There are 27 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 1997 Ford F-250 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 27 of 27 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)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 AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AND REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON HIS OWN. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
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
STEERING SHAFT BROKE ON 1997 FORD F250. *AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF. NO COLLISION REPORTED. *AK *MR
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO THE VALVE COVER IS SWOLLEN FROM RUST AND CORROSION- BOLTS HAVE POPPED OUT AND ARE RUSTED, ALL EMISSIONS TUBES ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND RUSTED TOGETHER, OIL PAN BOLTS ARE ALL RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED, TRANSMISSION LINES ARE RUSTED INTO THE RADIATOR, STEERING GEARBOX IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND BOLTS ARE RUSTING OFF, POWER STEERING LINES AND POWER STEERING ARE RUSTED THROUGH, AIRCONDITIONING LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH, ****BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND PROPORTIONATE VALVE FOR BRAKES IS SEVERELY RUSTED*****, DUST COVERS ON FRONT WHEELS RUSTED THROUGH, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, ALL ALUMINUM PARTS AND BRACKETS ARE OXIDIZED, AND THE CORE SUPPORTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. THE ENGINE IN A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED LIKE THIS. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE - IN THE PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THE FORD PART STICKERS ARE LIKE NEW WHILE EVERYTHING AROUND THEM IS RUSTED. *LA
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS REAL LOOSE. IT MOVES VERY EASILY UP OR DOWN WITHOUT USING THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 03-V-196-000: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER , IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK *NM
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
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. MECHANIC FOUND THAT TIE ROD HAD BROKEN OFF DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF SIMILAR VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. *TT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL LEFT FRONT TIE ROD HAD COME OFF. LEFT FRONT WHEEL ALMOST CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE. MECHANIC REPAIRED TIE ROD AND REPLACED BALL JOINT.*AK *YH
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A ERUPTED HIGH PRESSUE HOSE FITTING INTO POWER STEERING PUMP; DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
RIGHT SIDE OUTER TIR ROD END CAME APART. VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD STRUCK A MAIL BOX AND POWER POLE AND LOW VOLTAGE PEDASTEL AND PULLED POWER LINE FROM NEIGHBORING HOUSE. CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOUSE.*AK
HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AT THE QUICK CONNECTOR ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONNECTOR CAME APART AND CAUSED A RAPID LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF STEERING ASSISTANCE.*AK
STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE, WILL NO LONGER TILT UPWARD, FEELS LIKE IT WILL COME OFF, DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
AT 25 MPH THE VEHILCE TIE ROD PULL APART.....DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MFR'S RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FRONT END FELT LIKE WAS NOT ROLLING FREELY, AND NO ADEQUATE STEERING CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTUR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO ALIGN THE FRONT END. *AK
Showing 1-20 of 27 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Sep 3, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.