NHTSA Complaint #740367 — 1997 FORD F-150

BY CHANCE I HEARD MY WIFE BACK RUCK OUT OF GARAGE AND NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAK FROM FRONT END AS SHE STEERED. WITH WINDOWS UP AND HEATER ON WE HAD NOT HEARD THE SOUND DURING THIS WINTER AND DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN MAKING NOISE. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. AS WE PULLED IN THE SHOP WITH IT SQUEAKING AT EACH TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL A MECHANIC WALKED OVER AND SAID THAT MUST BE A 1997. I SAID YES AND HE SAID THE PITMAN ARM IS SUPPOSED TO BE LUBED FOR LIFE SO THERE IS NO GREASE FITTING, AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO FAIL ON THE 1997'S. WE GET OUR TRUCK OIL CHANGED AND LUBED EVERY 3000 MILES OR CLOSE TO IT. HE SAID IF WE HADN'T NOTICE THE NOISE IT WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND BROKE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTS THE STEERING BOX SHAFT TO THE STEERING LINKAGE AND A FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. WE GOT IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY BY REPLACING THE PITMAN ARM AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $300. HOW LONG WILL THE NEW ARM LAST WITHOUT GREASE? I REPORTED IT TO FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRACK THE VEHICLES AND NOTIFY ME IF THERE IS A RECALL. THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE ARE AT LEAST A COUPLE SERVICE BULLETINS DATING BACK TO 97 AND 98 THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD NOTIFY US OF THE PROBLEM WHILE THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR AND AT LEAST TO ASSURE OUR STEERING WOULD NOT FAIL. THE BULLETIN NUMBERS I FOUND ARE #9810569 IN 1998 AND BC2360970501 IN 1997 BOTH ABOUT THE PITMAN ARM REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT METRO FORD OF GRAND LEDGE MICHIGAN (517-627-3293). *AK