NHTSA Investigates 800,000 Ford Pickups

U.S. auto-safety regulators are upgrading their investigation of more than 800,000 Ford
Motor Company Super Duty F-Series pickup trucks because of a potential problem with the
steering system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the
steering-gear sector shaft on 1999-2000 model vehicles may fracture, causing a loss of
steering control. Officials said the automaker and the government have received reports on
41 crashes and 11 injuries; there also have been 36 warranty claims. Ford said that the
sector shaft fractures it inspected had occurred as a result of a crash, and were not the
cause.