NHTSA Complaint #11290816 — 2018 FORD F-150

AFTER STOPPING IN TRAFFIC AND WAITING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STEER AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. THIS CAUSED ME TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC RATHER THAN MAKING MY PLANNED, IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN. AS THE TRUCK DROVE STRAIGHT RATHER THAN TURNING, AND AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE WHEEL LEFT WITH BOTH HANDS, SUDDENLY THE STEERING FUNCTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE TRUCK AND CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK SO I DROVE THE TRUCK HOME. THE NEXT DAY (SATURDAY) A SERVICE ADVISER FROM THE FORD DEALER CALLED AND ASKED ME TO DROP THE TRUCK OFF THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AFTERNOON. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT. IN MY OPINION THE ISSUE MAY BE RELATED TO THE IMPROPER FUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING AFTER THE STOP /START FUNCTION OF THE TRUCK IS ACTIVATED. THERE IS A MEASURABLE LAG BETWEEN THE ENGINE'S RE-START AND THE REACTIVATION OF THE POWER STEERING. THE TRUCK IS ALLOWED TO TRAVEL BEFORE THE POWER STEERING IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.