NHTSA Complaint #11218516 — 2008 FORD F-150

MY TRUCK HAS 80,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT GRADUALLY THE STEERING WAS BECOMING STIFFER AND HARDER TO TURN FEELING AS IF IT WAS BINDING AT TIMES. IT GOT TO A POINT THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RECOVER AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BE PULLED BACK MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO MY SERVICE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND FOUND VARIOUS FORUMS WHERE OWNERS AND REPAIR TECHS DESCRIBED THE TWO "U" JOINTS ON THE F-150 STEERING SHAFT BECOMING BADLY CORRODED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND POINTING OUT THE JOINTS HAVE NO GREASE FITTING. I CHECKED THE JOINTS ON MY TRUCK AND THEY ERE CORRODED. I APPLIED LUBRICANT EXTERNALLY AND IT COMPLETELY ELIMINATED MY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE TO REAPPLY LUBRICANT EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE UPPER JOINT AFTER I LUBRICATED IT. FORD HAS TO KNOW THIS SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS AND THAT THIS IS COSTING OWNERS NEEDLESS REPAIR COSTS.