NHTSA Complaint #11016311 — 2011 FORD F-150

I WAS BACKING MY F-150 DOWN AN ALLEY OUT INTO THE STREET WHEN I HAD A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT JUST FEEL STIFF BUT LOCKED UP AS IF IT WERE BEING HELD BY SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION FROM EITHER SYMPTOMS OR ANY TYPE OF WARNING LIGHT AS TO THE FAIL PRIOR TO THIS. AFTER TORQUING ON IT. IT FINALLY BROKE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE WHEELS BUT IT WANTED TO LOCK IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. I AM A BIG GUY AND COULD HARDLY MOVE THE WHEEL WHEN IT WAS TRYING TO LOCK UP. MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IT AT ALL. I HAVE READ THE INFORMATION SINCE ON THIS SYSTEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT TO THE TYPE OF DEVISE USED TO DRIVE THE POWER ASSIST. WHEN THE ELECTROMAGNET FAILS IT LOCKS INTO POSITION RATHER THAN ASSISTING THE STEERING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POWER TO MOVE TO STEERING WHEEL IF THIS HAPPENS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE ON A 5 YEAR OLD TRUCK THAT HAS JUST 50K THIS MONTH.