1998 Ford F-150 steering problems

“VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION CALLED "THE DEATH WOBBLE". OCCURS AS SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH. OCCURS IF ROAD IS SOMEWHAT BUMPY. OCCURS OFTEN AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. IT REQUIRES THAT I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH BEFORE IT STOPS. THIS IMMEDIATE NEED TO SLOW DOWN IF DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING ME (ESPECIALLY A LARGE TRUCK.)”

“I WAS DRIVING MY PICK UP FORD 150 1998 32 MILE FOR HOUR AND I LOSE CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL . MY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT RESPOND .. STEERING WHEEL WENT LOOSE TURNING AND TURNING WITH NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK... *TR”

“THE PRN12 SHIFT LEVER HAS BEEN SLOWLY LOOSENING OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS, AND HAS RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE IN PARK. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE SHIFTER WILL NOT ENGAGE, AND WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARD. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESS PLAY IN THE SHIFTER. I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR POSSIBLE CAUSES AND FOUND MANY THREADS EXPLAINING THE CAUSE AS TWO STAR BOLTS THAT HAVE EITHER LOOSENED, OR COMPLETELY FALLEN OUT IN SOME CASES. I HAVE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS MYSELF, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SITUATION THAT THE DEALERS SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE DIRECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE, FORD F150 FUEL TANK STRAPS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPARENTLY THE TANK STRAPS GAVE WAY AND THE FUEL TANK DROPPED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP AND AFTER CATCHING SOME UNEVEN PAVEMENT, FUEL TANK WAS PEALED OPEN AND LOSING ABOUT 8 GALLONS GAS. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP SPILL. BOTH STRAPS BROKE AND FUEL TANK IS UN-REPAIRABLE. UPDATED 08/05/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR BOX, THE MUFFLER HANGERS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/11/1*JB *TR”

“STEERING SHAFT CRACKED AT THE BASE WHERE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING BOX. I LOST MY STEERING COMPLETELY. THANKFULLY I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND WAS NOT DRIVING ON A ROAD OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC WHO IS FIXING THE VEHICLE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AS IN THEIR OPINION IT IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD F150 AND HAS APPROX 99,000 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OLDER, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE OLDEST VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT AND HAVE NEVER USED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY OFF ROAD OR HARD USE. *TR”