NHTSA Complaint #10662067 — 2005 FORD F-150

CORROSION OF THE U-JOINTS ON THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT OF MY 2005 FORD F150 (4.6 L) IS CAUSING THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING, EVEN AT MODERATE SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE DRIVES AS IF IT HAS NO POWER STEERING. LUBRICATION OF THESE JOINTS WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR A PERIOD OF A WEEK OR SO, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER FORD MODELS WITHIN SIMILAR MANUFACTURE DATES. I LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER STATE WHERE THE PROBLEM IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAS BEEN NOTED TO BE MORE OF AN ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THE F150. THE COST FOR ME TO REPLACE THIS PART WILL RANGE FROM $300 TO $600. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE MADE WITHIN THE SAME ORIGINAL OEM DESIGN. THE PARTS NEED TO BE CORRECTED SO THAT REPLACEMENTS WILL NOT FALTER AS WELL. IT IS VERY SCARY TO THINK THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON MY STEERING DURING DIFFICULT WEATHER SITUATIONS. *JS