# NHTSA recall 03V196000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 03V196000
- Manufacturer's number: 03S02
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 2003\-05\-27
- Owners notified: 2003\-05\-30
- Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
- Units potentially affected: 171446

## What is wrong

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED.


## What can happen

THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT.  IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE IS NOT FULLY SEATED AND BOLT GROOVE AND SPLINE IS VISIBLE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BOLT AT THE STEERING COLUMN CONNECTION.  OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2003.    OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 03S02.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1997 FORD EXPEDITION](/makes/ford/expedition/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-01 to 1996\-09\-30.
- [1997 FORD F\-150](/makes/ford/f-150/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-01 to 1996\-09\-30.
- [1997 FORD F\-250](/makes/ford/f-250/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-01 to 1996\-09\-30.

## Investigated as EA02001

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA02001: Engineering analysis, opened 2002\-02\-06, closed 2003\-05\-29. STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION. STEERING.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V196000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V196000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [13219](/bulletins/6090593.md), 2000-03-21, Service bulletin
- [7080](/bulletins/6090432.md), 2000-03-20, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V196000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V196000)

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