The defect
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE IS NOT FULLY SEATED AND BOLT GROOVE AND SPLINE IS VISIBLE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BOLT AT THE STEERING COLUMN CONNECTION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Expedition | 1997 |
| Ford F-150 | 1997 |
| Ford F-250 | 1997 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Expedition | 1997 | 853 | 7 |
| Ford F-150 | 1997 | 2,758 | 14 |
| Ford F-250 | 1997 | 304 | 10 |
Other steering recalls in 2003
30 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the steering; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 03V492000 26 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V522000 11 Dec 2003 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 03V527000 11 Dec 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V513000 10 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 03V517000 10 Dec 2003 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 03V488000 4 Dec 2003 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 03V491000 1 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V453000 14 Nov 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003