NHTSA Complaint #10995700 — 2008 FORD F-250

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, TRUCK SEEMED TO WANT TO WANDER DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX. STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN ABOUT 1/4 TO 1/2 WAY BEFORE IT WOULD REACT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT COULD POSSIBLY BE ADJUSTED. HE CHECKED ALL THE LINKAGE AND STEERING BOX BOLTS FOR LOOSENESS. HE TRIED TO ADJUST THE BOX BUT THERE WAS A FLAT SPOT ON THE STEERING GEAR THAT HAD WORN AND COULD NOT ADJUST BECAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING TO BIND UP AND NOT RETURN CORRECTLY. HE TOLD ME THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A STEERING BOX TO BE WORN OUT WITH ONLY 47,000 MILE ON THE TRUCK AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER RETURNING IT TO ME I DROVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX REPLACED. MY COST WAS OVER $700. I FEEL THIS IS REALLY A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR DRIVERS TO BE IN AND HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HOPE FORD REALIZES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND CARES ENOUGH ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH SUCH LOW MILAGE.