NHTSA Complaint #10466295 — 2011 FORD F-150

2011 FORD F150 4 WHEEL DRIVE 5.0 ENGINE.. STARTED AT AROUND 6000 MILES I NOW HAVE ONLY 13000 ON THIS VEHICLE.. THERE IS A KNOCKING/TAPPING/RATTLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL/SHAFT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AT ANY SPEED. MANY FOLKS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE ON FORD TRUCK FORUMS YET FORD SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, IT CANNOT BE NORMAL IF THESE TRUCKS ARE FINE WHEN THEY ARE BRAND NEW YET DEVELOP THIS RATTLE AND KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES. MY TRUCKS STEERING FEELS VERY SLOPPY AND LOOSE WHEN GOING STRAIGHT OVER BUMPS AND HAS A RATTLE/KNOCKING/POPPING SENSATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL APART IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIR STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY FORD WITH GOOD TEMPORARY RESULTS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RETURN A FEW HUNDRED TO A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, SO AGAIN IT CANNOT BE NORMAL. TO NOTE: IT IS DEFINITELY WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT BUT ALWAYS THERE EVEN WHEN COLD OUT. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT AND SECURE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LIKE THIS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIND A FIX TO THIS VERY REAL DRIVER CONCERN AND VERY POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS (2011-2012) IS THE FIRST YEAR THIS TYPE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED IN A TRUCK SO THERE ARE NO LONG TERM RELIABILITY STATS. FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIND A FIX NOW BEFORE SOMETHING VERY BAD STARTS HAPPENING. IF THIS WERE A RATTLE IN THE DOOR OR SOMETHING ANNOYING LIKE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE MUCH OF A CONCERN BUT THIS IS THE STEERING SYSTEM ON A 5000 POUND TRUCK. MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE RIGHT AGENCY TAKES THIS SERIOUS AND INVESTIGATES THIS VERY REAL PROBLEM ON THESE 2011-2012 FORD F150 TRUCKS. *TR