NHTSA Complaint #10638421 — 2011 FORD F-150

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AS I STEERED INTO A LEFT HAND CURVE IN THE ROAD WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN ABOUT THE 10 O'CLOCK POSITION THE STEERING "LOCKED" INTO THAT POSITION. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE WHEELS HAD ENTERED A RUT IN THE ROAD. THE AUTOMATIC RETURN TO CENTER FUNCTION DID NOT WORK AND I HAND TO MANUALLY APPLY FORCE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. THIS MALFUNTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHENEVER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS WERE MET. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM "RACK". FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A TSB (#11-08-18) IN EFFECT TO ADDRESS IT. THE TSB HAS THE PROBLEM NARROWED DOWN THE THE YEAR, MODEL, PLACE OF MANUFACURE, AND DATE OF MANUFACTURE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS THAT HAS BEEN FULLY RESEARCHED AND IDENTIFIED IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY RECALL. THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY CAUSE A VEHICLE TO DRIFT OUT OF ITS LANE ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON ON UNDIVIDED ROAD OR OFF THE ROADWAY ENTIRELY. *TR