NHTSA Complaint #10294150 — 2006 FORD F-350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F350 PURCHASED OCTOBER 2005. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 45 MPH AND TOWING A 30 FOOT TRAILER IN LIGHT SNOW, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION, BUT IT TURNED IN A FULL 365 DEGREE TURN WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF THE DRIVER. HE ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE WHEEL HOWEVER THE TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE DRIVER THEN CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN AND WAS TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE STEERING BOX IN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE STEERING BOX DESIGNED FOR THE F450 MODEL AS OPPOSED TO THE F350 MODEL. THE HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED TO THE SCENE SHORTLY AFTER AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT WAS 31,000.