The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating seven Ford truck models from 1999 to 2001 because of complaints of engine stalls without warning.
The stalling causes diminished steering and braking ability and has contributed to at least three minor crashes.
As many as 700,000 trucks are potentially involved in the probe, including the E Series Super Duty, Excursion, F Series Super Duty, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F250 Super Duty and F350 Super Duty.
NHTSA has received complaints from 31 consumers alleging engine stalling because of a failure of the camshaft position sensor.
In many cases the engine would not restart or restarted and stalled immediately.
Consumers reported to NHTSA that once the engine stalled the vehicles were difficult to control because of diminished steering and braking ability.
NHTSA plans to establish the scope and frequency of the engine stalling as well as safety implications and consequences.
