1997 FORD F-150 Steering Problems

STEERING WHEEL FRAME IS CRACKED AND ALLOWS FOR LARGE MOVEMENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE MAY RESPOND. ALUMINUM APPEARS TO HAVE SEVERAL HAIRLINE CRACKS AND WARPING AROUND THE COLLAR HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN AND YOU MAY LOOSE CONTROL WHILE TURNING OR WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS UNEVEN AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS. LOST CONTROL WHILE TRAVELING ON AN S SHAPED CURVE DUE TO LACK OF STEERING AND THEN OVER-STEERING. THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IN NIGHT CONDITIONS, NO RAIN. VIDEO FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE VIA A DASHCAM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD AND A POP SOUND EMERGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY A HALF A BLOCK THEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER THAT ADVISED HIM THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.

I JUST STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY STEERING. I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO TUG HARD TO UNBIND AND REGAIN CONTROL OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXTREME FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY WELDING THE STEERING SHAFT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BECAME LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN WHEN ALL THE BALL BEARINGS FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWAY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, IT WAS CONTROLLABLE AT THE LOW SPEED I WAS GOING BUT THANK GOD I WASN'T ON AN INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED I COULD HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD OR WORSE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION ! THE TRUCK HAS NOT LEFT MY PROPERTY SINCE BUT I STILL HAVE TO KEEP FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE AND TAGGED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES AND A LIEN FROM MY BANK ON IT,I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE STARTER ON IT EIGHT (8) TIMES THE PARTS ARE VERY CHEAP BUT IT HAS AN AIRBAG AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF 200.00 TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE TWO SIX AND SEVEN DOLLAR BEARINGS. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I HAD...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING BOX. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BOLT THAT HELD THE STEERING SHAFT IN PLACE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 02/22/12 *BF UPDATED 03/01/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED ON THE STEERING BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.

GEM MODULE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED. CAUSED 4X4 TO ENGAGE AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DURING TURNS, CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING. DID SOME RESEARCH OF SEVERAL FORD F150 WEB SITES AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR SIMILAR OR THE SAME PROBLEMS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE GEM MODULE WAS THE CULPRIT AND THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION IN THE ADJACENT FUSE JUNCTION PANEL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFESSED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THESE KINDS OF CONDITIONS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF THESE GEM MODULES AND FUSE PANELS BECAUSE OF LEAKS IN THE WINDSHIELD OR HOOD COWLING. THEY FURTHER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I REPLACED THESE COMPONENTS AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, AT MY EXPENSE, THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY ANY REPAIRS. AFTER A REPAIR BILL OF $1000.00, FORD REFUSED TO HELP CLAIMING IT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN FELL OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLER SHEERED OFF. UPDATED 05/29/09*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MADE A CRACKING AND POPPING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE LIFTED UP FROM THE ANCHORAGE AND TILTED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR), ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2008. HE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (FORD OF AMERICA) THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

AS I WAS LEAVING THE ON RAMP TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-25 IN DENVER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED WHERE THE STEERING SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THERE WAS NO STEERING CAPABILITIES OF THE PICK-UP. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT WAS WITHIN FEET OF BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT TO GET ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER FORD F150 HAD NO STEERING. *TS (11/16/05) THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMERS FOUND THAT A PIECE ON THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY THAT WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM HAD WORN OUT. *SC

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

STEERING FAILURE: MY 1997 FORD F150 HAD A STEERING FAILURE. VIN:[XXX]. THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE POWER STEERING BOX. THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTION IS ALUMINUM AND THE GEAR ON THE POWER STEERING BOX IS STEEL. THE ALUMINUM WORE AND THE STEEL, NATURALLY DID NOT. BASIC ENGINEERING FAILURE. DESCRIBED EXACTLY IN RECALL NO. 03S02 A VERY THOROUGH SEARCH SHOWED NO RECALLS OR MAINTENANCE NOTICES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A 1997, FORD F150 HAVE THE CONNECTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE POWER STEERING BOX CHECK IMMEDIATELY. I CANNOT IMAGINE A WORST FAILURE IN A VEHICLE. NO STEERING. *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

CONSUMER STATES STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE. DEALER NEVER LOOKED AT CAR.*AK.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. *TS *SCC *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, AND IT CONTINUED TO TURN WITHOUT STOPPING. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING BOX. *JB

A BOLT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

POWER STEERING GEAR BOLTS BROKE. THERE WAS A POP NOISE AND CONSUMER COULD TURN STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION BUT FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER REPLACED BROKEN BOLTS FROM GEAR. REPAIRED POWER STEERING LEAK AT HOSE FROM RESERVOIR TO PUMP. *TT

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH A CRANK RODS DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

RIGHT FRONT OUTSIDE TIE-ROD END SEPARATED AT THE BALL/SOCKET JOINT. THIS OCCURED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY SO SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THESE TIE-ROD ENDS ARE FACTORY SEALED SO MAINTENANCE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A FIELD, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE TURNED LIKE A ROULET WHEEL. NLM

SOME OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS WORE PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. NLM

SOME OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS WORE PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. NLM

STEERING BOX THAT IS ATTACHED TO FRAME HAD FALLEN OFF. VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT STEERING, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK THE DRIVER LOST STEERING BECAUSE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME CRACKED. *YH

A BOLT WITHIN THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD UNSCREWED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN WHILE TIRES STAYED STRAIGHT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MECHANIC TIGHTEND THE BOLT. *AK

STEERING IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE NEEDS OIL EVERY MONTH. HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE PROBLEMS REPAIRED. THEY STILL EXIST. *ML

NOISY STEERING, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL.

STEERING PROBLEMS; WHEN TURNING RIGHT 10MPH HEARD A NOISE.TURNED STEERING TO RIGHT AND LEFT, WHEEL DIDN'T RESPOND.*AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. IT IS HARD TO MANAGE WHEN DOING 4MPH, THE TRUCK CARRIES TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS ON., THE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED CONSUMER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. VIBRATION APPEARS TO BE FROM SUSPENSION/STEERING GEAR, NOT STEERING WHEEL ITSELF.

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF THE LUGS: NUTS:BOLTS, BUT DEALER DID NOT HAD THE PARTS TO REPAIR VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER HAS BECAME AWARE OF RECALL 98S14, REGARDING THE LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS. STEERING NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, IT LOCKS UP WHEN IT RAINS. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 97S86, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THEIR SCHEDULE FOR REPAIRS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS START BY THEMSELVES. TURN SIGNALS WORKED TOO FAST, DEALER FOUND A LOOSE WIRE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK EFFICIENTLY, TAKES A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. A/C WAS NOT COLD ENOUGH. SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. DOOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, MAKING IT HARD TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *SLC

STEERING WHEEL CLUNKS WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING, AND WHEN ON BUMPY PAVEMENT.

WHEN DRIVING AT APPROX 40 MPH, GOES THROUGH 50 MPH,STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES. SAID IT WAS COMMON PROBLEM, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH, HAS TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO STAIGHT. IF TAKING SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE WILL GO OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING OVERREACTS, HARD TO STEER . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE TRUCK SWAYS. *AK STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN NOT TOW WITH VEHICLE OR CAN NOT CONTROL AT ALL.*JB