NHTSA Complaint #10745721 — 2011 FORD F-150

MY 2011 FORD F150, WITH LESS THAN 23500 MILES, SUDDENLY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH ITS ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM CONSISTING OF (A) VERY LOOSE STEERING, (B) A "SERVICE ADVANCTRAC" WARNING MESSAGE, (C) THE CONTROL FOR THE LEFT & RIGHT BLINKERS NO LONGER WORKING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DIRT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE PROBLEM STRUCK WITHOUT WARNING, AND THEN GOT ONTO A PAVED ROAD WHERE THE STEERING CONTINUED TO FEEL VERY 'SLOPPY' AND SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE EPAS (ELECTRONIC) STEERING SYSTEM WHICH WAS FIRST INTRODUCED ON THE 2011 F150 MODEL. THEY FIRST QUOTED $1300 TO REPAIR IT SINCE I AM OUT OF THE 3/36 WARRANTY, BUT LATER CAME DOWN TO $480 WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS RIDICULOUS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN ON A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 25K MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, FORD COVERED THE COST OF THE EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS (WEBSITES & NHTSA) REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD EPAS STEERING SYSTEM. ITS SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINABLE FAILURE, ESPECIALLY ON TRUCKS WITH LOW MILEAGE, MAKES THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN IN MY OPINION.