My power steering and brakes went out as I was driving. I was making a turn in town, and I almost collided with another car at the intersection. I pushed the brakes as hard as I could, but it didn't slow down, the car just eventually rolled to a stop on its own. The exact cause is unknown, but it seems like it was a failure in the power steering pump. After turning off the van and turning it back on again a minute later, it started driving normally again.
NHTSA complaint #11595957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 1994 Ford E-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated she heard an unusual noise that sounded like something broke. The contact stated she continued to drive and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a fractured steering box. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
NHTSA complaint #11549611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frame/ chassis cracked at steering box mount due to rusting from the inside of the frame out. There are holes and small open areas in the 4 sided frame. There is no wheel well material protecting this area from excessive amount of salt, water, dirt and debris entering in these holes as well, there is no way to maintain, clean, protect or inspect the insides of the frame to know your steering is going to fail. I am not the only person that is having this problem. Please review. Thanks for reading. Sincerely [XXX] or [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11523014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While turning into a parking space the bolts to the steering box sheared off with complete loss of steering. Further inspection showed severe cracking and loss of metal in the steering box area. After doing some searches I found that this is common issue in the E series vans. I did do a recall search and a CSA search to see about having this problem resolved safely by a certified shop. Unfortunately I haven't found any recall information on what is obviously a serious safety issue. Apparently the bolts shear off at low speeds while turning. The real concern is should one bolt only crack and not let the steering box become useless the vehical may be at highway speed when the failure does occour causing complete loss of control of the vehicle. I've read hundreds of emails on this subject and none had a resolution provided by the Ford Motor Company. I would think that something this critical would have been addressed by now. Concidering the recalls for comparatively much lesser safety issues. Thank you for reviewing this matter.
NHTSA complaint #11448477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frame corroded causing steering box to break through the frame and complete steering loss which nearly caused a head on collision and leaving van inoperable and completely without steering
NHTSA complaint #11429105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN A PARKING LOT, I WENT TO TURN LEFT, HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE VAN JUST WENT STRAIGHT. LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEED. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT SPEED, I WOULD HAVE HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC , OR GONE OFF THE ROAD INTO WHO KNOWS WHAT. TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS HAVE DIAGNOSED A COMPLETE FRAME FAILURE WIHICH ALLOWED THE STEERING BOX TO DETACH FROM THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS NOT REPAIRABLE. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD E150 FRAME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED!!!
NHTSA complaint #11385180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JAN 21ST 2020, WHILE MANEUVERING AT A GAS STATION, I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK. THINKING I HAD HIT A STANCHION, I WALKED AROUND MY VAN BUT - NO STANCHION. NOTHING TO SEE SO I GO ABOUT MY DAY. STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT, I CHECKED FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE - PRESSURE, OK. 40 MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING LATER, I TAKE THE VAN TO THE GARAGE - STEERING FEELS LOOSE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE DANGER I WAS IN, AND THE THREAT I WAS TO THOSE AROUND ME ON THE ROAD, WAS MOST APPARENT. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, ONE BOLT HAVING SHEERED OFF. AND THE FRAME ITSELF CRACKED. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN FINDING THAT FATIGUE FAILURE AT THIS PART OF THE FRAME WAS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AND YET, AS AN ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THIS KNOWN AND DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT BY FORD MOTOR CO OR LANDMARK FORD. HOW MANY VANS OF THE SAME VINTAGE ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ?? HOW MANY ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ALONG SIDE?? I GUESS I AM LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS NOTE, COS HAD MY STEERING BOX BROKEN LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE GLEN JACKSON BRIDGE, (I 205), I COULD EASILY HAVE ENDED UP IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER ALONG WITH OTHER INNOCENTS. DISILLUSIONED CUSTOMER. 1994 FORD E150, 170,289 MLS, FRAME @ STEERING GEAR BOX.
NHTSA complaint #11316572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VERY WOBBLY LOOSE STEERING. SCARY TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING ISN'T RELIABLE. FEELS LIKE IT WILL JUST GO OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVENT DRIVEN IT MUCH SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #11279223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY BECAUSE THE BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE GEAR BOX, WHICH WERE ALL CONNECTED TO THE FRAME, DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LES STUMPF FORD (3030 W COLLEGE AVE, APPLETON, WI) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #11115083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF TIGHT PARKING SPOT 9/1/17, WITH MULTIPLE TURNS OF THE WHEEL, TURNED WHEEL ONE LAST TIME TO PULL FORWARD INTO PARKING SPOT DRIVE AREA BUT AT THAT POINT, HEARD A CLUNK AND ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS GONE. CALLED FOR A TOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVE ASSISTED IN THE DIAGNOSIS NOTING THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD DISCONNECTED FROM VAN FRAME RENDERING STEERING WHEEL CONNECTION LINES USELESS. HAD VAN TOWED HOME. AFTER ONLINE READ, LOOKED AT FRAME THROUGH LEFT FRONT TIRE ACCESS AND SAW THE 3 BOLTS WE READ ABOUT. GRABBED THE TOP BOLT AND IT CAME RIGHT OUT. SAME WITH SECOND BOLT. LAST (THIRD) BOLT WAS A BIT JAMMED DUE TO THE STEERING BOX DROP, BUT ALL 3 BOLTS HAD SHEARED AND ALL STEERING WAS LOST. HAD WE NOT STOPPED AT A STORE FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY SUPPLIES ON OUR WAY TO CAMPSITE, WOULD HAVE LOST STEERING SOMEWHERE ELSE, LIKE ON THE FREEWAY, POSSIBLY DURING A SIMILAR TURN SITUATION. WE COULD HAVE KILLED OTHERS OR OURSELVES. FOUND THAT THIS FORD E150 STEERING BOLT ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN DOCUMENTED. WHY WHEN WE HAD THE VAN SERVICED AND SAID THE STEERING HAD FELT "LOOSE", WHY DIDN'T ANY MECHANIC FIND THIS POTENTIAL?? UN-EXCUSABLE SITUATION. OUR PARENTS, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY DEPENDENT ON US. HAD WE DIED DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING, WHAT A NIGHTMARE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. GRANTED, THE 20-YR-OLD VAN IS RUSTY, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW TO LOOK UNDER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA AND APPARENTLY, MULTIPLE (NON-FORD DEALERSHIPS) MECHANICS DIDN'T EITHER !!
NHTSA complaint #11022067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VAN WANDERS BACK AND FORTH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (> 60MPH). I HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION CHECKED OUT - ALL OK. PROBLEM GETS WORSE WHEN PULLING A 5000 LB CAMPER - ALMOST A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11002038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. VEHICLE CLUNK AND LURCH FORWARD RIGHT BEFORE IT REACHES COMPLETE STOP. 2. WITH FULLY ALIGNED WHEELS, THE STEERING WHEEL CAN NOT BE CENTERED WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. VEHICLE WANDERS ON PERFECTLY LEVELED ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10993136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
12-25-2016 AFTER DROOPING OFF MAID AND GARDENER HERE IN HUATULCO MEXICO MY POWER STEERING QUIT. SINCE GOING SO SLOW DOWN HILL ON VILLAGE STREET I THOUGHT THAT MOTOR HAD QUIT. REALIZED THAT MOTOR WAS RUNNING. THEN NOTICED DASH WARNING THAT SAID HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK . CALLED DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT TRUCK FROM THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A COMPUTER UPDATE NEEDED FOR TRUCK. NOT TO HAPPY SINCE I HAD TOLD DEALER WHEN TRUCK WAS IN SHOP THAT WE DRIVE 2850 MILES TO OUR HOME IN HUATULCO MEXICO EACH YEAR AND THAT I WAS IN HUTULCO. HAD LOCAL DEALER LOOK AT. LOCAL DEALER NOW TELLS ME THAT TRUCK NEEDS POWER STEERING COLUMN AND THAT HE DID PUT IN SERVICE UPDATE ALSO BLINKER WILL NOT STAY ON UNLESS HELD DOWN
NHTSA complaint #10938696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON BESTBUY PARKING LOT, WENT OVER A SPEED BUMPER HEARD A LOUD CLUNK COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. DROVE HOME, STOPPED VAN, GOT HELP, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING TO LEFT, LOUD METAL CLUNK FROM THAT DRIVER SIDE, HELPER ON FLOOR NOTICED THAT BOTTOM BOLT HOLDING POWER STEERING BOX IS GOING IN AND OUT, RUSTED ON FRONT AND BACK OF FRAME, THIS BOX SHOULD BE MOUNTED ON REINFORCED BRACKETS FRONT AND BACK OF FRAME THEN WELDED TO FRAME TO PROTECT OCCUPANTS FROM POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF BOX AND FRAME WITH CONSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT (COULD BE FATAL WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE). SO, WITH THE ENGINE ON, IN PARK, IF THE STEERING IS TURN TO THE LEFT, DRIVER WILL FEEL AND HEAR THE CLUNK.
NHTSA complaint #10933940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF THE THREE BOLTS HAD BECOME LOOSELY CONNECTED ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING. THE CONTACT TIGHTENED THE WASHER AS AN INTERIM REPAIR TO PREVENT A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10926539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS THE DRIVER APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SLOW TO STOP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS BEFORE AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. (THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10918568 AND THAT COMPLAINT IMPROPERLY NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT - THE REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH THIS COMPLAINT. ALSO, THIS COMPLAINT SUPPLEMENTS THE PRIOR INFORMATION BY PROVIDED THE SERVICE TICKET. THE TICKET SHOWS A FUEL PUMP RELAY FUSE MELTED.
NHTSA complaint #10918721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-150. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10904470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-150. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE AND DECREASED IN SPEED WHILE TURNING. THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION ELECTRONIC ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.
NHTSA complaint #10874920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME THRU THE TUNNEL,AND STOP BY MALL TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.WHILE PARKING MY STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME,CAUSING ME TO HAVE NO STEERING.IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPEN 10 MINUTES EARLIER OR AFTER I WOULD HAVE LEFT THE MALL GOING THRU THE TWO LANE MIDTOWN TUNNEL I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.IS THIS SOMETHING FORD KNEW ABOUT AND DID NO RECALL.THE BOLTS ARE BAD AND I RESEARCHED AND IT HAPPEN TO ALOT OF PEOPLE'S DRIVING THAT TYPE.MY VAN IN THE SHOP AND I DO THINK FORD SHOULD FOOT THE REPAIR BILL.I LOVE MY VAN.HAVE A MUSTANG TOO IT'S JUST THE IDEA I COULD HAVE KILLED SOME ONE OR MYSELF.PLEASE IF I CAN HAVE SOME FEED BACK ON THIS ISSUE OR EVEN WHO ELSE I COULD CONTACT REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10861501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.