2002 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

While driving on a fairly rough highway I'm AZ, 180A, traveling about 50 mph over bumps and repaired cracks in the pavement, the steering wobbled and shook which did not seem far out of the ordinary on this particular stretch of highway. Suddenly, without warning, the steering failed causing loss of control of the vehicle, the driver was unable to steer the truck which veered off the road and sent us directly into the embankment of a dry wash. The truck hit the embankment head on 50-55 mph. I was riding as passenger of my vehicle since I was 8 months pregnant and experiencing severe heartburn all morning. My fiance drive and 3 of my children were in the back seat. After crashing head on into the dirt wall I was pinned in between the dashboard and seat. I suffered serious life changing injuries as a result. One of the firefighters who arrived in the scene inspected and confirmed the steering was broken. I was sent by helicopter to Flagstaff regional medical center where I spent 10 days. The truck was towed to an impound yard in St John's, az. I was able to retrieve my personal belongings but was not able to afford the tow truck drivers verbal quote of the charges due nor the cost to tow the totaled truck back home to snowflake. The truck had a lien and I assumed the lienholder would be notified to collect the vehicle. They were not notified and t ownership was transferred leaving me an abandoned vehicle fee and hold on my registration privileges in AZ. The truck is likely still at the tow yard which may allow an inspection if requested, however I no longer own it as a result of the circumstances. My 9 year old son was injured in the accident as well as my own informed which included a shattered patella and fractured acetabulum, after orthopedic surgery I was made to deliver my unborn son via C-section, thankfully the baby suffered no physical injuries.

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, HEARD A LOUD POP. LOST ALL STEERING ABILITY. STEERING BOX SHAFT SHEARED IN HALF. I WAS PULLING A 18' EMPTY TRAILER AT THE TIME. TRUCK BLOCKED BOTH WESTBOUND LANES ALMOST CAUSING LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. BOTH COUNTY SHERIFF AND VA STATE POLICE CAME TO SCENE.

MY VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OUT MY DRIVEWAY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THEN TO THE LEFT THE SAME. WHILE SITTING STILL I COULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT NONE STOP. FLUID IS FULL. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT STEERS FINE UNTIL I TURN A LITTLE TO RIGHT OR LEFT THEN IT GETS TIGHT. I NOTICED FROM 2002 TO 2006 THEIR WERE STEERING PROBLEMS UNSOLVED. *TR

[XXX] THE STEERING BOX CONSTANTLY FAILS. BECOMES LOOSE INSIDE. VEHICLE WANDERS SEVERELY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. I'M PUTTING IN THE 3RD STEERING GEAR. FORD MECHANICS WOULD NOT CONSIDER THE BOX BEING BAD. IT WAS MY FAULT. EXCUSES WERE BALL JOINTS, KEEP THEM GREASED. I GREASED IT ONCE A WEEK PRIOR TO IT BEING IN THE DEALERSHIP. AS IT WOULDN'T STAY ON THE ROAD. THEN IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ALL DO IT. WHAT? IT HAS NEW MOOG BALL JOINTS. SO THAT'S OUT. VERY WELL GREASED. SO THAT'S OUT. BEING THE 3RD BOX IN 89K, JUST ISN'T RIGHT. VEHICLE IS STOCK. NO LIFTS, NO OVERSIZE TIRES. I DID A WEB SEARCH. MULTIPLE FOLKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM FROM 01 TO 08 F SERIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND REQUIRED HIM TO PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TWICE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. THE STEERING BOX GEAR BOX WAS ALSO ADJUSTED TWICE; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO BE LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 7/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION, AND WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BALL JOINTS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PULL THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE OFTEN AT LOWER SPEEDS THAN HIGHER SPEEDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,080 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

SHAKING FRONT END WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY 55-65MPH. ALSO HAVE A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F250. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INTERTWINED WITH THE STEERING EQUIPMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING IN A 35 MPH ZONE, ON A CURVED ROAD, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRONG RIGHT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT ON HIS PART. WHEN THE STEERING FAILED HE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THEY ALSO FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WAS THE POWER STEERING HOSE CHAFFED AGAINST THE STEERING SECTOR AND RUBBED A HOLE IN THE HOSE, ALLOWING FLUID TO ESCAPE, DISRUPTING THE STEERING CONTROL. UPDATED 02/04/10.*JB

I HAVE A FORD F-250 SD 4X4 TRUCK. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IF I HIT ANY POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO SLOW TO SPEEDS WELL BELOW THE LIMIT. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO WRECK MY TRUCK OR HAVE SOME REAREND ME ON THE HIGHWAY 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. AT THIS POINT THE TRUCK JUST SITS BECAUSE I CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, THE STEERING MADE AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. WITHIN SECONDS, PINS BEGAN TO LOOSEN FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SHREDDING OF THE BOLTS CAUSED THE PINS TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $932. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,662. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE SAW A BOLT FLY OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE HEAR BOX WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. UPDATED 01/14/09.*JB

THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY POPPED OFF THE PUMP SHAFT AFTER A BLOWOUT OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON MY 2002 FORD F250 DIESEL PICKUP TRUCK. THE PULLEY APPEARS TO BE PRESSED ONTO THE PUMP SHAFT. I SUSPECT A PIECE OF TIRE TREAD HIT THE PULLEY OR EXCESS STRESS CAUSED BY THE BLOWOUT CAUSED IT TO POP OFF THE SHAFT. THE RESULT IS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF STEERING. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. THANK YOU, THOMAS HUEBNER *TR

I EXPERIENCED A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE FROM THE POWERSTEERING PUMP TO THE HYDRABOOST ON MY 2002 FORD F250 WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS PULLING A 30FT. 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. I HAD TO USE 1 GALLON OF FLUID TO RETURN 90 MILES. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING THIS HOSE IS CARRIED BY THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKES. *TR

I READ THAT AN INVESTIGATION OF FORD SUPER DUTY TRUCKS HANDING PROBLEMS AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT SAID THAT 2005-2007 HAD THE PROBLEM BUT I HAVE 2002 SUPERDUTY CREW CAB THAT IS ALSO SCARY WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT CAN THROW PARTIALLY INTO ANOTHER LANE.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY PICKUP. THE TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH A 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASE I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO BE CHECKED. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS CAUSING THE STEERING PROBLEM, BUT DID AGREE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP THEN PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF A SERVICE MESSAGE FROM THE OASIS PROGRAM FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT STATES "INCREASED STEERING EFFORT AT LOW SPEED OR WHILE STOPPED IS A NORMAL CONDITION WITH HYDROBOOST OR VACUUM OPERATED BRAKES. THEREFORE NO SERVICE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN." THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN YOU TRY TO BRAKE AND STEER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BRAKING AND STEERING AT THE SAME TIME DOES NOT WORK! THE BRAKES DO NOT HAVE TO APPLIED VERY MUCH TO COMPLETELY PREVENT TURNING. IS THIS A PROBLEM FOUND ON OTHER VEHICLES? AND IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *NM

POWER STEERING ASSIST HOSE BURST AT THE FIXING WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE HOSE AND THE FIXING.*AK

THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE METAL LINE THAT WENT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND TO THE BRAKING ASSIST MOTOR ERUPTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS BRAKE PULSATION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FAULTY, THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN DURING NORMAL MANEUVERS, WHEN THE 4 X 4 WAS HIGH OFF THE ROAD, THE WHEEL TURNED AND LOCKED TO THE STOPPER, LUNGED, AND THE REAR WHEELS SPUN AROUND. *SC

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A DEEP TURN FORWARD OR WHEN BACKING, IT WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND IT WAS AS THOUGH THE POWER DISENGAGED. SEVERAL FORD DEALERS SUGGESTED THAT WHEN A FORD VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, ONE CANNOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME. *SC *JB

STEERING INOPERATIVE WHEN PRESSING DOWN HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. FORD SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND HAVE NO FIX. 2002 FORD F-250 WITH 7.3 DIESEL ENGINE.*AK

TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING AT IDLE. UNABLE TO BACK INTO PARKING SPACE OR ALIGN WITH TRAILER WHILE HOOKING UP. SPEEDING UP ENGINE IN NEUTRAL DOESN'T HELP. STEERING WHEEL JUST COMPLETLEY LOCKS UP. CAN'T EVEN TURN IT WITH BOTH HANDS. FORD SAYS IT'S A "NORMAL CONDITION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK