NHTSA Complaint #10504750 — 2012 FORD F-150

WHEN DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH ON A AN UNEVEN SURFACE ESPECIALLY GRAVEL OR DIRT ROADS THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND FROM FRONT/ALSO FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. FEELS LIKE A WORN OUT VEHICLE WITH BAD BALLJOINTS. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS WIDESPREAD ON THESE 2011-2013 TRUCKS WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING. NOTIFIED DEALER ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND FORUMS ABOUT BAD STEERING BOXES. TOOK TRUCK IN TO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC EXPERIENCED IT ON TEST DRIVE. TIGHTENED ALL FRONT SUSPENSION HARDWARE AND ALL WAS TIGHT. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T REPLACE ANYTHING IF NOTHING IS BROKE. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION OF THE CONCERN EVEN THOUGH THE MECHANIC FELT IT ON TEST DRIVE. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 10,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 7,000 OR 8,000 MILES. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS TRUCK. I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF FORDS IN THE PAST BUT IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. FOR A TRUCK THAT STICKERED JUST UNDER 50K IT IS VERY PATHETIC THAT FORD DOES NOT STEP UP AND ADDRESS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE STEERING RACKS. IT IS PRETTY CLEAR WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND OTHER WEBSITES WITH THE SAME EXACT CONCERNS THAT THERE IS A ISSUE HERE. I HOPE THEY FIGURE SOMETHING OUT BECAUSE A MALFUNCTION IN THE STEERING COULD BE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND THINKING ABOUT BUYING A F-150 I WOULD THINK OF LOOKING AT OTHER BRANDS. *TR