NOW" AND SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. LUCKILY A FRIEND WAS DRIVING BY AND TOWED ME OUT …

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08 F350 WITH 70,000MILES ON IT. WE TOW A TRAILER DAILY WITH THIS VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES PER DAY IT STATES "CLEANING THE EXHAUST FILTER". ON SEPT. 29, 2010, IT SAID "CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER AND STOP SAFELY NOW" AND SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. LUCKILY A FRIEND WAS DRIVING BY AND TOWED ME OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. PRIOR TO THIS OUR VEHICLE HAD FOUR RADIATORS PUT INTO VEHICLE BECAUSE PLASTIC PARTS KEPT BREAKING. THE EXHAUST SENSOR WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CODE FOR THIS WAS THE EXHAUST SENSOR. IF I WAS ON FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN I'D BE DEAD. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO PULL OFF ROAD. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. FORD IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS. TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT VEHICLE SINCE SEPT. 29, 2010. THEY REFUSE TO PUT TRUCK BACK TOGETHER. THEY STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE WARRANTY BUT FORD WON'T WARRANTY AND I WON'T PAY WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363480

37,000 miles · Sep 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE METAL ON METAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CALIBERS GOING BAD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS AND ROUTERS TO FAIL AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE METAL ON METAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CALIBERS GOING BAD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS AND ROUTERS TO FAIL AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIBERS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER PARTS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE CALIBERS USED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 37000.

NHTSA ODI #10354620

40,000 miles · Aug 30, 2010
SteeringSuspension

2008 F350 SUPER DUTY ----VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MET 10 TIMES. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ANY SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO70 MPH AND I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND DROP TH…

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2008 F350 SUPER DUTY ----VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MET 10 TIMES. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ANY SPEED BETWEEN 50 TO70 MPH AND I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES. I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND DROP THE SPEED FAST TO AROUND 35MPH TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK . IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DEAL WITH . I GOT RID OF MY 2005 F350 BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352808

35,530 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2008 350 SUPER DUTY FORD TRUCK. I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND IN THOSE MILES I HAVE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE TRUCKS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT START FROM A DEAD STOP IN 1ST. GEAR. IN STEAD IT MUST HAVE STARTED IN 3RD. OR 4TH GEAR RESULTING IN WHAT WOULD BE A VERY UNDERPOWERED START. I WOULD…

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I HAVE A 2008 350 SUPER DUTY FORD TRUCK. I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND IN THOSE MILES I HAVE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE TRUCKS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT START FROM A DEAD STOP IN 1ST. GEAR. IN STEAD IT MUST HAVE STARTED IN 3RD. OR 4TH GEAR RESULTING IN WHAT WOULD BE A VERY UNDERPOWERED START. I WOULD PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING AND THE WHEELS SPINNING EVEN WHEN PULLING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. TWICE, WHILE EMPTY, I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN I NEEDED A RAPID RESPONSE TO ENTER TRAFFIC. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 8/25/2010. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN THIS COMPLAINT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY CODES, HOWEVER THE LAST TIME THE DEALER DID A COMPUTER UPDATE ON THE TRUCK AND THAT WAS ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO AND I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. I MET ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME POWER TRAIN AS MINE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, FINALLY HIS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, IT MAY SAVE A LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352336

61,000 miles · Aug 20, 2010
Fuel System, Diesel

I HAVE 2008 FORD F350 XLT 4X4 SRW DIESEL JUST OVER A YEAR AND WHAT HAVE HAPPENED NOW IS THAT ON 08/02/1010 WHILE I WAS DRIVING THERE WERE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE ALSO SOOO MUCH OF WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND THEN THE TRUCK JUST FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER LOCATION AFTER A WEEK S…

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I HAVE 2008 FORD F350 XLT 4X4 SRW DIESEL JUST OVER A YEAR AND WHAT HAVE HAPPENED NOW IS THAT ON 08/02/1010 WHILE I WAS DRIVING THERE WERE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE ALSO SOOO MUCH OF WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND THEN THE TRUCK JUST FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER LOCATION AFTER A WEEK SITTING THERE SERVICE PEOPLE FROM DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WAS OIL AND FUEL SPILLAGE ALL OVER THE FILTER AND THE ENGINE ETC.. BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING IT AND I ENDED UP WITH THE BILL FOR IT AN HOUR LATER WHEN I TOOK IT THE TRUCK IT HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP AFTER FEW DAYS THEY SAID THAT WAS SOMETHING MINOR AND THEY GAVE ME THE TRUCK WHEN I JUST LEFT THEIR SHOP IN THE EVENING SAME PROBLEM SO MUCH SMOKE THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING THE SMOKE WAS CHOKING ME SO NOW AGAIN THE TRUCK IS IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE BUT THEY NOW POINTING FUEL INJECTORS AND AGAIN THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR OIL AND FUEL SPILLAGE SO THAT THEY AGAIN GOING TO CHANGE OIL AND FILTER BUT THEY NOT WORKING ON FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM! AT THIS MOMENT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE FUEL SPILLAGE I KNOW IT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK WITH SO MUCH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM EXHAUST FILTER

NHTSA ODI #10350787

73,000 miles · Jul 31, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Diesel

LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING CAN NOT GET ANY SPEED ALMOST GOT HIT ON INTERSTATE SINCE IT DROPPED SPEED FROM 70 TO 40 FUEL PUMP REPLACED STILL AT DEALERS HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 WEEKS HAD IT IN THE SHOP A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR COOLING SYSTEM THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK THERE IS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRUCKS . WITH…

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LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING CAN NOT GET ANY SPEED ALMOST GOT HIT ON INTERSTATE SINCE IT DROPPED SPEED FROM 70 TO 40 FUEL PUMP REPLACED STILL AT DEALERS HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 WEEKS HAD IT IN THE SHOP A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR COOLING SYSTEM THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK THERE IS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRUCKS . WITH 73 BULLETINS ON THEM I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE !!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346442

31,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 FORD F-350 SD DIESEL 31000 MILES BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD LAG BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE STUCK ON ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE SMELL OF THE BRAKE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE ALSO VERY HOT COULD NOT TOUCH THE WHEEL HUB ONCE THE CALIPER WAS REMOVED IT WAS A PIECE THAT HAD BROKEN INSIDE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK WHILE I W…

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2008 FORD F-350 SD DIESEL 31000 MILES BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD LAG BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE STUCK ON ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE SMELL OF THE BRAKE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE ALSO VERY HOT COULD NOT TOUCH THE WHEEL HUB ONCE THE CALIPER WAS REMOVED IT WAS A PIECE THAT HAD BROKEN INSIDE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK WHILE I WAS BUYING THE CALIPER THERE WAS ANOTHER TRUCK SAME PROBLEM ONLY 18,000 MILES ALSO COMMENTS FROM PARTS THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346052

44,500 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Tires

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343610

117,764 miles · Jun 26, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HI, MY NAME IS [XXX] , MY TRUCK IS 2008 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4L LARIAT DUALLY.WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IT HAD 57,000 MILE AND I USE IT TO TWO BIG TRAILERS TO TRANSPORT FURNITURE'S OUT OF THE STATE TEXAS. LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS PULLING MY LOADED TRAILER ON THE HIGHWAY IN IRVING TEXAS GOING TO NEW ORLEANS LA DRIVING 60 MP…

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HI, MY NAME IS [XXX] , MY TRUCK IS 2008 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4L LARIAT DUALLY.WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IT HAD 57,000 MILE AND I USE IT TO TWO BIG TRAILERS TO TRANSPORT FURNITURE'S OUT OF THE STATE TEXAS. LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS PULLING MY LOADED TRAILER ON THE HIGHWAY IN IRVING TEXAS GOING TO NEW ORLEANS LA DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMETHING TOLD ME TO STOP AND GET SOME WATER FROM THE MY COOLER AT THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE I WILL NOT STOP FOR AT LEAST 200 MILE. AS I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I REACH 15 MILES PER HOUR THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP SO I PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE AND MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND MY HEART WENT DOWN WITH IT, I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, LOW GEAR 1, AND GO ON THE GRASS TO STOP MY TRUCK. A MOBILE MECHANIC CAME AND SAID I NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, YOUR BREAK BOOSTER EARS ARE ONE BROKE OFF AND THE OTHER ONE IS VERY LOOSE.( WHERE THE MASTER CYLINDER CONNECT TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. HE TIGHTENED ON BOLT AND TOLD ME TO FOLLOW HIM TO FORD DEALER 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, USING THE BRAKE VERY LIGHTLY, DRIVING SLOW AND RELY MOSTLY ON THE TRAILER BRAKES. WE WENT TO WEST WAY FORD AT FIRST DID NOT WANT TO DIAGNOSE MY TRUCK, AND TOLD ME I HAVE TO WAIT 3 DAYS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEHIND AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME NOW. I TOLD HIM THAT I AM LUCKY TO BE A LIFE AND TALKING TO YOU NOW, HE REPLIED OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE TO WAIT AND YOU DO TOO! SO I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND I SPOKE WITH KELLY, SHE TOOK DOWN THE REPORT AND TOLD ME AFTER THE TECHNICIAN FINISH DIAGNOSING YOU TRUCK WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THEY ASK WEST WAY FORD (VINCE GRAZIOSO TO LOOK AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE MY BRAKE BOOSTER,. THEY SAID YOUR TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT COST YOU $1289.00 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND TO CHANGE THE AIR FILTER, AND THE DIESEL FILTER LIKE IF THAT'S. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340241

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

PE13014 · 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