2000 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Hydraulic power assist system
  17
• Steering wheel/handle bar
  10
• Rack and pinion
  4
• Gear box › Shaft pitman
  2
• Linkages
  2
• Hydraulic power assist › Pump
  2

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  111%
• 25k–50k
  222%
• 50k–75k
  111%
• 75k–100k
  111%
• 100k–150k
  00%
• 150k+
  444%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford F-250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

While I was on a highway driving at 65 MPH my steering and brakes went out at the same time. I happened to be 200 yards behind the traffic in front of me and I was able to stop the vehicle before impact. A hydraulic hose failed and rendered the steering and brakes almost completely useless. The steering was extremely difficult to control but I managed. The brakes were almost completely gone but I managed to slow the truck down to a safe stop off the highway. When I had the truck towed to my diesel mechanic I was told by the owner that Ford engineered the hydraulic system to control the steering and brakes. I will never buy another Ford with that kind of ridiculous engineering. I had three hoses replaced at a total cost of $451.54. One factory hose was $172.53, another $100.68 and the third was $24.04. The safety issue here is unreal. …

We had just had new Firestone transforce ht tires put on our truck. Approximately four months later, as we are traveling down the highway at 65 MPH, we felt a serious vibration in the left rear tire. We slowed down to 60 MPH & that's when the tire blew out. We pulled to the shoulder of the highway to inspect & the tire blew out the sidewall. We did not hit anything & no road hazard caused this damage. We simply felt as a serious vibration & within a half a mile or mile it blew out. The shop where we purchased the tires charged us for another tire. This should have been covered by warranty but we went ahead and paid for it because we needed the vehicle for work. It continued to have severe vibrations which cause difficulty steering the vehicle in acceleration & in braking. So we had everything replaced on the front end. …

Information provided by owner's attorney, eric g. Kraft, of klenda, mitchell, austerman & zuercher, l.l.c., ph. [phone], fax [phone]. Please contact attorney for further information/details. Ford has been contacted and has denied that any such defect exists. Owner's insurer has determined that subject component is defective and refuses to cover the loss of the component, although has covered other loss associated with the collision.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH the sector shaft of the steering gear box snapped off causing the vehicle to lose power steering resulting in a crash into an embankment. This crash caused damage to the front and passenger side of the vehicle. The contact and passenger suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop. Updated 7/21/2006 -

While traveling on the highway and without prior warning, the windshield wipers stopped while in use. The wiper motor was replaced under recall previously, however the second time the cover and switch assembly was replaced at the consumer expense. Also the pinion seal was replaced due to a leak. Ph

While traveling at approximately 25 to 30 MPH steering gear box failed. When vehicle was directed to the right, consumer was unable to redirect vehicle to the left. Vehicle went into a ditch as a result of consumer not being able to steer vehicle to the left. Vehicle was damaged.

When vehicle is at idle, turning the steering wheel is impossible. It's extremely difficult to maneuver the truck in and out of parking spaces without risking hitting another vehicle or a person.

When holding the brakes on level ground or a steep hill whle standing still, it is virtually impossible to turn the steering wheel until the brakes are released. This is a very dangerous situation especially on steep inclines. Ford dealer says it's due to steering geometry but yet it is worse when engine comes off fast idle and power steering pump is turning slower due to lower engine speed. On a recent trip I was in a friends rather steep driveway in the smokey mountains and it was almost impossible to back out of driveway as I couldn't hold the brakes and turn the steering wheel at the same time to steer out on to the main drive. Had I released the brakes I would have crashed through a retaining fence and went down the the side of the mountian. It is often necessary to to position the wheels while holding the brake at a standstill, especially in mountainous terrain. …

When brakes are applied with force, truck will not steer. This is a major concern and all 1999, 2000, 2001 250 and 350 trucks have same problem. Dealer has been contacted. Ford tech notes state (11/13/00: "...this is a normal condition and Ford isn't going to reengineer the vehicle to solve it. The condition comes from a new wider stance, tie rod angle and the fact that there is more weight in the front end than on the 97 old body style vehicle. The truck cannot be reengineered to solve the customers design issue unless the entire platform is redesigned. Ford is not going to incorporate a design change at this time and has not plans on the drawing board that the the hotline knows about." there will be fatalities because of this brake/steering problem! .

Vehicle has experienced many problems with power steering, dealer has replaced entire steering column, hydraulic lines twice on power steering pump, hydra boost twice, power steering unit, and had to fill power steering fluid because it was low, during these repairs dealer has made the aftermarket security system fail, power windows fail, and turn signals fail, dealer agreed to pay for the aftermarket security system failure, however has not done so, consumer has exhausted every resource to have problem corrected and feels Ford should buy vehicle back.

Steering complaints in other F-250 years