NHTSA Complaint #10606385 — 2008 FORD F-350 SD

ON THE EVENING OF 6/13/2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 FORD F-350 THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH LINE OF WHITE CASTLE IN COMMACK, NEW YORK, 11725. AS I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TO FOLLOW THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE, A HEARD A METAL BREAKING SOUND FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. WITHIN LESS THAN 1 SECOND FROM THIS HAPPENING, MY VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CINDER BLOCK WALL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, FENDER AND HEADLIGHT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO MYSELF OR ANY PASSENGERS AS WELL AS THE WALL HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE. I HAD A POLICE REPORT FILED WITH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT CORROBORATES MY STATEMENT OF COMPLETE STEERING LOSS AS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, NORTH SHORE FIRESTONE IN COMMACK. UPON INVESTIGATION THEY DETERMINED THE GEARS INSIDE OF THE STEERING BOX COMPLETELY FAILED. THEY COULD BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE DETAILING WHAT THE INTERNALS OF THE STEERING BOX LOOKED LIKE IF NEEDED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THERE IS A 2 MONTH BACK LOG ON THE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS PART. BEING THAT THERE IS A REPLACEMENT BACKLOG, FORD MUST KNOW THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO STAND UP TO THE DIFFICULT TASK OF GETTING WHITE CASTLE! THIS FAILURE NOT ONLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK COSTING OVER $5,000, BUT THIS WILL CAUSE MY INSURANCE TO GO UP AS WELL. IF THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DROPPED FROM MY INSURANCE, I WILL HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS BEING THAT ALL OF MY JOBS REQUIRE ME TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION. PLEASE HAVE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM SO NO ONE ELSE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY I WAS GOING AT A LOW SPEED, BUT THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I WAS. *TR