Component
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
142 NHTSA complaints about steering:gear box:shaft pitman issues across 27 makes and 78 models.
The steering:gear box:shaft pitman is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 142 filings from 27 manufacturers and 78 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 23 crashes, 0 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 14 filings, followed by FORD CROWN VICTORIA and DODGE RAM 2500. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD F-150 | 14 |
| 2 | FORD CROWN VICTORIA | 12 |
| 3 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 6 |
| 4 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 4 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO | 4 |
| 6 | JEEP WRANGLER | 3 |
| 7 | GMC JIMMY | 3 |
| 8 | FORD F-250 SD | 3 |
| 9 | FORD F-250 | 3 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 3 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 3 |
| 12 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 3 |
| 13 | VOLVO 770 | 2 |
| 14 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 2 |
| 15 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 2 |
| 16 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 2 |
| 17 | MITSUBISHI MONTERO | 2 |
| 18 | LEXUS LX470 | 2 |
| 19 | GMC YUKON | 2 |
| 20 | FORD EXPLORER | 2 |
| 21 | FORD EXPEDITION | 2 |
| 22 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 2 |
| 23 | DODGE COLT | 2 |
| 24 | CHEVROLET VAN | 2 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 | 2 |
| 26 | CHEVROLET S10 | 2 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 2 |
| 28 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 1 |
| 29 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 1 |
| 30 | OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
I purchased my new 2007 Chevy duramax diesel with an already installed fabtech lift kit. My pitman arm has snapped 3 times since I purchased my truck leaving me with complete steering loss. I have had
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED CITY STREET WITH NO POTHOLES, SPEED-BUMPS, OR OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. AS I MADE A LEFT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY I HEARD A NOISE AND THE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FREIGHTLINER MOTORHOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V584000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 INFINITI QX4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVE
2003 LEXUS LX 470. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING SAFETY RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, HE/SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY OFF CENTERED AND THE VGRS INDICA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND EASILY TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGAN STEERING TOWARDS THE LEFT
2006 LEXUS 470. CONSUMER STATES UNSAFE SITUATION WITH STEERING MECHANISM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE STEERING DEFECT. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE 2500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH WHEN THE TIE ROD FRACTURED FROM THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICL
I FACED A RARE (I DON'T KNOW I AM THINKING IT AS RARE) PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE MODE MY FRIEND, SITTING IN THE OTHER SEAT, ACCIDENTALLY CHANGED THE GEAR T
TIE ROD FAILURE DRIVERS SIDE THEN LEAK IN TIE-ROD RACK AND PINION DRIVER'S SIDE AS A RESULT OF REPAIR. NOTIFIED DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND THEY DID NOT ASSIST IN
THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING ...STARTED AFTER ABOUT 25,000 MILES......IT ALWAYS OCCURS, EVERYTIME, AND IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD CREW CAB IN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES THEN PROCEED TO SAY IT IS NORMAL FOR IT TO DO WHAT IT DOES. THE FRONT TIRES TU
STEERING GEAR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AT TIMES LOSS OF STEERING WOULD OCCUR AND YOU COULD END UP IN THE NEXT LANE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. STEERING GEAR WAS SEPARATING AND WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER. TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V349000. *TR
I HEARD A NOISE IN MY STEERING. IT WOULD MAKE THE NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME(1/5/07) I TOOK IT IN THEY REPLACES BOTH INNER AN
FRONT DRIVER BALL JOINT DESIGN DESIGNED FOR FAILURE, UNDER NORMAL USE LOWER BALL JOINT RAPIDLY DETERIORATES AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR VEHICLE. STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND STEERING WHEEL
I HAVE HAD 2 STEERING GEAR BOXES BREAK ON MY TRUCK. THE FIRST WAS WHEN MY TRUCK WAS HIT WHILE PARKED. THE INDIVIDUAL HIT THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND DENTED IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER. IT WAS NOT U
TERRIBLE KNOCKING IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL--REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY--STATES SHAFT, INTERMEDIATE REPLACE-MILEAGE WAS 35K NOW AT 55K SAME PROBLEM ONLY LOUDER AND WHEEL SEEMS LOOSE--CALLED DEALER--NEED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SEDONA. ON ONE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL TEMPORARILY LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO B
THE STEERING BOX SHAFT COMPLETELY SNAPPED APART, STEERING WAS LOST AND HAD TO DRIFT INTO A GUARDRAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD PART WAS 2100 DOLLARS FOR STEERING. IF TH
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve steering:gear box:shaft pitman issues? ▼
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.