NHTSA Complaint #11165067 — 2018 FORD F-150

THIS TRUCK COMES STANDARD WITH AUTO START STOP TECHNOLOGY. WHEN THE AUTO STOP TURNS OFF THE ENGINE IT ALSO TURNS OFF THE POWER STEERING. WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTS AND THE POWER STEERING SHOULD START WORKING IMMEDIATELY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS NOT COME BACK TO FULL ASSIST. IT TOOK 3-5 SECONDS TO START FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IN MY CASE EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I WAS STOPPED AND MAKING A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. WHEN I ACCELERATED I DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING TO MAKE THE TURN. I TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOW ABLE TO RECREATE THIS PROBLEM ON A CONSISTENT BASIS NOW. IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF AND LET THE ENGINE START IT DOES NOT HAVE FULL POWER STEERING. IF I KEEP MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AND WAIT A SECOND BEFORE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL IT WORKS FINE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER TO ADDRESS IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. THAT DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT TO ME. THEY SUGGESTED TURNING OFF THE AUTO START STOP. THAT DEFAULTS TO ON EVERY TIME YOU START THE TRUCK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A BIG GUY AND IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN. I DOUBT SMALLER PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF IT. THE TRUCK IS NEW. IT IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND 3K MILES.