2001 Ford F-350 Steering Problems

Was driving down the rd came to stop light and I had nothing for breaks. I quickly pumped brake and got it to slowdown and made the turn. Went to pull into hospital and had no breaks even tried pumping it again and still had no breaks.

The bracket on the passenger side that is welded to the bottom of the front axle is rusted completely through to the point that the u-bolts that secure the leaf springs to the axle have pulled through the bracket. It appears to be a significant safety issue due to the fact the front axle is no longer secured to the vehicle.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON ANY INCLINE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER, LOCKED UP, AND DID NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, AND CHECKED ALL COMPONENTS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE STABILIZING BAR HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE IGNITION ON, HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

WHEN DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 TO 65 MPH AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHEN TRAVELING OVER SLIGHTLY UNEVEN ROADS {NOT BUMPS} THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO OSCILLATE LEFT TO RIGHT WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THAT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL 2-3 INCHES LEFT TO RIGHT, AND REQUIRE ALMOST STOPPING THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN CONTROL.YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE 200 MILES BEFORE THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN.THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE DAY ONE. IT HAS HAD FRONT TIRES REPLACED, FRONT SHOCKS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS,AND TIRE BALANCES FROM FORD DEALERS,ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT.

STEERING GETS HARD AND FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE CONTACT'S WIFE APPROACHED A CHANGE IN THE PAVEMENT AND STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING SHAFT DISABLED AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE PASSED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WENT TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE PASSED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,741 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SNAP WAS HEARD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL MEANS OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURVE AND LANDED IN BUSHES BEFORE THE BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING DRY AND FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING BOX SHAFT THAT THE PITMAN ARM WAS ATTACHED TO HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING AND BRAKES.AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE VERY JERKY,AT TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO BACK AND FORTH VERY FAST AND YOU CANNOT HOLD WHEEL STRAIGHT.I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES IN A WEEK FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED BALL JOINTS,STEERING STABILIZER AND TIERODENDS.THE PROBLEM STILL EXSIST AND I HAVE CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE UNSURE OF WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.THE BRAKES ARE ALSO LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED THERE IS ALOT OF SMOKE FROM BOTH REAR BRAKES.AGAIN THIS IS NOT ALL THE TIME SO DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX THIS AS WELL.I AM VERY CONCERNED I HAVE A FAMILY THAT IS IN THIS VEHICLE AND BOTH OF THESE ISSURES ARE SAFTEY.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-45 MPH ON 1/23/2005, MY 2001 F-350 FORD CREW CAB, 7.3 TURBO DIESEL, 4-WHEEL DRIVE DUALLY PICKUP TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE ROAD WITH A LOUD EXPLOSION. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME AS I WAS ONLY ABOUT 1-1 1/5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. WHILE PEERING UNDER THE TRUCK, I NOTICED A LARGE GAPING HOLE IN THE GEAR BOX ON THE FRONT AXLE. IT APPEARED THAT THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED INSIDE THE GEAR BOX HOUSING, BLOWING A LARGE HOLE IN THE METAL CASING. I CONTACTED RICART FORD WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND THEY ARRANGED TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS BEING A FORD PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE FINAL COST FOR THE REPAIRS WAS $3478.21 AND THE COST FOR A CAR RENTAL FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS $426.99. GUIDELINES PER JEFF PENROD, FORD REP: 1. IS THERE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD? CURRENT OR EXPIRED? EVEN IF IT WAS EXPIRED, FORD MIGHT HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. 2. DOES THE CAR OWNER GO TO A FORD DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS? 3. IS THE OWNER RELATED TO A POLITICAL MEMBER OR FAMILY OF POWER/INFLUENCE? IF SO, FORD WOULD PROBABLY HELP. SINCE I DID NOT FIT ANY OF THE ABOVE CATEGORIES, I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED JEFF IF THERE WAS SOMEONE ABOVE HIM I COULD CONTACT, HE INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE DECISIONS COME DOWN TO HIM THAT'S WHY THEY PAY HIM. EVEN IF IT GOES TO THE PRESIDENT, IT WILL COME BACK TO HIM. I ASKED FOR JEFF'S PHONE NUMBER AND I WAS TOLD THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A PHONE AND THAT I COULD CONTACT HIM THROUGH THE DEALER. WHEN I ASKED THE TECHNICIANS HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, THEY HAD NO IDEA. MY BELIEF IS THAT THERE WAS A LATENT DEFECT. HOW ELSE COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? THIS TRUCK WAS MADE TO TOW AND HAUL HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OF WHICH I DID NEITHER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND COULD NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK STEERING LOCKED ALSO AT HIGH SPEED. *LA

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE THE STEERING LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER OR MOVE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2001 FORD F350 SD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE DRIVER PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANEUVERED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK UNTIL THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE DEFECT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN WITHOUT A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE.

SECTOR SHAFT FAILURE ON A 2001 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. SHAFT SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CHUCK HOLE IN A GRAVEL/MUD PARKING LOT. FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH. SECTOR SHAFT WAS A 36 SPLINE, 1-1/4" DIAMETER. I HAVE BOTH ENDS OF THE SHAFT FOR INSPECTION.

TRUCK DRIFTS TO SIDE OF ROAD OR PULLS HARD AND SUDDEN WHEN MODERATE TO HARD BRAKING IS APPLIED. EFFECT IS NOT AS APPARENT AFTER ALIGNMENT IS PERFORMED. APPROXIMATELY 7 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR. TIE ROD PULLED APART WHILE DRIVING.

WHILE AT STAND STILL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAN NOT TURN WHEEL AND AT SPEED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES CAN NOT STEER. 3RD STEERING BOX TO BE REPLACED DOES WANDER WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. FORD DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL. FORD MFG SAYS SAME. DT

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS OR HIGH SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, AND CONSUMER CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK