NHTSA Complaint #11121620 — 2011 FORD F-150

ON SATURDAY 08/18/18 THE POWER STEERING UNIT ON MY MY FORD F-150 (2011MODEL, 67956 MILES) FAILED, FORTUNATELY, RIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOTHING CHANGED WHEN I RESTARTED THE TRUCK A FEW TIMES, SO I SHUT IT DOWN WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE UNIT WAS REPLACED FOR $2171.00. I DISCUSSED THE EVENT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPRESSING MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON FAILURES OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART THAT IMPACTED VEHICLE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, OR A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. HE SYMPATHIZED AND TOLD ME TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUPPLIED ME WITH THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER. THE C S REP TOOK MY INFORMATION, GAVE ME A CASE # AND SAID I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY A REGIONAL CS REP. THAT PERSON CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND POLITELY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THAT TYPE OF INCIDENT AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE CHARGES FOR THE REPAIR. AS I TOLD THE CS REP TODAY WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY TRUCK TO PEOPLE THIS ISSUE WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE RATHER THAN THE ENJOYMENT I HAVE HAD WITH IT SO FAR. ACCORDING TO INFO ON THE NHTSA SITE THIS IS NOT AN UNHEARD OF FAILURE. IN FACT THERE ARE RECALLS AND REPLACEMENTS FOR STEERING MECHANISMS ON OTHER FORD MODELS FROM THE SAME YEAR. IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS STONEWALLING ON THIS ISSUE AND SCREWING THEIR CUSTOMERS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT COVERED BY A RECALL? MAYBE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED?