# NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA01009
> **SECTOR SHAFT FRACTURES** · Opened 2001-03-02 · Closed 2003-08-19
## Investigation
- **Action number:** EA01009
- **Type:** Engineering Analysis
- **Open date:** 2001-03-02
- **Close date:** 2003-08-19
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Affected makes:** FORD
- **Affected components:** STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN; STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
- **Affected model years:** 1999, 2000, 2001
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 28
## Summary

THIS EA WAS OPENED BASED ON A RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) SUBMITTED DURING SQ00-018.FORD STATED IN AN INTERNAL SERVICE MESSAGE THAT IT HAD CHANGED THE STEERING GEAR SECTOR SHAFTS AND PITMAN ARMS INSTALLED 1999 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES SUPER DUTY VEHICLES ON MARCH 22, 1999.FORD STATED THAT THESE DESIGN CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE STEERING AND HANDLING, AND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE REPORTED FRACTURED SECTOR SHAFTS WERE THE RESULT OF EXTRAORDINARY, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE, IMPACTS.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS ATTACHED.

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=EA01009)
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