# 2001 FORD EXCURSION — STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
> NHTSA complaint `392604` · 2003-02-05 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 2
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXCURSION
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
- **Miles at failure:** 36,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING TO A BOOK STORE, A STEERING INPUT WAS MADE TO AVOID A TRACTOR IN THE  ROAD. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE, UNRESPONSIVE TO  ANY AND ALL FURTHER INPUTS.THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE ROAD CROSSING A MEDIAN, TWO  NORTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC, UP A BANK AND ROLLED AT LEAST 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING.  INSPECTION OF THE STEERING LINKAGE INDICATED FAILURE OF THE STEERING BOX SHAFT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE STEERING BOX. THIS FAILURE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL STEERING INPUT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTROL ARM WAS BENT TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY INDICATING IT HAD BEEN DRAGGED FOR MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE MISHAP.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*