NHTSA Complaint #10641678 — 2011 FORD F-150

MY 2011 FORD F150 -WITH ONLY 39000 MILES- HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE RACK MOUNTED ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING MODULE WHICH PROHIBITED IT FROM BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE CAUSED AN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT (NO POWER ASSIST) OF THE VEHICLE WHICH NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT THAT TIME AND WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, A DRIVER ALERT WAS OBSERVED THAT INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK HAD FAILED AND WARNED TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESET THE SYSTEM BUT THE MESSAGE RETURNED AGAIN AFTER RESTART AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST WAS IN EXCESS OF $1500.00. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 39000 MILES INDICATED ON THE ODOMETER. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO REPORTS OF THE FAILURES ON SEDAN VEHICLES INSTALLED WITH SIMILARLY DESIGNED POWER STEERING RACKS. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO NHTSA, THAT THE RECALL/INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE WITH SEDANS BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FORD LIGHT TRUCKS. *TR