2005 Ford F-250 SD Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Hydraulic power assist › Pump
  1
• Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1523%
• 25k–50k
  2741%
• 50k–75k
  1523%
• 75k–100k
  23%
• 100k–150k
  58%
• 150k+
  23%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I was heading down my street in my neighborhood and just before the street bends to the left my truck stalled and I lost my power brakes and power steering. Doing the best I could I turned the wheel just enough to avoid the car parked on the side of the street then I proceeded to run through my neighbor's wrought iron gate and plaster coming to rest on the hill in his front yard. After assessing the damage, I tried to start my truck to see if I could move it. It started and I moved it to my driveway. After the repairs were done at the body shop I then took it to my mechanic where he discovered a faulty wire in the wire harness causing the engine to stall without any notice or signs of trouble. Later I learned from my insurance company that there was a recall for the 2004-2005 models for the wire harness specifically, that I never received any information on.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford f-250 SD. While driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel became very loose. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that this was an ongoing failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and to billingsley Ford Lincoln of lawton (8209 nw quanah parker trailway bldg. 1, lawton, OK 73505, [phone]) on several occasions, but the failure was unable to be duplicated or diagnosed. The contact stated that the manufacturer was also notified many times and advised him to leave a message and speak with the owner of the dealer. The contact received Ford action bulletin number: 09l02 (steering: wheel and handle bar, tires). The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

While driving home from work, just leaving town I hit 50 MPH and the truck starts to wobble from side to side and vibrate till I slow down to under 40 MPH. I got the notice from Ford telling me it all had to do with tire pressure. I inflated the tires to the required pressure and it only made things worse. I have contacted them the first time this happened only for them to tell me there is nothing wrong. Clearly there is a problem. I have spent so much money replacing parts in the front end of this truck. Tires are now junk on the front end. The only thing I could do is under inflate the front tires to gain better control and drive slower. Still wobbles just not as bad. This is an on going problem I have everyday.

Stopped at a stop sign, accelerated to make left turn,hit either a bump or patch of sand when steering took to left then right and could not get back. Hit a guardrail and landed in ditch. My truck is totaled but luckily I was not severely injured.

Shortly after I purchased my 2005 Ford f-250 super duty pickup I experienced a violent vibration in the steering, when traveling over 55 MPH, after hitting a small bump in the road. When I brought my truck in for service and mentioned this episode. The service manager acted as though it were an anomaly, maybe the road conditions or something else. This didn't seem to be the truth, since it happened several times since then. When I brought it to the attention of the local service manager, he said that this is common amongst theses large pickup trucks, and just tap the brakes until the vibrations subside, it shouldn't last long. Yesterday I was traveling at about 60 miles an hour on the highway, when I went over a sewer grate in the left lane. The vibration became so violent that I had no control of the steering at all. …

1) @50,000 miles, normal city driving, speed less than 30 MPH. 2) left tierod broke without warning. The tie rod dropped to the ground and the left front wheel no longer had steering control. The tie rod looks like the castellated nut was over torqued causing the stud to break off and the tapered shaft to fall out of the spindle. This is not a case of the ball joint in the tie rod wearing out. I'm lucky in this case it happened at a slow speed and no trailer in tow. If I was moving faster with a trailer, it could have been a disaster to lose steering control of the left front tire. The right side tire was still able to steer. The truck swerved out of the lane momentarily while I regained some control. In the act of dropping down, the tie rod made contact with the bead area of the front rim. As a result the wheel rim was also ruined. …

Lose of steering do to poor design of Ford f-250 and f-350 solid front axle with springs. From 2005 to present. I have new tires and rims,balanced,had front end checked for alignment, my truck like so many others are having sever front end shimmy do to the poor design on Ford trucks. I have contacted legal advice from the advice of other government agencies. The attorney generals office,bbb, and the consumer protection agency. This is my second complaint about this matter, and im a little upset to keep getting the only response you and the Ford co. Can come up with, tire pressure!!! Come on you know its the poor design of there front ends. I've spent thousands to help deal with matter to no better results. So from here I will seek legal help to protect my family and myself from possible severe injury or death. I hope Ford motor co. …

While driving on pa interstate 81, my 2005 f250 experienced severe driving loss of control when the front suspension traveled over an area of the road that was uneven. This caused the trucks interior and exterior to shake uncontrollably for a long period of time to the extent that the vehicle was shifting into the other lane of traffic. Decelerating by releasing the gas peddle did not immediately stop the severe vibrations and applying the brakes seemed to increase the problem. My entire family and a non-family member was in the vehicle at the time and we all feared for our lives. After researching the internet, there is a video posted by another Ford owner and is exactly what we had experienced too. …

While driving down the road, hit a small pothole in the road and the suspension started to violently shake the truck along with severe steering wheel oscillations. No control of the vehicle until I could get slowed down enough to stop the oscillations. I have had this happen on my truck multiple times throughout the years at speeds anywhere from 30 to 60 MPH and contrary to other reports listed on here, the tire pressure was correct and made no difference. I have put on aftermarket suspension and tires since the original time this happened and added a steering stabilizer which helped to keep this from occurring but it still happens on occasion. This problem was brought up to my dealer at the beginning and they said they could find no problems. The shaking and beating of the vehicle when this occurs is unbelievable. …

2005 Ford f-250 super duty, started at @ 25,000 miles in 2008 and still happens today. Happens when traveling over 60 MPH, when you hit any small bump in the road, the front suspension started to shake uncontrollably. It is very hard to control the truck. This happens all the time on the freeway. The tire pressure was correct at the time of the first incident, the tires were balanced and the lug nuts were torqued to Ford specs. Talked to the Ford dealer and they denied any knowledge of a similar problem. After a few hours research online, this problem is well documented and frequent with the Ford super duty line from 05"-08". It seems to be an engineering defect and Ford is well aware of the problem, but it does appear that Ford has offered any remedies. The NHTSA also knows of the problem. …

Steering complaints in other F-250 SD years