2008 Ford F-150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 3 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT LUBRICATED THE STEERING COLUMN BY APPLYING OIL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE DAMAGED AND THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,660.

STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. FEELS AS IF IT IS LOCKING UP AND I REALLY HAVE TO MUSCLE IT BACK TO CENTER AFTER TAKING A SHARP TURN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE LUBRICATED A U JOINT ON THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH HELPED AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF/WHEN IT STARTS BINDING UP AGAIN. HE INFORMED ME HE HAS REPLACED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ON OTHER F150'S DUE TO SEVERE RUST/CORROSION AT THE JOINT. I SAW RECENTLY FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON CROWN VICTORIA'S WITH SOME TYPE OF STEERING ISSUE SO I FIGURED I WOULD SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT SINCE I ANTICIPATE HAVING TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING SUDDENLY STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS BINDING. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A LARGE POOL OF FLUID UNDERNEATH. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A STEERING RACK. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY ( I HAVE A RECEIPT, JUST NOT AT HAND AT THE MOMENT) $1300.00. A WEEK LATER MY STEERING WAS ACTING STRANGE AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SERVICE STATION AND WAS TOLD THAT I NOW NEEDED A STEERING COLUMN (SP). THE COST TO REPLACE THIS WAS $470.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND STEERING LINE HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES EVEN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT APPLIED OIL TO THE STEERING COLUMN TO ALLEVIATE THE FAILURE. THE REMEDY LASTED A WEEK AND MORE OIL WAS APPLIED AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

THE TRUCK STEERING COLUMN WAS HARD TO TURN. CLUNKING AND STICKING POINTS WERE NOTED DURING TURNING.FOUND LOWER STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT SEIZED. THIS COINCIDES WITH LATEST FORD RECALL FOR 2005 - 2011 FORD CARS. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED AS "FROZEN" BY FORD AND REPLACED ON 06/17/13. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FORD F-150 SERIES TRUCKS. THE REPAIR COST $460.00. I THOUGHT THIS SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPEN BEING ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. ANOTHER ISSUE WITH TRUCK WAS A SPLIT IN THE RADIATOR (MAIN CORE.) WHILE DRIVING , MY FAMILY NOTICED THE SMELL OF GLYCOL. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING (STREAMING)IN THE MIDDLE OF RADIATOR CORE. FORD REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT A COST OF $820.83 ON 08/05/13. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO RADIATOR. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING. *JS

DURING THE SPRING OF 2013 THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS PRODUCING THE SAME AMOUNT OF AIR ON POSITION 4 AS IT DID ON 3. I REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK OFF THE DASH TRIM BEZEL TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE HVAC CONTROLS, AND I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MELTED & BURNT PLASTIC. A COUPLE OF THE WIRES WERE BROWN FROM WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME WAS A SMALL FIRE. WE HAVE A 10 MONTH, OUR FIRST CHILD, AND MY HEART WAS RACING AT THE FEAR OF A VEHICLE FIRE AND GETTING OUR BABY GIRL OUT SAFE IN TIME. SHOULD A FUSE BLOW PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE? I DID SOME LOOKING ONLINE, REPLACED THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS PIGTAIL. IT WORKS FINE NOW, BUT I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, AND WHY SO MANY FORDS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ON THE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCHES & BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SWITCHES. IT'S BECAUSE BOTH USE THE SAME 4 WIRE BLADE PLUG. AND THE WAY IT IS ASSEMBLED IS THE CAUSE. THE TERMINALS NEED TO TIGHTER AROUND THE BLADE CONNECTION. ALSO, THE PORTION THAT IS CRIMPED WHERE THE WIRE ATTACHED TO THE TERMINAL SITS OFF CENTER AND ASSEMBLED BACK TO BACK. IF IT WAS ASSEMBLED WITH THE CRIMP ON THE INSIDE IT WOULD CREATE A BIGGER GAP AND REDUCE THE RISK OF VEHICLE FIRES. I TOOK A BUNCH OF PHOTOS AND STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH IF YOU CARE TO EXAMINE IT. *TR