First post in the forum... here we go.

After reading other threads that seemed to never reach a resolution, I decided to start my own.

Today (10/8/12), I took my 09' 4.6L F150 to the dealer. Apparently my power steering pressure hose has a leak. I purchased the truck used in 2011 from a dealership and purchased the extended warranty. The warranty goes through July of 2014 or until I reach 88k miles. I currently have just under 71k miles on the odometer. The dealership informed me that the part is on a national back order and that they don't have an ETA on the part, but they submitted an order anyway. They also informed me that there are no aftermarket parts available anywhere.

My warranty only covers a rental car for 10 days, so instead of putting me in one and sending me on my way, they told me to get a jug of power steering fluid and check the level often. I've read a few other threads that have had the same problem, but they're dated in 2011 and don't seem to have any resolution. Here are my questions:

1. Is it safe to drive with a leaking hose like that? I'm a little afraid that the hose will eventually rupture causing my power steering to fail. What if that happens while I'm driving? It could cause a wreck!

2. Has anyone had this happen recently? How long did it take you to get your part?

Thanks for any help/insight!

 

Having to incur the cost yourself is a bit of b/s, but in the interest of safety, what if you looked into finding a local company that sells flexible (braided) pressure hoses? If they could match the ends of the stock f150 line, it should be an easy build for them.

How much fluid are you losing? Are we talking a minor drip, or a high pressure constant squirt?

 

Check your owner's manual - your PS probably takes ATF, not PS fluid.

If the PS fails, you can still steer the truck, it's just going to be VERY stiff. It won't be too bad if the truck is moving, but parking is going to be a bear.

 

09 - needs second hose. first replacement at 34K
my first hose leak was to the point of needing fluid after a lot of in town driving. they ordered a replacement , that part was tagged wrong, they ordered another and lucky for me it was correct. now its leaking again. ive been waiting almost 20K miles for a new hose. truck now has 80K on it. at 59500 i took it in , they performed seal on electrical header into tranny and also tried to order a hose. they also did not file a warranty claim ( had extended warranty till 60K) so they tried to also charge me a month later for a hose and all of the other work they did.
its not leaking a lot however its crazy i cant get another hose. buying a new truck however . well it comes with one. i figure ill wait until next feb / march. hoping to get 3K rebates or close to that. x-plan. and just trade it in.

APIM module also went out a month ago. so NAV system is useless as hell. and part from dealer is 600. 200 labor. found one online for 370 but still has to be programed.

and air bag light keeps comeing on , from 18K on , they replaced lower seat tract 1x. and they say its not covered. well. its never been fixed..

sorry to wander off topic. i love my fords. but i can tell you this. doesnt matter where you buy it. no one wants to lift a finger to go out of their way in having ford look into covering somehting that should be covered if its a constant issue. like the coil packs in my 99 xlt. that would have a couple go bad every 15K or so..

 

We're talking a drip for now. I didn't notice any spots on the driveway, but it has been leaking enough to need the reservoir to be topped off, I was just lucky enough to have caught it. I've called all of the junk yards in town, none of which had that part for an 09 or newer. The normal parts stores of course didn't have anything either.

The things I'm worried about most are the amount of time it's going to take to get the part and what happens if it goes out while I'm driving. I know if it goes out it'll just become hard to steer, but what if I'm driving in town at a good speed or getting on the highway? I don't want anyone to get hurt over something like a power steering hose that Ford can't supply.

I called Ford customer care this morning, but all they said was that the dealership might have additional ways of helping me (loaner vehicle or rental for longer). This isn't the dealership's fault though, they didn't make the part that broke, and they're not in charge of shipping parts, I feel bad for them being caught in the middle. So... I'm stuck checking the fluid level every morning before work until the part will magically appears.

I really think the corporate side of Ford could at least step up and either let me have a rental for longer than 10 days or let me borrow a loaner vehicle until mine gets fixed.

We love our Fords. My dad drives an f150, my mother drives an expedition, my wife drives a fusion, and I obviously drive a F150... that's kind of who we are. I don't want any trouble, I just want to use my warranty to get the truck fixed.

 

try http://www.car-part.com/ to search nationwide at junk yards

 

* update *

The dealership called me back today and let me know they're going to try and expedite the part. I guess that means I'll be near the top of the list? Not sure, but still thankful they are trying!

 

Tell them you work for the Environmental Protection Agency and it would be environmentally unsound and illegal to continue to drive the vehicle in it's current condition.
Ask them if this is their normal operating procedure and is the owner around because you would like to interview him about this matter.
They will probably find or have the part made post haste.

 

I'm now remembering more to the story...

About 3 or more months ago I went to have my oil changed a local NTB. They finished up and let me know my power steering fluid was low. They offered to fill it up, but it was over $20. I declined since a jug of fluid is only about $7. Turns out I forgot to fill it up and never topped it off. On monday I went to the same place for the same thing. They finished up again and let me know that my steering fluid was low and that I had a leak. That's when I took it to the dealership who topped off the reservoir and ordered my part without ever looking under the truck.

Fast forward to today. I've been checking the fluid level all week, it hasn't seem to change one bit. I crawled under the truck to see if I could find any obvious leaks. I couldn't. I did however find a hose that was half rubber, half bent metal that curved up and around the oil filter (what I assume to be a power steering hose). The hose did have some gunk caked on it which was the same color as the power steering fluid which furthered my assumption that it was a power steering hose.

So, I did two things. I marked the current fluid level on the reservoir using a carpenter's pencil, and I cleaned the hose I found that had gunk on it. I figure if the fluid level goes down or the hose gets caked up again, I must have a leak. If neither of those things happen in a timely manner, I must have just needed to top off my power steering fluid over 4 months ago. The truck is an 09 that I'm sure was built in 2008 which makes it 4 years old. I figure it probably hasn't had a fluid top off since it was made, wouldn't that make it possible for there to not really be a problem?

 

Good thing you took it to the dealer to top it off - it doesn't take power steering fluid, it takes ATF.

 

Update

The dealer called me a week after I stopped by to let me know they're still trying to figure out how to get the park. It's been over two weeks now and they still haven't been able to get the part in stock. Hope this isn't happening to anyone else.

 

ive been waiting right at 20K miles for a new hose. 2009
hose replaced at 30K under wattanty. and then needed again at 59300. and they also fixed leak in tranny where the electrical headend is.. however they didnt process for warranty as they were waiting for hose to come in.. whoops. well im not paying . and hose never did show up. so i traded the truck in . it had 83500 on it.
new truck has no hose. !! ecoboost so far is great.

* ive heard of a few taking truck or hose removed from truck to farm supply/big machenery repair and having a hose made.

 

This appears to be a very wide spread problem. I've a 2009 F150 with 67.5k kms on it and have just been introduced to it. $660 to replace the hose and I completely lucked into the new one because a previous owner got rid of his truck just as his new hose came in.

The dealer who did the work admitted there were 1000's of these on "emergency" back order and that the timing was likely in the months range to get them in. He said it was very common on the '09 trucks.

You don't have to dig too far to realize this is a design flaw on the system. The new part doesn't even solve the problem since there's no re-design in the new hose. Expect another repair in a couple years' time.

I'm now in talks with Ford Canada to get reimbursed as I just missed out on the warranty period. Not holding my breath but have to try on principle. Will report how it works out. Should get an answer early next week.

 

wow funny to find this post, i just crawled under mine to do my first DIY oil change on it dealer comp'd the first one and found a drip on my front PS hose... guess i'll be going to the dealer and getting in line for the hose wait...

 

I have an 09 F150 and noticed the leak on an oil change I was doing. Took to dealer for that and a right front strut that was leaking. Had 39,000 on truck.

Neither part was in stock and had back order on hose as others said. That was early October. Dealer called in mid November and said both parts in and covered under extended warranty. All good so far.