2003 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

DRIVING 50-60 HIT A BUMP AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BREAKS AND STEERING. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT CAUSED ME TO ENTER THE LANE NEXT TO ME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS, THE TRUCK RUNS SMOOTH WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF A PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID OF MY FAMILIES SAFETY!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND LOST BRAKING ABILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER AND HIT A BUMP THE FRONT END WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SLOW WAY DOWN TO STOP IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NR 62 PARTS BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEONE. DODGE WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I PAID FOR THAT INCLUDED THE RECALL NR62. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE BEFORE I RECEIVED THE RECALL. IN THE RECALL IT IS STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THEY WERE ALREADY DONE. EVERYONE ONE SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE BUT WON'T FIX IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PITMAN ARM. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (16515) FOR THE PITMAN ARM AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

THE FRONT END VIBRATES AND OSCILLATES WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. THERE IS MORE SLACK IN THE STEERING, AND I HAVE TO SPEED UP ABOVE 50 MPH OR SLOW DOWN BELOW 30 MPH OR JERK THE WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE TRUCK. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED, AND FROM RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FAULTY STEERING BOX, BUT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 228,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD 250 WITH GENERAL GRABBER AT2 TIRES; SIZE 235/85/16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT ACROSS THE ROADWAY. HE THEN DRIVER REDUCED THE VEHICLES SPEED TO 50 MPH. AFTER TWO NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TIRES AT THIS TIME HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED AS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,681. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09

I READ OF YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO 05 AND LATER FORD TRUCK "DEATH WOBBLE" SHAKING CAUSING MASSIVE INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM GOES BACK WAY FURTHER BUT I HAVE AN 03 F-250 TRUCK (AND IT IS TOTALLY STOCK) AND IT BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON ANY SURFACE WHETHER IN STRAIGHT LINE OR TURN. I HAVE HAD MANY THINGS LOOKED AT (ALIGNMENT, WHEEL AND TIRE BALANCE, BUSHINGS, TRACK BAR, TIE-ROD ENDS, ETC.) AND "REPAIRED" WITH NO FIX. FORD SAYS EVERYTHING IS WITHIN "SPECS". THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO DRIVE WITH ESPECIALLY WITH CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC. I DON'T THINK FORD WANTS TO OWN UP TO IT BECAUSE OF THE HUGE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DEALING WITH THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WHEN IN AN ALREADY FINANCIALLY CRIPPLED STATE. GUESS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A MORE STABLE VEHICLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS RATHER THAN THE INTERIOR COLOR CHOICES ON THEIR LATEST COMPANY JET. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM GOES BACK INTO LATE 1980S WHEN FORD WAS TOLD BY YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE IN MY VEHICLE WHILE SEARCHING FOR AN ADEQUATE FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

FORD F-250. LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FROM BOSTER PUMP DRAINED FLUID. WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, LOST BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP AND STEER. REPLACED FLUID TO GET TO DEALER, MEEGAN FORD IN MT. PLEASANT PA. HIGH PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED. I PAID. I HAVE OLD PART. FITTING RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 FORD F-250 WITH 48950 MILES, AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE THE FAILURE CONTINUED. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE.*AK THE POWER STEEERIG FAILED TWICE. UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER COMING TO A STOP UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED; THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BUILD OF THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL, AND THEREFORE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE CONTACT FOUND COMPLAINTS ONLINE SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE HAD. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - *NM

DAD*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB

2003 FORD F 250 4X4 ALIGNMENT 6 TIMES... THIS TRUCK EATS TIRES.. FRIEND HAS 2005 ALIGNED 4 TIMES... DEALER SAYS NOT A PROBLEM... MUST BE AS I HAD A 1991 FOR 12 YEARS AND NOT ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES TO POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. ONCE YOU SLOW DOWN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAS OCCURED ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONCE AT APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 16,100, 20,600 AND 21,009. THE SPEED WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60-65 MPH.

2003 F-250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 GAS. 46,000 MILES. FOUND 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. WHILE INVESTIGATING EXHAUST LEAK ALSO FOUND 2 FRONT BALL JOINTS BAD. FORD STATES THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 3 YEARS AGO. MOST OF THE MILES ARE TRAVELING BETWEEN TEXAS AND PA. THIS IS A 3/4 TON SUPER DUTY TRUCK. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW FORD F250 TRUCK, VIN 1FTNX20L33E, ON APRIL 17, 2003, FROM ELKHORN MOTORS IN ELKHORN, WI. ON OCTOBER 24, 2004, AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, I ROTATED THE TIRES FRONT TO BACK IN WISCONSIN BEFORE A TRIP TO FLORIDA. AFTER THIS TIRE ROTATION, I NOTICED A TENDENCY FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO OSCILLATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. I ASSUMED IT WAS RELATED TO TIRES AND PLANNED TO REPLACE THEM ON MY RETURN. I PICKED UP A 5TH WHEEL IN FLORIDA AND STARTED BACK ON NOVEMBER 2. THE OSCILLATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MUCH WORSE, SEEMINGLY AGGRAVATED BY THE CHANGE IN CG WITH THE TRAILER ATTACHED. HARD BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS WORSENED THIS CONDITION BUT I WAS MOSTLY ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION FOR THE TRIP HOME. THE TRUCK ACTED COMPLETELY NORMAL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES WITH NEW ONES. I INFORMED MY MECHANIC OF MY SYMPTOMS AND ASKED HIM TO REALIGN THE FRONT END IF HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ELSE AMISS. HE FOUND THE TIE ROD END THREADS WORN SO MUCH THAT THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE WOBBLED INSIDE IT EVEN THOUGH THE BOLTS WERE TIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE FROM RUST PATTERNS THAT THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE AND TIE ROD END HAD BEEN MOVING IN AND OUT. THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $285. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. FORD'S POSITION IS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE AFTER THE WARRANTEE IS OVER. THEY DID NOT EVEN ASK IF THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. (THEY ARE.). *AK

2003 F250, UPON HITTING A POT HOLE IN THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN A QUICK BRAKING AND EXIT OF HIGHWAY. ONCE AT LOW SPEEDS PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST, ONLY HAPPENED AFTER IMPACT WITH POT HOLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT UP AGAIN. ONE HOUR INTO DRIVING THE PROBLEM STARTED. ENGINE MADE A WHISTLING SOUND. OTHER THEN THAT THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. *AK POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SHUT DOWN AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TC

POWER BOOSTER FOR POWER STEERING COOLANT LEAKS, BLOWN TURBO CHARGER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO APPLY BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST PUMP A MONTH AGO. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK