NHTSA Complaint #10783349 — 2011 FORD F-150

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, DOWN A WINDY, CANYON ROAD, I NOTICED A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AS I WAS ROUNDING A LEFT TURN AT TWO DIFFERENT INTERVALS OF MY STEERING TO THE LEFT. AT EACH INTERVAL/SQUEAL, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACTUALLY TURNING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST MISS THE TURN AND GO OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 15MPH, AND WITH CONTINUED FORCE PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL HARDER LEFT, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THIS CONTINUED FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY 8 MILE DRIVE INTO TOWN, WITH PROBLEMS PERSISTING WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. I ALSO NOTICED, AS I GOT INTO TOWN, THAT MY BLINKERS SUDDENLY STOPPED "STAYING ON." THEY WOULD BLINK ONCE AND TURN BACK OFF. THIS WAS TRUE FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT BLINKER. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IN PARKING NOTICED THAT THE SQUEALING AND THE LACK OF "TURNING DURING THE SQUEAL" WAS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOWER SPEED -- PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER DIAGNOSING MY TRUCK, THEY FOUND THE GEAR ASSEMBLY - STEERING NEEDED REPLACING. ON MY INVOICE IT SAYS "1 EL3Z*3504*BE GEAR ASY - STEERING". MY TRUCK HAS 56283 MILES ON IT. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CASES ONLINE OF PEOPLE THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO, EVEN SOME WHO HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SAME ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILURE.