Drove f-150 normally during week. On weekend morning while pulling out of driveway steering wheel suddenly and sporadically began resisting effort to turn causing truck to sway unpredictably during turns. Resisting driver input. Was too dangerous to drive. After reviewing blogs online I realized a lot of other people who drive this era f-150 have the same problem. It turns out the lower steering column shaft containing the u-joints uses defective materials or has bad design. The u-joints are binding up during driving causing the driver to lose partial control over direction of vehicle. Temporary fix may be to spray with anti-corrosive spray, then lubricating spray, which I did. This lasts only a short time so the lower shaft with u-joints must be replaced. Ford knows of the defect for this era f-150 and has redesigned this lower shaft to eliminate the binding. This new design is what they sell you as a replacement, not the original design. If you try to buy one online it costs at least $245 for the o.e.m. Part. If you buy one of the 2 aftermarket knockoffs it'll set you back approx $125. The aftermarket shaft advertising touts the fact that it has a design that will not bind like the original ford shaft does. This truck had approx 69,700 miles on it when the shaft began binding up.
2006 Ford F-150 steering complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 55, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Last week I started noticing my steering starting to get stiff and the wheel does not recenter after a steer to the left or right. Ive had to do some quick muscling to recenter the wheel. I've just finished researching some other ford forums for this vehicle and many owners have reported the same issue with the u joints on the steering column rusting or seizing. I will try spraying some anti seize on the u joints tommorow until I can get it to a garage.my truck has approximately 103,000 miles on it . This is dangerous and with the amount of complaints on this it should be recalled by ford to correct.
Last week truck suddenly became very hard to turn going around corners. Steering wheel locked up and I almost went over an embankment. Hit or miss so I never know when it will go out. Thankfully did not have my 2 young children! A week later (11/29/15), truck suddenly starts to violently shake if I go over 50 MPH! Scared the dickens out of me! Hoping to limp it to a dealership and trade it in. Not safe for me to drive. I have put 20k miles on it in 2 years and has been regularly serviced. What gives?!?
My steering started to bind while driving . Could not make full right or left turns. Very unsafe. The truck has left than 30,000 miles. Rarely driven.
While my vehicle was in the shop for a four wheel alignment the mechanic noted that the u-joint in intermediate steering shaft is going bad and therefore the reason there is some play in the steering wheel. Cost to repair is going to be approximately $700
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. While driving 35 MPH and coming to a complete stop, the rear driver side tire separated and rolled into traffic. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear rotor and studs failed and needed to be tightened. The contact also stated that he had to also replace the steering rack and pinion due to the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
Ford's iwe solenoid has a tendency to malfunction due to a poor design. Tsb 06-8-15 was issued to replace these solenoids, but only if there was a problem and only if it was giving a problem. My vehicle was in storage for 5 years and after it was brought out and to ny, the water leaked on the solenoid due to the inadequate design, causing the iwe's to malfunction. I still don't know what exactly it did but driving the car down the road, it caused me to feel like I was driving over small speed bumps with the front drivers side tire. I'm afraid that if this failed at a high rate of speed it could cause the iwe to engage and possibly lock up one of the front tires.
Noticed steering wheel very hard to turn. Checked power steering fluid which was ok. Researched problem online and found dozens of similar complaints reported on ford customer forums and elsewhere online mentioning that the u-joint(s) on the lower steering shaft possibly rust and corrode and become very stiff. When turning corners wheel does not readily recenter itself. Fearful that steering joints could fail, seize or break resulting in a complete loss of steering and serious injury or death. Saw that ford redesigned the steering shaft after 2006 and the new ford part looks much different than the original shaft in my 2006 truck. Sprayed some penetrating oil on both u-joints yesterday and steering was noticeably much easier within 5 minutes. Then sprayed some liquid wrench lubricating oil (lightweight aerosol oil) on both joints and drove the truck. Steering was like new and steering wheel easy to turn. Do not know however if this "oiling fix" will last. Ford is aware of this issue as they redesigned the steering shaft/u-joints and had hundreds of complaints. Defect in design of critical steering component, ford is aware and redesigned steering shaft and u-joints. Note: other customers with non-ford vehicles and ford vehicles other than the f-150 have reported numerous similar complaints.
Front end bushings deterioration - replacement cost estimate $750.00
My steering wheel is stiff. And hard to turn the mechanic said it is a recalled rack and pinion.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel shook violently without warning. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician stated that the tires needed to be replaced and aligned. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,270.
At very low mileage I cannot understand why I was hearing a whining noise that appeared from coming the rear of my truck. I was advised that the gears were breaking down and should be replaced. The gear and pinion were replaced. Seems to be fixed. Again at 57814 miles?
Driving with my 2 kids on us 23 I felt the steering get tight. Stopped check everything looked good. Started back driving and road curved to left as I was driving it did not want to turn back to the right. All most causing to hit a vehicle head on. Finally got back to the house and done some research and figured out it was lower steering shaft.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned making the steering wheel difficult to turn and causing the vehicle to lose control and drive into on coming traffic nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that a lower joint in the steering column shaft seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f150. The contact stated that the steering wheel became unstable while driving at an unknown speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer multiple times. The diagnosis was to replace the steering shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH the power steering failed without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence. The failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximately failure mileage was 154,618.
My 2006 ford f150 fx4 has stalled on the highway at two different times in the last 9,000 miles. I am driving at normal speeds, with normal weather conditions, half tank of gas, and I was coasting as highway speeds slowed - as I went to hit the accelerator to speed up, I lost the ability to accelerate. First the wrench dash light came on, then I noticed steering was slightly difficult and then the battery and transmission light came on. I got the vehicle to the side of the road, but I did not lose headlights, radio, heat, or power. I turned the truck off and waited 2 minutes, then it started back up - a little difficult on the starter, but it worked. I have read numerous chat forums online with users having this same issue with 2006 v8's in the f150. What is ford doing about this? My vehicle has been meticulously maintained and cared for. From what I read this is a fuel pump control panel issue with corrosion of dissimilar metals - where is the recall?
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. The contact stated that the steering shaft exhibited excessive rust, making the vehicle difficult to steer at all speeds. The contact cleaned and lubricated the steering shaft but the service only remedied the issue temporarily. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer. The contact called the manufacturer and offered the contact a new part to purchase. The contact did not purchase the part. The failure mileage was 48,000.
My 2006 ford f150 has the positraction rear end. Its went out around 25000 to 30000 miles, while the truck was still under warranty and the dealer fixed it no charge. Now the truck has a little over 62000 miles and the rear end has gone out again. Almost exactly the same amount of miles on the rear end. Warranty was up at 60000 miles so its no longer covered. I think this should be looked into as a recall because this is the second time its happened on the same truck.
While approaching an intersection, about to make a right at the light, (I was driving about 20mph) on 12/24/12 (with my two children and husband in the truck) the vehicle beeps and it displays "engine safe mode...low oil pressure" then the power steering cuts off and the whole vehicle shut down! I am frantic at this point because I have no clue what is going on! I was in the middle of traffic and had to cut the car off and crank it up again. Luckily I didn't get rear ended or in an accident. That same day I went and got my oil change because it was over due. Well on 1/4/13 the same thing happens as I am turning into the parking lot of mcdonald's. I get the same error message as before, the steering wheel locks up, and truck cuts off! This so extremely dangerous. I looked this issue up online and see that it appears to be a common issue with the 2006 f-150 and the expedition. My bother-in-law, who also has a similar f-150 to ours, said the same thing has happened to him twice.
Steering became very hard to turn. Would not center after turning, would lock on wet roads. I had to turn the steering wheel by hand to get it back to center. I checked to find the u joints on steering shaft where rusted so I lubed with oil. Steering became much better. I went to a local ford dealer they said there was no recalls and knew of no problems with the steering on the f150's. The ford dealer wanted me to let them take everything apart but said it could run into a lot of money depending on what they find. So for over three years I've been oiling the joints on the shaft and living with the problem. Waiting for total failure to sue ford for poor design of the steering column shaft joints.
Tl* the contact owns 2006 ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the power steering failed and seized. The contact then drove to his residence and added power steering fluid but the fluid leaked out of the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer where they could not duplicate the failure. The dealer stated that the power steering was repaired. After several months, the power steering failed again. The vehicle was not completely repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 87,000. Updated 07/06/12 *bf the consumer took the vehicle to a repair a shop and a diagnosis revealed the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. Also, the power steering hose was replaced twice, the o-ring, power steering pump and power steering line were replaced. Updated 08/08/12
The steering shaft is siezihg causing the wheel not to center it self and steers hard . It does not self center after cornering. You can't tell if your wheel is turned on slippery roads . I called ford motor company and they told me it's not a safety issue . I'm a licensed mechanic and this hard steering would not pass a motor vehicle safety inspection in our shop.I think fomoco should fix this . As far as I'm aware it is only the 2004-2008 model trucks.
When driving vehicle at all different speeds, steering becomes difficult and wheel resists turning. After turn is made wheel does not return by itself but needs to be forced back with great resistance. Condition went away for a month but then returned in october of 2011, and has been difficult since. Very dangerous.
This is the same thing that happens to mine as someone else had already posted.. Power steering becomes 'hard'. Steering wheel suddenly becomes stiff and difficult to handle. Hard to turn. Choppy while turning and snaps back in increments instead of a smooth, easy return to center. Feels like manual steering then returns to power steering. Occurs at any speed, very dangerous at higher speeds. Makes the vehicle steer 'choppy' and unpredictable. Have stopped using the vehicle, causes a dangerous situation while driving and trying to maintain control of the truck.
Power steering becomes 'hard'. Steering wheel suddenly becomes stiff and difficult to handle. Hard to turn. Choppy while turning and snaps back in increments instead of a smooth, easy return to center. Feels like manual steering then returns to power steering. Occurs at any speed, very dangerous at higher speeds. Makes the vehicle steer 'choppy' and unpredictable. Have stopped using the vehicle, causes a dangerous situation while driving and trying to maintain control of the truck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the steering wheel began to shake excessively. The contact also stated that there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was safely driven home, where it was inspected by an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the steering shaft, center caps and the calipers needed to be replaced. The mechanic also stated that the center hub cap burnt due to the calipers fracturing and detaching from the vehicle .the vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
Power steering failure, steering became hard at 10 and 2, replaced the ps pump, problem still exists but at 9 and 3 now, steering so hard while turning that it could cause a wreck. After reading online thinking now that it is in the steering shaft. Many people have had the same trouble and says they lubricated the part and it got better. I just don't want to wreck while driving with my 4 children. Would take it to ford but afraid they will say things are wrong that are not...don't want it to turn into a money gimmick. Extremely hard to turn from dead stop. Still trying to figure the problem out one part at a time....62,000 approx.
Steering shaft assembly binding causing serious safety issue. Vehicle has 37,000 miles currently. I paid ford dealer to inspect the vehicle and they state the steering shaft assembly was "binding". It was reported that the part was on a "national backorder". When I contacted ford they would not assist with the repair, only make a note in "my file". Serious safety issue and the need for a recall needs to be investigated.
Sometime in february 2011 I noticed the steering in my 2006 ford f-150 to be getting very tight and extremely hard to steer. Sometimes it would get better others it was worse. When making a turn the steering wheel would never return on its own. I took the truck to the dealer I purchased vehicle for a new control module and explained my steering problem they flushed the fluid the vehicle seemed better for a week and gradually got worse. On 05/31/2011 I again took the truck to the dealer. A couple days later they said it was the something to do with steering shaft binding and the part would be in on friday 06/04/2011. When I spoke with them again they said the part was now on backorder and they also had 3 other trucks at the dealer with the same problem. Could it be that this is a widespread problem and that is why the parts are backordered or worse ford knows there is a problem and is trying to figure it out while I sit home with no vehicle. Serious safety issue.
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