2001 FORD F-350 SD Steering Problems

WHEN DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 TO 65 MPH AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHEN TRAVELING OVER SLIGHTLY UNEVEN ROADS {NOT BUMPS} THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO OSCILLATE LEFT TO RIGHT WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THAT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL 2-3 INCHES LEFT TO RIGHT, AND REQUIRE ALMOST STOPPING THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN CONTROL.YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE 200 MILES BEFORE THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN.THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE DAY ONE. IT HAS HAD FRONT TIRES REPLACED, FRONT SHOCKS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS,AND TIRE BALANCES FROM FORD DEALERS,ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT.

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2001 FORD F350 SD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE DRIVER PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANEUVERED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK UNTIL THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE DEFECT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN WITHOUT A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE CONTACT'S WIFE APPROACHED A CHANGE IN THE PAVEMENT AND STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING SHAFT DISABLED AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE PASSED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WENT TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE PASSED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,741 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SNAP WAS HEARD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL MEANS OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURVE AND LANDED IN BUSHES BEFORE THE BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING DRY AND FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING BOX SHAFT THAT THE PITMAN ARM WAS ATTACHED TO HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING AND BRAKES.AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE VERY JERKY,AT TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO BACK AND FORTH VERY FAST AND YOU CANNOT HOLD WHEEL STRAIGHT.I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES IN A WEEK FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED BALL JOINTS,STEERING STABILIZER AND TIERODENDS.THE PROBLEM STILL EXSIST AND I HAVE CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE UNSURE OF WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.THE BRAKES ARE ALSO LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED THERE IS ALOT OF SMOKE FROM BOTH REAR BRAKES.AGAIN THIS IS NOT ALL THE TIME SO DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX THIS AS WELL.I AM VERY CONCERNED I HAVE A FAMILY THAT IS IN THIS VEHICLE AND BOTH OF THESE ISSURES ARE SAFTEY.

TRUCK DRIFTS TO SIDE OF ROAD OR PULLS HARD AND SUDDEN WHEN MODERATE TO HARD BRAKING IS APPLIED. EFFECT IS NOT AS APPARENT AFTER ALIGNMENT IS PERFORMED. APPROXIMATELY 7 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR. TIE ROD PULLED APART WHILE DRIVING.

CONSUMER STATES STEERING IS LOOSE AND WHEELS WILL NOT TURN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN WHEN BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED BROKEN STEERING BOX AND POWER STEERING PUMP. CONSUMER STATES SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN STOPPED AND WHEN IN DRIVE. *TT