Ford F-350 SD steering lock-up problems

Filed Mar 27, 2025 · Steering · 15,000 miles · CO · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2024 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized, causing the front passenger side to crash into the front driver side of a commercial vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle ricocheted and rolled over to the driver's side, and did a 180 turn where the tires came to a stop at the bottom of a hill; however, there was no property damage. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where the vehicle was deemed totaled due to severe front tire damage. The vehicle was then towed to a salvage lot, where it was informed that the link to the ABS unit failed and there was a connectivity issue with the steering module that could have possibly caused the failure. A police report was filed. Due to the impact, the contact's wife broke her right wrist and immediately sought medical attention; the contact's wife was seated on the front passenger side. No one outside of the vehicle was injured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Oct 13, 2022 · Brakes, Steering · NY

On 4 separate occasions while driving my truck under 60 mph, the truck started shaking violently. The steering froze and the complete chassis, frame and body shook and felt like it was falling apart. It only subsided when I decelerated below 30 mph.

Filed Jun 5, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · TX

Multiple times after hitting a small bump at anywhere between 35-60 mph the steering wheel locks and the entire truck shakes violently. It will continue doing this until I stop the vehicle completely. Once it started doing it again as I accelerated after it had stopped. It seems to get worse. I’ve read it is a mechanical fault and causes “Ford death rattle”. It is very dangerous and I have almost lost control of the vehicle.

Filed Jul 3, 2013 · Steering, Transmission · 52,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-350 sd. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the power steering assist failed as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, who stated that the gearbox had failed. The vehicle had been repaired once in the past for the same failure. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 52,000. The current mileage was 70,576.

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Steering · 104,000 miles · PA

Upon making a sharp right turn and returning on course, the steering began to oscillate as if not being able to center itself, wobbling, flopping right, left. I stopped, turned wheels right and left under resistance. I was able to work out the wobbling and continued. There were similar occurrences later. At 1000 miles later, I pulled out from a stop sign on hard left turn, went to straighten out, and steering locked on return. I turned left then right to unlock it and it did unlock, but wobbled so bad I couldn't drive over 10 MPH, until I stopped, turned motor off, started again, and worked out the resistance. I can usually feel when it will occur. Just bought the truck, can't afford repair just yet. Help!

Filed Jun 4, 2010 · Acceleration, Steering · MA · crash · 1 injury

Letter from senator brown on behalf of constituent re his ford truck gas pedal accelerating, causing him to crash (dot/I#2010-1130) *tgw the consumer stated while driving on a rural road, the steering locked up and the gas pedal became stuck which caused the vehicle to accelerate out of control and crash into an embankment. The consumer was knocked unconscious and when he came to the accelerator pedal was pressed to the floor. He was able to release the accelerator pedal so he proceeded to move the vehicle to the side of the road. As he did that, the steering locked up a second time, so he turned off the engine and waited for the police to arrive. The consumer suffered a mild concussion. The consumer stated ford nor his insurance company were willing to pay for the repairs for the defective steering box.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Steering · 19,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact previously owned a 2001 ford f350 sd. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH on normal road conditions. The brake pedal was fully depressed and the steering wheel locked. The driver placed both hands on the steering wheel and maneuvered the wheel to the right. The steering wheel failed to unlock until the release of the brake pedal. The driver was able to resume normal operation. The failure occurred whenever pressure was applied to the brake system. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician stated the defect was a manufacturer design without a remedy. The failure mileage was 19,000. The VIN was unknown. The contact no longer owned the vehicle.

Filed Sep 18, 2007 · Brakes, Steering · 72,500 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f350 super duty. While driving 40 MPH, an oncoming vehicle passed in front of the contact. He applied the brakes and the steering went to the right. He was unable to turn the steering wheel to the left. The vehicle passed and the contact was able to regain control. He also stated that the steering locks up when the brakes are applied. This failure has occurred three times. The dealer stated that the vehicle was designed in that manner. The current mileage was 72,741 and failure mileage was 72,500.

Filed Apr 5, 2006 · Steering · 40,000 miles · ID

While trying to brake at any time the vehicle steering locks up (the pump does not support the pressure for the brakes and steering). After contacting several mechanics this is a ford diesel common problem and there has not yet to be a correct fix.

Filed Aug 30, 2005 · Steering · CA

Dt: the consumer owns a 2004 ford f350 super duty. The steering locked and the consumer was unable to steer the vehicle. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. *jb this problem occurred everyday.