NHTSA Complaint #10409490 — 2011 FORD E-150

THIS VEHICLE, A 2011 E-150 FORD VAN WAGON. STEERING BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE STARTING AT 50 MPH AND BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES TO 75 MPH. THE 2 PRIOR INCIDENCES REFERENCED ABOVE OCCURRED BETWEEN 50-75 MPH. ANY SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS BY DRIVER, ESPECIALLY AT 70 MPH, CREATES SWAY CONDUCIVE TO ROLLOVER. IT SEEMS AS IF THE "POWER ASSIST" INTERFERES WITH DRIVER'S CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, OVER-STEER IS CREATED AND WHEN THE DRIVER MAKES A CORRECTION, A SWAYING EFFECT IS CREATED. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE POWER ASSIST FUNCTION IS SUPPOSED TO DIMINISH, GIVING DRIVER FULL CONTROL. TECHNICIANS AT DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED ABOVE SYMPTOMS AND STATED AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM BECAUSE ALIGNMENT WAS ACCORDING TO SPECS. THEREAFTER WHAT IS DESCRIBED OCCURRED EVERY TIME IN THE RANGE BETWEEN 55-75 MPH. STEERING AND HANDLING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SWAY BAR IS UNDERSIZED WHICH TENDS TO SHIFT TO THE RIGHT CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT. SWAY BARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO SHIFT, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN IN PLACE. UPDATED 08/05/11 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SHOCK ABSORBER BUSHING WAS CRACKED. UPDATED 08/24/11 THE SUSPENSION IS INADEQUATE AND THE BODY TOP ON TOP OF THE WHEEL FRAME MOVES WHEREAS THE BODY TRACKS. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE SUSPENSION CAN NOT HANDLE THE WIND RESISTANCE OF ANY CROSS WIND AT ALL. THE BODY OF THE VAN SHIFTS. UPDATED 09/08/11.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A BODY ROLL ISSUE. UPDATED 09/13/11.*JB UPDATED 09/20/11.*JB UPDATED 09/27/11.*JB UPDATED 10/03/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED A RE-CERTIFIED ASE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE WITH HIM AND THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THE METAL TO METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE SWAY BAR AND THE FRAME BRACKET WAS THE RESULT OF THE SWAY BAR SHIFTING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE LAST SHIFT MOVEMENT WAS SO STRONG, THAT THE BAR REMAINED SKEWED, JAMMED AND LOCKED UP. THE TOP OF EACH LINK WAS SEVERELY ANGLED TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPDATED 11/17/11