NHTSA Complaint #10436924 — 2011 FORD F-150

2012 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE A GRAB HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE A PILLAR. FORD F-150 TRUCKS ARE HIGHER THAN PASSENGER CARS AND REQUIRE A DRIVER TO PULL OR HOLD ONTO AN OBJECT TO ENTER THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FORD RECOMMENDS DRIVERS PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS AN ASSIST WHEN ENTERING THE F-150. IT APPEARS THAT REPETITIVE AND STRENUOUS PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL, PARTICULARLY BY LARGER DRIVERS OVER 6 FEET TALL AND WEIGHING OVER 200 POUNDS, WHEN ENTERING THE F-150, CAN CAUSE STEERING COMPONENTS TO BREAK WHICH COULD LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE, OR PROBLEMS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SUGGESTED SOLUTION: FORD HAS A GRAB HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A PILLAR TO ASSIST PASSENGERS WHEN ENTERING THE TRUCK. EVIDENTLY, FORD ENGINEERS SEE A NEED TO PLACE A GRAB HANDLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO USE WHEN ENTERING F-150 TRUCKS. TO AVOID POSSIBLE STEERING MECHANISM DAMAGE, FORD SHOULD PLACE A GRAB HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE A PILLAR WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STEERING MECHANISM. *TR