NHTSA Complaint #10807873 — 2002 FORD F-150

TURNS SIGNALS DIDN'T WHILE DRIVING IN COLD VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE WARMED UP THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED NORMALLY. I HAD NO PROBLEMS IN THE WARM MONTHS OF THE YEAR. TURN SIGNAL LEVER WORKS PROPERLY ON AND OFF. THOUGHT IT WAS THE FLASHER UNIT, REPLACE IT AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD ( SOMEWHERE BELOW 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ) THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN A LOWER TILT POSITION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE TEMPERATURE IS CLOSE TO FREEZING. WHEN THE CAB OF THE PICKUP WARMS UP SIGNALS WILL WORK. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES F SIGNALS WILL WORK. THE SIGNAL WIRES ARE STRETCHED IN THE COLUMN BY TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN. THE COLD MAKES THE WIRES STIFF. WHEN THE WIRES WARM UP THEY FLEX TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CONNECTION AND ACTIVE THE SIGNALS PROPERLY. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON RANGER TRUCKS FOR THIS ISSUE. WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE ISSUED FOR THIS TRUCK.