2001 Ford F-150 Steering Problems

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING USED OR TURNED ON. THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SUDDENLY WENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT. THE FIRE BURNED ONLY THE FRONT UP TO THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING THE CAB PARTIALLY MELTED AND MY DAUGHTERS CAR SEAT UNSAFE. NOW THIS MESS SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I WAIT FOR INSPECTOR. AS IT FALLS APART MORE AND MORE EACH DAY AS MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS SMELL THE BURNT RUBBLE AND ARE REMINDED OF THAT FRIGHTENING AFTERNOON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AS THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE FUEL TANK STRAPS ON MY 2001 FORD F150 ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED. OTHER AREAS HAVE ALSO RUSTED OUT SUCH AS THE RADIATOR SUPPORTS - RADIATOR AND SHROUD DROPPED OUT AND ARE HITTING AGAINST THE ENGINE FAN. THE PICK-UP BED OF THE TRUCK IS ALSO RUSTING OUT. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE INSPECTED THE STRAPS, HE FOUND ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY COVERED IN RUST, BUT STILL IN TACT. ALSO, THERE WAS UNUSUAL RUSTING ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT WAS ROTTED OUT AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PICK-UP BED AND OTHER SUPPORTS HAVE MAJOR RUST. UPDATED 08/12/11 THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SUPPORT GAVE OUT THE RADIATOR AND RADIATOR SHROUD FELL ONTO THE FAN THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS AND STEERING WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS. UPDATED 08/30/11 *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 REGULAR CAB LONG BED WITH 75,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS BRIEF SHUDDERING CAUSED THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP TO SNAP IN HALF PRIMARILY DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE STRAP. LOSS OF THE SUPPORTING STRAP CAUSED THE REAR OF THE TANK TO DROP ALMOST TO GROUND LEVEL WHICH ALSO BROKE THE FILLER INLET OFF OF THE TOP OF THE TANK, COMPLETELY DISCONNECTING THE FILLER TUBE AND PRESENTING A LARGE HOLE FOR FUEL TO ESCAPE. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE NOT WHAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. EITHER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BOLT UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE BOLT ON THE FLOOR AREA AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHICH REQUIRED THE GEAR TO BE SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND BRICKS PLACED BEHIND EACH TIRE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

DRIVING ON THE OFF RAMP ON I 75 NEAR ROSCOMMON, MI., STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, NO MOVEMENT WHAT SO EVER. CORRECTION REQUIRED SNAPPY, JERKY YANKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE LOOSE, VEHICLE STARTED FISH-TAILING BECAUSE OF SNOW COVERED ROAD. CONTROL WAS REGAINED BUT HEART RATE WAS GREATLY INCREASED BY BOTH MYSELF AND WIFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE SINCE THEN. ( IN DRIVEWAY).

ON NOVEMBER 7TH I WAS INSPECTING MY BRAKES AND FOUND THAT ALL THE RUBBER SEALS IN THE FRONT END WERE WORN OUT OR BETTER STILL THE RUBBER WAS CRUMBLEY AND NO GREASE REMAINED. I HAVE 63,000 MILES ON THE 2001 FORD XLT RANGER. IT SEEMS THAT THIS WOULD BE A FACTORY INFERIOR PRODUCT INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE. *TR

FORD F-150 SUPERCREW 2001: RIGHT TIE ROD BROKE CATASTROPHICALLY (BROKEN SOCKET), RESULTING IN VIOLENT WHEEL OSCILLATION, WITH FRONT TIRE DRAG BRINGING VEHICLE TO A HALT; 20 MPH; NO WARNING; REGULARLY INSPECTED, ~110K MILEAGE. HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH FAMILY (5 PASSENGERS) DAY BEFORE TIE ROD BROKE. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?? SAME VEHICLE, ~130K MILEAGE, DATE 8/27/07. LEFT TIE ROD BROKE CATASTROPHICALLY (BROKEN SOCKET). JUST PULLED INTO REST AREA ON I95 IN CONNECTICUT. TRIED TO BACK UP, WHEELS ANGLED, TOWED, TIE ROD REPLACED. MINUTES BEFORE I WAS TRAVELING 70MPH IN PASSING LANE ON I95. WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?? VEHICLE NOT USED FOR OFF-ROAD, NO SNOW PLOW, MAINTAINED BY SERVICE STATION REGULARLY. *JB

THE UPPER A ARMS AND TIRE RODS ARE WORN OUT ON MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS LESS THAN 65K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKE NO SENSE FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY HIGHWAY MILES AND NO ABUSE. *NM

IN NOVEMBER 2004 I TOOK MY 2001 EXPEDITION INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY FOUND A HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP THE STEERING WAS GIVING RESISTANCE WHILE DRIVING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS PROBABLY "AIR IN THE POWER STEERING LINES" AND THAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM THEY FIXED. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD "WORK ITSELF OUT". WELL, IT DIDN'T WORK ITSELF OUT, IT GOT WORSE. SO WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 2005 AND THEY COULD NOT "REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM SO AFTER SOME COMPLAINING FROM US, THEY RECHECKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT P/S PUMP EVO ACTUATOR TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS STILL GIVING RESISTENCE IN THE STEERING. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND WORSE, SO IN OCTOBER 2005, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY AGAIN SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE HANGING UP OR NOISE. NOBODY EVER SAID ANYTHING TO THEM ABOUT POPPING NOISE. WHEN I GOT THERE TO PICK THE CAR UP I WAS NOT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND IT STARTING DOING IT AGAIN, SO I PULLED BACK IN AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE CAR ANYMORE. *JB

DT: PROBLEMS BEGAN ON 5/23/05 WHILE TURNING RIGHT IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY PAVEMENT. CALLER BELIEVED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIE ROD POPPED OFF THE BALL JOINT. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON IN VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT PULLING OR MAKING ANY NOISE. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER NOTICED THE PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, ALL OTHER WHEELS WERE FACING FORWARD. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED.*AK

BOTH STEERING BEARINGS (LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN INSIDE TRUCK CAB) COMPLETELY WORE OUT, STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. 2001 F150 FORD LARIAT SUPERCREW. MY FRIEND IS A MECHANIC WITH THE WV DEPT OF HIGHWAYS AND HE HAD TO HAVE BOTH THE STEERING BEARINGS IN ALL THE 2000 F150 PICKUPS IN HIS ORGANIZATION REPLACED. THIS IS HOW I KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MINE, IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING THE STATES TRUCKS DONE. LOOSE STEERING WHEEL AND HARD TO STEER. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AROUND A TURN AN ACCIDENT MAY HAVE OCCURED. I BOUGHT THE TWO BEARINGS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED. NOT SURE IF MECHANIC KEPT THE OLD BEARINGS. *AK

UPON INSPECTION (USING PROCEDURE PROVIDED BY FORD) DURING STANDARD MTCE, MECHANIC ADVISES VEHICLE OWNER OF PREMATURE TIE ROD WEAR. ESTIMATES $450 REPAIR COST. *NM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK

TIE RODS ARE DEFECTIVE. TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND DOES NOT STEER STRAIGHT. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE TIE RODS, BUT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE SINCE THE VEHICLE MFG WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *AK

A TIE ROD FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED FOR OTHER ISSUES WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST HIM WITH THIS DEFECT. *AK A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

FORD MOTOR CO. SENT OUT A PROCEDURE ON HOW TO INSPECT TIE-RODS ON FORD TRUCKS. FTER INSPECTING MINE, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.... THERE ARE LOTS OF FORD OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING PREMATURE TIE-ROD FALURES AND HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.... I FEEL IT'S A SERIOUS SAFTY ISSUE... FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WENT THROUGH AN INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE. HE CONTACTED FORD. HOWEVER, FORD WILL NOT ASSIST IN ANY REPAIRS. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK *TC

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE TIE ROD ENDS SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.