NHTSA Complaint #11232090 — 2006 FORD F-250

AT 145,000 MILES, A STEERING ISSUE DEVELOPED. 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, AT A 4-WAY STOP, I TURN RIGHT TO GO TO WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND IS HARD TO TURN BACK TO THE LEFT TO CENTER THE F250 IN MY LANE. 1 MILE LATER, ANOTHER RIGHT TURN, AND THE PROBLEM BECOMES SCARY. THE WHEEL IS STIFF TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRUCK ZOOM TO THE LEFT, I STEER RIGHT AND IT IS SLOW AND STIFF AND THEN RESPONDS WITHOUT WARNING ZIPPING ME TO THE RIGHT. I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AT THIS POINT, DOING 35MPH WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM TO CLEAR UP. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM CLEARED UP WITHIN A MILE, BUT TODAY IT TOOK 5 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS THEN GONE FOR THE REST OF MY 30 MILE TRIP TO WORK. SAME THING, SAME PLACE EVERYDAY. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. A MILE AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPACE I HAVE THE FIRST SYMPTOM AND THEN ALL HELL BRAKES LOOSE ON THE NEXT TURN. CRAZY STEERING FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN SMOOTH SAILING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. PLANNING ON REPLACING THE STEERING GEARBOX AND POWER STEERING PUMP THIS WEEKEND.