2001 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

SPARK PLUGS KEEP BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE, WHILE ACCELERATING, HAS DONE FIVE TIMES,, WHEN IT DOES VEHICLE STALLED POSSIBLY CARE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK TRYING TO TURN,

TWICE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING FORD F-250 V10 TRITON PICKUP TRUCK, I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE, BOTH TIMES THE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING BOX BROKE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THIS TRUCK. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE! TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOLLOWING MOST RECENT FAILURE. I FEAR THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES HAD EITHER OF THESE TWO FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (TOMBALL FORD, 22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, (281) 378-3160) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE CONTACT TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM SHOPPING MY BRAKES (ANTI-LOCK STYLE) LOCKED UP AND VIOLENTLY SHOOK MY VEHICLE ALL OVER THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON. I HAD LIMITED OR NO CONTROL AT ALL OF THIS INCIDENT. WAS DOING ABOUT 40 MPH. TRUCK ACTED AS IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON AND OFF 50/60 TIMES SO FAST THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO BUT HANG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER AS THE TRUCK WENT SIDEWAYS. STEERING WENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT FIRST, THEN A CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES WAS BLOWN OUT. SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO GAIN SOME CONTROL BUT IT TOOK MY TRUCK OVER A CURB AND STOPPED ON A SIDEWALK AND SOME GRASS. WHEN I DID APPLY THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL I WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AND GOING VERY SLOW BY THIS TIME. GOT OUT AND INSPECTED MY TRUCK FOR DAMAGE BUT SAW NOTHING. WAS ONLY ABOUT .3 MILES FROM HOME SO I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND LIMED IT HOME AT WALKING SPEED. WHEN I TRIED TO GO A LITTLE FASTER IT WOULD START JUMPING AND SHAKING AGAIN. GOT IT HOME AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. IT WAS NOT ON WHEN I STARTED HOME FROM THE STORE. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I AM GLAD NO ONE WAS IN ANOTHER LANE. THIS HAPPENED ON A 3 LANE EACH DIRECTION ROAD. ALL THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 4TH AT ABOUT 10:47 A.M.

WE HAD TRAVELED APROXIMATELY 450 MILES AND ON THE LAST LEG OF A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE DRIVER NOTICED ON THE LAST 150 MILES OF THE TRIP THE STEERING WHEEL HAD CHANGED POSITION WHERE THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL NORMALLY WAS HORIZONTAL, WAS NOW 45 DEGREES OFF AND VERTICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON ARRIVAL TO DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE MOVED AND UNLOADED WHEN THIS WAS ATTEMPTED THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED WITH NOT CONTROL OF THE WHEELS. SO WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER AN INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PLACED ON A FLOOR JACK TO RAISE THE FRONT END TO LOOK FOR PROBLEMS UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE WHEELS MANUALLY IT WAS NOTICED THE ARM THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING BOX WAS LOOSE AT THE ELBOW. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE SHAFT WAS SHEERED OFF AT THE STEERING BOX. WE WERE LUCK IT FAILED WHEN WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD. IT MUST DID THE FINAL FAILURE WHEN WE DROVE INTO OUR DRIVE WAY AND PARKED. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DISASTEROUS ACCIDENT IF THIS HAD FAILED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS WE HAD JUST DRIVEN ON OUR TRIP.

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN WOLF ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK BECAUSE OF STEERING MALFUNCTION (ATTN: JOHN CZERWINSKI). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS. WHEN SOME OF THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN FREELY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE STEERING PUMP WAS BAD. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB UPDATED 03/25/15. *JB

I WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, FROM A STOP, WHEN I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE, THEN I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL TURNING FREELY, I JUST CONTINUED FORWARD WITH NO STEERING SINCE I WAS KIND OF CROSSED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND HAD CARS COMING AT ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO GO OVER ONTO THE SIDE WALK CROSSED, I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I LOOKED SAW THE SHAFT AT THE STEERING BOX HAD SHEERED IN HALF. I AM A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND CONSIDER THIS A VERY DELICATE MATTER, HAVE I BEING TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEING A SITUATION WITH VERY TRAGIC RESULTS. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THANKS *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HILLY, WINDING ROAD THE ENGINE OF MY 2001 F-250 DIESEL 4X4 TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 12 YEARS AT THE TIME AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE ROAD'S SHOULDER. AFTER THE TRUCK STOPPED I PUT THE SHIFT INTO PARK. THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE RUN POSITION. I SIMPLY TURNED IT TO THE START POSITION AND THE ENGINE STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TRUCK. THEY FOUND NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN ONE BATTERY'S VOLTAGE WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, BUT NOT OUT OF ACCEPTABLE RANGE. I REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AS THEY WERE ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD. SO FAR, I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *JS

WHEN THE TRUCK IS STOPPED OR WHEN PARKING, THE POWER STEERING DISAPPEARS. WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE AT ALL. WITH THE BRAKE RELEASED, IT'S NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED TWO YEARS AGO WITH JUST UNDER 11,000 MILES. IT IS LIKE NEW. THIS PROBLEM IS ANNOYING AT BEST AND COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER WITH HARD BRAKING. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 F250 7.3 DIESEL TRUCK. I ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SCARED TO DRIVE THEIR TRUCKS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS, BUT THE MOST RECENT WAS IN AUGUST 2011. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH ( THE SPEED DOESN'T MATTER FOR THE FAILURE). THE TRUCK IS VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL OF, IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND WALKS BACK AND FORTH. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE TRUCK IN ONE LANE. IT GOT SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T KEEP CONTROL OF IT AND BEGAN GOING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER TRYING TO GET CONTROL. OTHER VEHICLE'S ON THE ROAD GOT AWAY FROM MINE OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DIDN'T GO FLYING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND KILLED. THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. THERE IS SO MUCH "PLAY" IN THE STEERING THAT CAN'T BE CORRECTED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS!!!! TO DRIVE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT THE BEGINNING OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM PRETTY SURE PEOPLE HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, BUT IT WENT UN NOTICED BECAUSE THEY WERE BLAMED FOR "OVERCORRECTING". THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 TRUCK. AFTER PURCHASING TRUCK USED, I REPLACED ALL STEERING COMPONENTS WITH O.E EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS AT CERTIFIED REPAIR FACILITIES. ALL FACILITIES CERTIFIED ALL STEERING PARTS IN ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION FORM. DESPITE ALL THIS, THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY UPON HITTING ANY KIND OF ROUGH ROADS OR POTHOLES. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I REALIZED THIS IS DEFECT WITH THE TRUCK EVEN GOING TO 2007 MODEL YEAR. THIS TRUCK IS DANGEROUS!! DANGEROUS!! DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FAIR MARKET VALUE GIVEN TO THE BUYERS. SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED. A DRIVER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR DRIVING A TRUCK ON ANY ROAD EXCEPT A PERFECTLY SMOOTH ONE WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. I ALMOST DIED DRIVING THIS TRUCK CROSSING THE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE FROM NJ TO PA. I AM NOT ALONE. NHTSA HAS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE F250 SD 4X4 GOING INTO 2007 MODEL YEAR. GIVE FAIR MARKET VALUE AND RECALL THE TRUCKS. OWNERS CAN GET THE CREDIT TOWARD PURCHASE OF NEW OR USED FORD TRUCKS MODELS THAT DO NOT SUFFER FROM THIS DEFECT. FORD WILL NOT LOSE IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR MISTAKE WHILE NO ONE DIED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED YET!!!!. *TR

VIOLENT SHAKE IN STEERING UPON ENCOUNTERING LESS THAN SMOOTH ROAD. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F250 SD CREW/4X4 AND THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END STEERING SYSTEM. TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE SO HARD THAT AT 55MPH BY THE TIME I GOT THE TRUCK SLOWED TO ABOUT 15MPH I WAS OVER INTO THE LANE OF THE ON COMING TRAFFIC (LUCKLY NO ONE WAS THERE). THE OTHER DAY WITH MY WIFE IN THE TRUCK WE TURNED A CORNER AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMY REALLY HARD AND I LOST SOME RESPONSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK THE STEERING BECAME SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE, AND I WAS FORCED TO ALLOW THE TRUCK TO TRACK INTO THE BAILY POST OFFICE PARKING LOT. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT THE MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THAT THEY CAN FIND. THE TRUCK DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME, IT COMES AND GOES, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT AND THEN IT CAN GO WEEKS WITHOUT HAPPENING. I WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS AND I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FORD F-SERIES TRUCKS AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH A BAD DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN CAUSES A LIGHT SHIMMY TO TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THESE TRUCKS AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR EVEN DEATH TO THE OWNER. MY WIFE WILL NOT EVEN RIDE IN THE TRUCK ANY MORE BECAUSE SHE IS TOO SCARED TO DO SO. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. GARY *TR

AFTER TRAVELING OVER SMALL BUMPS, LIKE RAILROAD TRACKS MOST RECENTLY, AT AROUND 30MPH, ONE FRONT WHEEL STARTED BOUNCING VIOLENTLY, MAKING VEHICLE LOOSE CONTROL UNTIL TRUCK COULD BE BROUGHT TO A STOP. HAD EXPERIENCED THIS NUMEROUS TIME IN THE PAST BUT THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY ADDING A STEERING STABILIZER A FEW YEARS AGO. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. EACH TIME, THIS HAS NEARLY RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250 SD. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER IS USED, IT CAUSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FUSE TO BLOW. SMOKE APPEARED OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO BURNED WIRES AND ALL OF THE ISSUES WERE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HE BELIEVES THAT THE WIRES WERE BURNED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TOW PACKAGE BURNED AND THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. ALL OF THE DOORS APPEARED TO BE SHORT AND DO NOT CLOSE OR OPEN PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE FAILED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THE CONTACT PRESSES THE BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY SAFETY RECALLS THAT APPLY TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TWICE THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED (NEEDING REPLACEMENT BOTH TIMES) RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. FIRST HAPPENED ON APRIL 9,2004 AT 22,219 MILES. THEN AGAIN AT 38,175 MILES ON FEB. 22,2006. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F250. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR YEARS. MY STEERING IS REALLY STIFF. I HAVE HAD IT TO 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS & THEY SAY THEY CAN,T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I KNOW IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I'VE OWNED LOTS OF TRUCKS & NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. IT IS REAL HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT MAKES YOU CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CORRECT LEFT TO RIGHT STEERING. THANK YOU *TR

MY 2001 F-250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL HAS STEERING PROBLEMS. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER ONE SELLING TRUCK IN THE NATION FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS, WOULD SELL A TRUCK TO THE PUBLIC THAT HAS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN I AM TRYING TO PARK I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I KNOW THAT IT IS DUE TO RECEIVING ALL THE POWER TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE TODAY WHY WOULD FORD HAVE A PROBLEM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE POWER BRAKING AND POWER STEERING AT THE SAME TIME. MY 77 HIGH BOY HAD BETTER STEERING WITH 35 INCH TIRES THAN MY 2001 HAS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING PULLEY FELL OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION, THE PULLEY APPEARED TO BE GLUED ON INSTEAD OF BOLTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE PULLEY WAS ATTACHED TO THE SHAFT. THERE WERE NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. HE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

I WAS DRIVING EAST ON BURKE HILL RD AT APPROX. 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WENT ON MY PICK UP TRUCK, THEN I HIT A PINE TREE AND BROKE THE RADIATOR, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL WAS FOLDED BACK TO THE DRIVERS DOOR AND I SAW A PIECE OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE HANGING DOWN AND COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE SPECTAR ARM BROKE BY THE FRONT TIRE(DRIVERS SIDE), AND WHEN THE GARAGE PICKED THE TRUCK UP IN THE AIR THEY FOUND OUT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BROKE NEARLY IN HALF. THEY FELT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE BROKEN SPECTAR ARM. *NM