1997 Ford F-250 steering problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE STEERING MECHANISM BECOMES LOOSE AND MAKES RANDOM NOISES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS COMING APART. THE MECHANIC PLACED A TEMPORARY MAKESHIFT TO HOLD THE LINKAGE TOGETHER, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. HE THEN LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF HIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED FOR FREE SINCE IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 236,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250. THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN SHAKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THEN LOCKED. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK IT AND THE SHAFT BEARING FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRUST BEARING WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED WITH THE STEERING. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.”

“POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE. UNABLE TO GET PART THROUGH ANY DEALERSHIP OR JUNK YARD IN THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THIS PART I HAVE FOUND THAT SO MANY HAVE BEEN SOLD RECENTLY THAT THE SUPPLY HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED. THEREFORE, IT IS NOW ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JUNE. THE PART APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE AFTER 10 YEARS, AND IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND BRAKES IF THE MOTOR IS A TURBO DIESEL.*AK”

“MY WIFE DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROX. 35 MPH, AFTER COMING OUT OF A SLIGHT CURVE IN ROAD AND SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN, SHE LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE HITTING A GUARDRAIL AND GOING INTO A DITCH. INSPECTION BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE OUTPUT FROM THE STEERING BOX BROKE BETWEEN GEAR BOX AND PITMAN ARM CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. TRUCK IS TOTAL. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT LUCAS CHEVROLET, MT. HOLLY NJ. *NM”

“DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 360 DEGREES AND THE TIRES DID NOT REACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WERE IT WAS DETERMINED THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN NHTSA RECALL # 03V196000, REGARDING THE SHAFT SECTOR. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE. *NM”

“WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT RECLINED WHICH LEFT THE DRIVER LAYING COMPLETELY DOWN. *JB THE SEAT BASE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT. *SC THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, BECAUSE THE SHIFTER BOLTS HAD BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DASH MOUNTS, THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. THE HUB/AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB”