NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
31 reports79,000 miles · Mar 12, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System
MY TRUCK BEGAN CUTTING OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOW IT IS DOING IT MORE AND MORE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS, SO A COUPLE OF TIMES I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BAD GAS SO I CHANGED GAS AND STARTING USING AMOCO GAS AND PUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN MY GAS TANK. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW I AM LOSING…
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MY TRUCK BEGAN CUTTING OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOW IT IS DOING IT MORE AND MORE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS, SO A COUPLE OF TIMES I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BAD GAS SO I CHANGED GAS AND STARTING USING AMOCO GAS AND PUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN MY GAS TANK. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW I AM LOSING PRESSURE WHILE I AM DRIVING. I CALLED FORD MOTORS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, BUT MY VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING THAT IS IN THE RECALL. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND FOR $130.00 I COULD BRING IT IN AND GET A DIAGNOSTIC. THERE HAS BEEN A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON AND THE VEHICLE STILL STOPS ON ME ON OCCASION. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10694003
40,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Service Brakes
THE REAR BRAKES ON MY PICKUP FAILED. THE REAR CALIPERS WERE STICKING AND THE BRAKES OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKES IS A COMMON AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH FORD F350 TRUCKS OF THIS MODEL YEAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL OF THESE TRUCKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10692589
30,567 miles · Feb 10, 2015
EnginePower Train
THROTTLE STUCK IN EXCEL MODE AND EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. FORD STATED TO LOOK DEEPER INTO ENGINE AND STATED THEY CAN NOT FINE PROBLEM TO VEHICLE. INSTRUCTED TO BUY NEW ENGINE. THIS DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAD GONE BAD WITH 30, 000 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS THAT 1% OF THE TIME ALTHOUGH BY THE REVIEWS THIS F…
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THROTTLE STUCK IN EXCEL MODE AND EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. FORD STATED TO LOOK DEEPER INTO ENGINE AND STATED THEY CAN NOT FINE PROBLEM TO VEHICLE. INSTRUCTED TO BUY NEW ENGINE. THIS DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAD GONE BAD WITH 30, 000 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS THAT 1% OF THE TIME ALTHOUGH BY THE REVIEWS THIS FREQUENTLY HAPPENS WITH THIS MOTOR. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10682669
53,154 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Service Brakes
FRONT BRAKES OVER HEATED SAW, SMOKE ON LEFT FRONT , STOPPED TO FIND BOTH FRONT CALIPERS WERE HANGING UP. REPLACE BOTH CALIPERS AND BRAKE FLUID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10628002
91,250 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Steering
THE FIRST TIME, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM AN OFF RAMP AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, THE WHEELS WERE GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS BROKE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LIMPED TO MY MECHANIC SHOP AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPE…
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THE FIRST TIME, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM AN OFF RAMP AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, THE WHEELS WERE GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS BROKE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LIMPED TO MY MECHANIC SHOP AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH HIM FOR 2 DAYS HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STEERING PROBLEM. HE DID DO MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE AND WITH ONE OF HIS FRIENDS THAT IS A MECHANIC AT FORD AND HE SAID IT IS A MAJOR FLAW BUT, FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THEN CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING AND THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS, IT HAS ALSO HAPPEN 2 OTHER TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 3. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IT HAD NO CAR FAX ISSUES AT ALL. I FOUND OUT I AM THE 3RD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OUT WHO THE OTHER 2 ARE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING, AND DID NOT TAKE IT BACK TO FORD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AND, MYSTERIOUSLY NOTHING COMES UP ON CAR FAX. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE FORD IS HIDING SOMETHING. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OF KILLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595607
81,301 miles · May 1, 2014
VisibilityInjury
VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH POWER RETRACTING MIRRORS. HAD MY HAND ON THE SWITCH AND ON THE DOOR FRAME WHEN I RETRACTED THE MIRRORS DUE TO A NARROW STREET IN HIGHLANDS NJ. THE MIRROR CLOSED AND CRUSHED MY FINGER BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE ELECTRIC MIRROR ASSY. WILL BE SEEKING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FINGER. VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH…
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VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH POWER RETRACTING MIRRORS. HAD MY HAND ON THE SWITCH AND ON THE DOOR FRAME WHEN I RETRACTED THE MIRRORS DUE TO A NARROW STREET IN HIGHLANDS NJ. THE MIRROR CLOSED AND CRUSHED MY FINGER BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE ELECTRIC MIRROR ASSY. WILL BE SEEKING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FINGER. VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH SENSOR NOT TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER IF I WAS GOING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED TO THE SHOCKING PAIN CAUSED WHEN THE MIRROR IMPACTED MY FINGER.... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10585825
92,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ON HIGHWAYS WITH POTHOLES, I HIT THE POTHOLES AND IMMEDIATELY FELT A VIOLENT SHAKING OR SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE SHIMMY OCCURS IN WHICH EVER TIRE HITS THE HOLE AND WILL STOP AS SOON AS I REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 40 MPH. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF TIE ROD WEA…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ON HIGHWAYS WITH POTHOLES, I HIT THE POTHOLES AND IMMEDIATELY FELT A VIOLENT SHAKING OR SHIMMY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE SHIMMY OCCURS IN WHICH EVER TIRE HITS THE HOLE AND WILL STOP AS SOON AS I REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 40 MPH. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF TIE ROD WEAR OR ANY OTHER REPAIRABLE PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583894
64,420 miles · Mar 25, 2014
Steering
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE DANGEROUS. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN "INTERNAL FAILURE" IN THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX. THEY CANNOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME DUE TO IT BEING ON BACKORDER. THEY WARNED A…
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I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE DANGEROUS. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN "INTERNAL FAILURE" IN THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX. THEY CANNOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME DUE TO IT BEING ON BACKORDER. THEY WARNED AGAINST PURCHASING AN "AFTERMARKET" REMANUFACTURED PART DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. I NEED MY TRUCK, AND AM AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO GET IT FIXED, AND FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE VAST NUMBER OF THESE "FAILURES," AND NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR OWNERS OF THESE FAULTY PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10574637
60,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes
THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FROM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEIR RESPONSE IS "KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS JUST IN CASE." WE HAVE REPLACED THE TURBOS BOTH HIGH AND LOW END TWICE AND THEY ARE STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. TRAVELING 60 MPH DOWN THE ROAD YOU LOSE ALL TURBO PRESSURE CAUSING YOU TO LOSE POWE…
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THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FROM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEIR RESPONSE IS "KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS JUST IN CASE." WE HAVE REPLACED THE TURBOS BOTH HIGH AND LOW END TWICE AND THEY ARE STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. TRAVELING 60 MPH DOWN THE ROAD YOU LOSE ALL TURBO PRESSURE CAUSING YOU TO LOSE POWER. YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER SHUT THE TRUCK OFF AND RE-CRANK IT. THE TRUCK SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT THROWING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE BELT TENSIONER HAS SEPARATED COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SHUTTING OFF COMPLETE POWER AT 60 MPH. ABOUT EVERY 3RD TIME OF FILLING UP WITH DIESEL FUEL WE HAVE TO DRAIN THE WATER SEPARATOR. WHEN THE REGEN SYSTEM KICKS IN TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DIESEL FUMES COME IN TO THE TRUCK CAUSING HEADACHES WITH EXTREME LOSE OF POWER. WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE STOCK RIM SPLIT ON THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $1300.00 FOR ONE RIM WHEN A WHOLE SET OF AFTERMARKET RIMS ARE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS CHEAPER. BOTH FRONT CALIPERS HAVE LOCKED UP AT DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TOWING 1,000 LB TRAILER AND ONE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.ALL SEALS ARE LEAKING. RADIATOR IS LEAKING. ROCKER ARMS ARE TAPPING AND COST $1700 TO REPLACE COMING FROM A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC. WE HAVE HAD 3 DEALERSHIPS TELL US THEY DON'T WANT THE TRUCK AND REFUSE TO GO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF THE MOTOR. ITS ASHAME THE TRUCK WAS A $55,000 TRUCK BRAND NEW. 2 YEARS OLD IT VALUED AT $40,000 AND 2 YEARS AFTER ITS AT $17,000 RESALE. STEERING IS ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN HITTING SEEMS OR RUTS IN THE ROAD MAKING THE TRUCK HARD TO CONTROL AND VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE WE HAVE EVER OWNED. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF PUTTING SUCH A UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE WASTED $55,000. WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR KIDS IN THIS VEHICLE? THERE HAS BEEN 5 FORD DEALERS TELL US THEY DON'T EVEN WANT IT. 6.4L=JUNK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568648
104,500 miles · Jan 20, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, DieselVehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATED ON ROAD UP TO APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE ISSUE TURNED OUT TO BE A WIRE SHORTING OUT ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. ISSUE KNOWN BY FORD WHICH ISSUED TSB 07-26-2. AFFECTS ALL F250/F1350/F450/F550 CREATED IN FIRST…
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ACCELERATED ON ROAD UP TO APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE ISSUE TURNED OUT TO BE A WIRE SHORTING OUT ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. ISSUE KNOWN BY FORD WHICH ISSUED TSB 07-26-2. AFFECTS ALL F250/F1350/F450/F550 CREATED IN FIRST HALF OF 2007. A BRIEF SEARCH AROUND THE WE SHOWS IT AFFECTS LATER YEARS AS WELL SO REPLACEMENT PART MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE. MANY FAIL AT MUCH LOWER MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10560641
NHTSA investigations
1PE13014 · Alleged Loss Of Steering
Opened May 7, 2013 · Closed Jan 31, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
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