Loose Steering - Anyone know if this is a known problem?

[detour]

I've had the 2011 SHO for a couple of months now... love it. However, today when pulling into a parking spot in a lot, the steering wheel made a slight noise - like a piece of plastic giving way.

Now...I have an unacceptable amount of play in the steering wheel. Not in the steering column - but in the actual steering wheel. I can "jiggle" it as if it were on a pivot where it attaches to the column (so rocking it side to side in addition to turning it before it engages).

A bit scary to drive.

Dealer can't see me until Thursday morning.... and the dealer we work with is 20+ miles away, mainly expressway driving.

Anyone else know if this is a known issue? Any concerns driving it from a safety perspective - even to the dealer.

Thanks!

 

[Crash712us]

1st I've heard of better get in ASAP don't sound safe at all.

 

[RedCandySHO]

I think I would have them send a tow truck for it. Why possibly risk your life or someone else's?

 

[Crash712us]

Just add too, maybe coincidence maybe not. But just found out yesterday at my plant that there is a issue with the steering knuckle on Mazda 6. Not saying there bad, I have heard to many stories about what the issue is. To the supplier went under, on strike and part failure. Just makes you wonder.

 

[detour]

I'm waiting to hear back from the dealer this morning on options of getting it in without driving it....and having a loaner car.

I did read about some simular issues in the Explorer forums for the 2011 model. Fix was to replace the steering column.

I doubt this will be good....

 

[detour]

Dealer called back -
* they don't have a loaner car
* they suggested calling roadside assistance to come get it
* they weren't able to find anything on the Ford services resources they have about this
* they asked me if I found a bolt on the floor

I hope this is something simple and quick.

 

[detour]

...this is bringing back memories.

We had one of the first production cars of the 2nd gen. For the first 2 months, it was at the dealer more than we had it. Randomly wouldn't start.

The 2 months were very painful dealing with the dealer - they had one tech pretend he was the manager of another when I asked to speak to a manager, and one person I talked to had the nerve to tell me "it's not as simple as a sparkplug mam".

In the end, they brought someone in from Dearborn to look at it, and ended up issuing a service bulletin on the problem they discovered, and finally resolved.

Actually, the dealer was all protective of the engineer from Dearborn - would not let me talk to him, wouldn't let me ask questions, etc. Ironically, at the time, my parents were visiting us and had come by the dealer while we were out and about - and my dad knew the engineer! I loved it when the dealer tried to keep my dad from asking questions and interrupting the engineer and my dad looks up and goes "hey John, is that you? How are you doing?".

Needless to say, I got great service from the engineer and a personal business card and number to call him if there were any other issues.

And - I don't do business, any business, with that dealer after that.

Let's hope this is easier.

 

[detour]

Had it towed to the dealer. Dealer removed the air bag in the steering wheel and discovered the bolt that holds the steering wheel to the steering column had backed out. Even after tightening it, they couldn't get the steering wheel to "sit" right - so they have a new bolt and a new steering wheel on order.

Service Manager mentioned that it was good we had it towed, as although I had only driven it about 10 miles from where I noticed the issue turning the wheel in the first place, he said the steering wheel could have easily come off at any time.

Dealer covered the cost of a car from Enterprise.

 

[Crash712us]

WOW! some serious quality control issues there. I would imagine due to critical nature of the steering wheel being properly affixed to the car. That each and everyone is probably suppose to be torque checked. I would imagine once the factory gets a hold of the warranty report someone going to have some explaining to do.

 

[detour]

The dealer ordered a new steering wheel and bolt - had it this past Monday and finished up the service repair. I didn't have the car until Tuesday - and yes, the steering wheel is no longer loose (yeah). However, it's not on straight. It's off by about 5 degrees - so when I drive straight, the wheel is turned slightly to the right, and if I hold it straight, the car veers slightly to the left.

Not good.

I have a lot of respect for the sales person I work with - we've been buying cars for over 15 years eith him. And it's because of the sales person that I choose to drive past closer dealers to use their service dept....but it's crap like this that just frustrates me. You'd think after having the car for a full extra day after the repair someone would have checked, and double checked that. AND they drove it almost 30 miles to drop it off at the rental place where they covered me getting a loaner car...on the expressway. Wouldn't you think they would notice?

Granted, it's not off enough to cause issue - just annoying. Unless of course you want to use the paddle shifters - then your hands aren't at the same level....

So, they are going to come get it again (not towed this time), and see if they can get it right.

So frustrating.