NHTSA Complaint #11114221 — 2011 FORD F-150

TAKATA RECALL...WHILE DRIVING ACROSS TOWN I NOTICED MY TRUCK'S STEERING WHEEL ACTING, VERY DIFFERENT. WHILE ARRIVING AT A STOP LIGHT, AT A BUSY INTERSECTION I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN AND LOOSEN REPEATEDLY UNTIL FINALLY IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD TO USE ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE SLIGHTEST TURN BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER MY WHEEL STIFFENED THAT MY TRUCK'S DASHBOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT SAID (SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW). THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THIS WAS THAT ALL OF MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME. HAD MY TEEN DAUGHTER CHOSEN TO BORROW MY TRUCK FOR AN ERRAND, IN A DIFFERENT CITY EARLIER THAT DAY, SHE MIGHT HAVE EITHER BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A FATAL CAR CRASH TRAVELING 60 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY TRUCK DID NOT NOTIFY MY OF ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL IT 2-3 MINUTES AFTER IT HAPPENED. WE HAD TO CANCEL OUR PLANS AND DRIVE TO A NEARBY FAMILY MEMBER'S HOUSE. WHICH WASN'T MY PRIOR DESTINATION. I HAD TO REALLY USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO MAKE TURNS OR TO SIMPLY MOVE 2 INCHES TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ESPECIALLY AS I TURN INTO INTERSECTIONS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? I'VE LOOKED UP THIS ISSUE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT FORUMS WITH PLENTY OF ISSUES LIKE MINE. SOME WITH VERY LOW MILES AND MID MILES LIKE MINE. I'VE CALLED FORD AND THEY DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC INJURIES OR DEATHS, HOW MANY DO THEY NEED FOR THERE TO BE FOR A RECALL? THE COST OF THIS ISSUE TO BE REPLACED COULD RUN FROM $1500 TO $1800 MORE OR LESS.