54 of the 417 complaints about the 2000 Ford F-250 are about the steering — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,000 miles.
54
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP ESPECIALLY IN A TURN, THE FRONT WHEELS SHUTTER VIOLENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #11278561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WE HAD JUST HAD NEW FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE HT TIRES PUT ON OUR TRUCK. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, AS WE ARE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, WE FELT A SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE. WE SLOWED DOWN TO 60 MPH & THAT'S WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. WE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO INSPECT & THE TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALL. WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING & NO ROAD HAZARD CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. WE SIMPLY FELT AS A SERIOUS VIBRATION & WITHIN A HALF A MILE OR MILE IT BLEW OUT. THE SHOP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE TIRES CHARGED US FOR ANOTHER TIRE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND PAID FOR IT BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE VEHICLE FOR WORK. IT CONTINUED TO HAVE SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHICH CAUSE DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE IN ACCELERATION & IN BRAKING. SO WE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED ON THE FRONT END. AFTER THIS, THE TRUCK STILL FELT UNSTABLE...THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE AND IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT TO STEER.. IT ALSO HAD A TENDENCY TO PULL FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER & AT ALL TIMES & MY AIR PRESSURE WAS AT SPEC. THEN JUST RECENTLY, WE NOTICE THAT ALL THE TIRES, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WE HAD REPLACED FROM THE BLOWOUT, WERE COMING APART ON THE SIDE WALLS. THERE WERE CRACKS ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALL OF EVERY SINGLE TIRE. THIS CAUSED QUITE AN ALARM TO US AS WE HAD BEEN DRIVING THIS TRUCK & COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED HAD WE NOT NOTICE THIS FLAW! THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES AND IT IS SERIOUS! THERE'S ALSO ALSO A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF YOUR DEALERS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THESE FOUR TIRES UNDER WARRANTY JUST AS THEY DID FOR THE BLOWOUT. THEY PRORATED MY TIRE USAGE WITH NO KNOWN MILEAGE OF WHEN THE TIRES WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DOCUMENT IT. ALL FIVE OF THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY WITH NO CHARGE! THEY NEED TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!
NHTSA complaint #11061997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 65 MPH MY STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I HAPPENED TO BE 200 YARDS BEHIND THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IMPACT. A HYDRAULIC HOSE FAILED AND RENDERED THE STEERING AND BRAKES ALMOST COMPLETELY USELESS. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BUT I MANAGED. THE BRAKES WERE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN TO A SAFE STOP OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY DIESEL MECHANIC I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT FORD ENGINEERED THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE STEERING AND BRAKES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD WITH THAT KIND OF RIDICULOUS ENGINEERING. I HAD THREE HOSES REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $451.54. ONE FACTORY HOSE WAS $172.53, ANOTHER $100.68 AND THE THIRD WAS $24.04. THE SAFETY ISSUE HERE IS UNREAL. HOW COULD FORD ENGINEERING HAVE DONE SUCH A STUPID THING.
NHTSA complaint #10822320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE TRUCK IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES WITHOUT RISKING HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR A PERSON.
NHTSA complaint #10533957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE SECTOR SHAFT OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX SNAPPED OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING RESULTING IN A CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THIS CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. UPDATED 7/21/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10161314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING WHEEL BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10067512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO TURN THE WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10059763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK *PH
NHTSA complaint #10039960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WHILE IN USE. *AK. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL PREVIOUSLY, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME THE COVER AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER EXPENSE. ALSO THE PINION SEAL WAS REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. PH
NHTSA complaint #10021952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE DRIVER SIDE AXLE BROKE. DEFECTIVE HOSE CLAMP AND STEERING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10007086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT RESULTING IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE RUNNING INTO A DITCH. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIX PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DAVID WARSHAW OF WARSHAW ENGINEERING WAS ASKED TO INSPECT VEHICLE AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN DRIVER RAY KANE WAS DRIVING, MR KANE STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JACK KNIFE, HOWEVER THE INVESTIGATOR STATES THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #564962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TURNING LOCKS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE BECAUSE STEERING IS IMPEDED. PS PUMP REPLACED TWICE WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION. BELIEVE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT THE PS PUMP SERVES AS A BRAKE ASSIST PUMP AND IS NOT PUMPING SUFFICIENTLY TO OPERATE BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING. CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT AS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ARE NOTED ON NHTSA'S WEB PAGE. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, POSSIBLE MFG. DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #762113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL MAKES RUB NOISE WHEN TURNING, AND STEERING WHEEL COVER IS COMING APART, ALSO STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #563610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RING AND PINION FAILED ALSO STEERING GEAR BOX RATTLES.
NHTSA complaint #563610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN IDLE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #8007730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALSO MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION MY TRUCK STOPPED TURNING. LUCKILY, I AM YOUNG AND IN GOOD SHAPE, I COULD "MUSCLE IT" THROUGH THE REST OF THE TURN TO AVOID THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY QUICK THINKING AND "LUCKY" CONDITIONS, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATALITY. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED.
NHTSA complaint #756377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
AT VERY SLOW SPEED WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED (SUCH AS FRONT & BACK PARKING MANEUVERS, OR JACKING A TRAILER INTO A TIGHT SPOT), THE STEERING HAS ALMOST NO POWER ASSIST. I DIDN'T MENTION IT TO THE DEALER UNTIL FEBRUARY OF 2001,AND HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND GAVE ME A COPY OF A SERVICE MEMO FROM FORD STATING THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND "NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED". AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2001 I RECEIVED A SURVEY FORM FROM FORD ASKING BASICALLY HOW I LIKED MY TRUCK. I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY CONCERN WITH THE STEERING. I ACTUALLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM FORD ABOUT MY PROBLEM. THEY ALSO CALLED THE DEALER AND WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. ON 12/11/01 THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER PERSONALLY CHECKED-OUT THE PROBLEM (WITH ME ALONG), AND AGREED THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL AND HIS COMMENT WAS "IT'S LIKE THE WHEEL IS AGAINST A ROCK". HE SAID THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND WOULD CALL THE FORD ENGINEERS. HE CALLED ME LATER THAT SAME DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT FORD WAS ADAMANT THAT THE CONDITION IS "NORMAL" AND ABSOLUTELY NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED. THEY SAID THAT HE COULD CHANGE ALL THE POWER STEERING PARTS, AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY HIM TO DO ANY WORK ON THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE HYDROBOOST SYSTEM DIVERTS ALL OF THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED AND NOT TO THE POWER STEERING, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS DESIGN. THE FORD ENGINEER GAVE THE DEALER A REPORT NUMBER TO USE IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER REFERENCE TO THIS SITUATION. THE REPORT NUMBER IS "1LKEB013" DATED 12/11/01. ON 12/12/01 I CALLED BACK TO THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PERSON THAT ORIGINALLY CALLED ME (ROSA AT 1-800-393-3673X2452) AND REPORT THE RESULTS. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAT SHE COULD DO BECAUSE THE FORD ENGINEER DECLARED THE PROBLEM TO BE NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS.
NHTSA complaint #755593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL MAKES RUB NOISE WHEN TURNING, AND STEERING WHEEL COVER IS COMING APART, ALSO STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #563610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RING AND PINION FAILED ALSO STEERING GEAR BOX RATTLES.
NHTSA complaint #563610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILS AT LOW SPEEDS,ESPECIALY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #752734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN SOME CASES, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #747271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED. WHEN VEHICLE WAS DIRECTED TO THE RIGHT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REDIRECT VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT OF CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. *AK VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
QUESTION - I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SOME STEERING COMPONENT OF THE F250 FORD PICKUP; HOWEVER, THE ARTICLE DID NOT ELABORATE. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEFORE I TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER. INFORMATIONAL, NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #745530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN BRAKING HARD AND TRYING TO TURN/STEER AS IN ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND EVASIVE MANEUVERING, THE STEERING WILL LOCK MOMENTARILY. IT IS A HARD SITUATION TO DUPLICATE SINCE IT IS A REACTIONARY ACTION AND IS ADRENALINE POWERED, BUT IT CAN BE SIMULATED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND THE VEHICLE IN PARK. ?DEALER INSISTS THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX!!! THIS HAS OCCURED TWICE WITHIN THE MONTH OF MAY AND BOTH INCIDENTS RESULTED IN NEAR COLLISIONS.
NHTSA complaint #745534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
IF THERE ARE ANY UNEVEN PARTS OF ROAD OR BUMPS, STEERING WHEEL WILL RIP RIGHT OUT OF CONSUMER'S HAND, AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #888255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
I AM ON 3RD POWER STEERING PUMP AND 2ND. HYDROBOOSTER IN 53000 MILES 3RD. PUMP FAILING AGAIN I AM ALREADY OUT 1600 DOLLARS ON THESE REPAIRS .FORD HAS A MAJOR PROUBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT .
NHTSA complaint #745206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I AM ON 3RD POWER STEERING PUMP AND 2ND. HYDROBOOSTER IN 53000 MILES 3RD. PUMP FAILING AGAIN I AM ALREADY OUT 1600 DOLLARS ON THESE REPAIRS .FORD HAS A MAJOR PROUBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT .
NHTSA complaint #745206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING IS DEFECTIVE. STEERING WHEEL WANDERS OFF IN ANOTHER DIRECTION DUE TO BALL JOINTS BEING DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #888207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING IS VERY TOUCHY, WHEN TURNING WHEEL JUST A BIT VEHICLE WILL RESPOND TOO MUCH.
NHTSA complaint #888016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.