NHTSA Complaint #10521961 — 2011 FORD F-150

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO KNOCK, CLUNK AND VIBRATE BADLY, TO A POINT IT BECOMES HARD TO HOLD ONTO THE WHEEL AS THE SENSATION IS OVERLY DISTURBING TO YOUR HANDS. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. HEAT IS A MAJOR COMPONENT. THE HOTTER IT IS OUTSIDE, THE WORSE THE KNOCKING GETS, TO A POINT SOME PLAY CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING. ON A 90 DEGREE DAY IT IS EASILY REPRODUCED, AND IS STARTING TO EVEN MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AS IT CAUSES THE WHEEL TO VIBRATE OUT OF ONES HANDS, OR CAUSES A PERSONS HANDS TO GET TIRED OR COMPENSATING FOR THE PLAY AND KNOCKING AND NEED TO LET GO OF THE WHEEL. DEALERSHIPS WANT TO SAY WE HAVE NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING BUT THAT IS ABSURD. WE HAVE SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, INCLUDING A NEWER F150, AND IT DOES NOT DO THIS AT ALL. THIS 2011 F150 HAS HAD MORE ISSUES THAN ANY NEW VEHICLE EVER SHOULD, BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHEN GOOGLE SEARCHING THE ISSUE, F!50 STEERING POPPING KNOCKING, THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS CAN BE FOUND REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE. FORD IS GETTING AWAY WITH TOO MANY ISSUES ON THEIR 2011 AND NEWER VEHICLES, IT IS TIME TO MAKE THEM STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. *TR