Steering Problems of Ford F-150 - part 1

Vehicle: 2012 Ford F-150 incident description: while driving straight under normal conditions, the “service power steering service now” warning message suddenly appeared on the dashboard, accompanied by an audible warning alarm. Immediately after this warning, the steering wheel became extremely stiff and difficult to turn, with a sudden loss of power steering assistance. This failure occurred at the time, traffic was heavy, making it very difficult and dangerous to safely maneuver the vehicle and pull over. The sudden loss of steering assistance created a serious safety risk for myself and other drivers and could have resulted in a crash. I was eventually able to pull over to a safe location, this appears to be a sudden steering system failure and represents a significant safety concern.

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I was driving about 55 mph when suddenly my 2013 truck down shifted to either first or third gear and I barely was able to control it to get off the road. The truck just bowed up and the vehicle behind me almost hit me. The speedometer stopped working and a wrench icon appeared. I tried to take off and the truck was stuck in third gear. Ford dealership said they would fix it if it was the oss sensor. I paid to have it towed and they charged me over 2,000. There was a safety recall 24s37 on the 2014 with the 6r80 transmission the same kind my truck has. My 2013 did exactly the same thing as the 2014 and I believe it should have a safety recall. There was a extended warranty or something either 10 years or 150,000. My truck has 130,000. I talked to Ford customer satisfaction but they have done nothing. I told them I was going to report it.

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Steering became stiff and difficult, brakes fell off the vehicle. No breaks. Heard/felt a pop and steering became loose. No steering, steering wheel was not turning the tires. Operated as a toy steering wheel without any temsion/control. I was stopped at a stop sign when the incident happened going 0mph.

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Orchid isle Ford in hilo has replaced the electronic power steering rack and pinion already once but now it’s gone bad again. I don’t understand why because I hardly drive my truck and it has only 40 something thousands miles on it.

Started vehicle could not move the wheel to turn towed it to a repair shop said it was not reading any codes it eventually let the wheel move again called Ford service centers and they told me not to bring it in and if it doesn’t read codes and the vechicle steering does not lock up for them nothing they can do. I see this vehicle has had recalls on the steering issues but not my VIN number was told don’t drive it or take your chances . The truck has low mileage and steering should have never locked up so hard that I am strong could not turn the wheel kept trying for hours till it would move shakes when driving jumps all over the road sloppy steering and I’m told no code can diagnose what the issue is with steering ?.

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The electronic steering assist went out.

Sudden total loss of power steering on 2019 Ford F-150 xl regular cab 2wd, 3. 3l v6 (VIN [xxx] , 170,000 miles). Purchased used in 2024 with clean carfax — no accidents, no damage, no odometer issues. Sarasota Ford diagnosed multiple internal lost communication codes and failed pinpoint test — requires epas rack replacement ($2,700). Ford denied goodwill case xxx (escalated to supervisor shaniqua) — based solely on mileage, despite: • TSB 19-2306 • ssm 51226 • 1,200+ NHTSA complaints for 2015–2019 F-150 epas • Lincoln v. Ford lawsuit (case 1:19-cv-02741) covering 2019 models rep haley stated “safety is not a deciding factor”. High crash risk — nearly lost control in traffic. Clean carfax proves no abuse — mileage must not override a known safety defect. Sincerely [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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On October 8, 2025, my wife and I purchased a 2025 Ford F-150 lariat, 3. 5l full hybrid, with Ford's bluecruise hands-free driving feature. As first-time users, I reviewed the owner's manual and Ford’s videos to understand bluecruise. After several uses, I noted unpredictable behavior and now report a serious safety issue warranting federal investigation. On October 15, 2025, while driving north on I-95 near boston with bluecruise engaged in hands-free mode on an approved route, I pressed the memory 1 recall button to adjust my seat. A chime sounded, and the instrument panel stated that memory recall is not active while the vehicle is moving. Unexpectedly, pressing the button deactivated bluecruise, causing immediate deceleration and returning steering control to me. During a shallow left turn, the vehicle proceeded straight, almost deviating from the lane. I quickly regained control, preventing a lane departure. The owner’s manual and Ford’s resources do not mention that memory recall can deactivate bluecruise. This undocumented behavior is highly concerning. On October 20, I contacted Ford (reference number [xxx] ), but their response was inadequate, offering only a generic process without technical team access or follow-up commitment. Bluecruise’s lane-centering struggles with unclear or conflicting lane markings. On I-95 sections under resurfacing, temporary markings are placed 1-2 feet from fainter original lines. Bluecruise inconsistently tracks either set, causing unpredictable lateral movements, including sudden lane-edge excursions or rapid shifts over bridges where markings misalign. When another vehicle overtakes closely, crossing into our lane, bluecruise momentarily loses lane-keeping ability due to obstructed markings, resulting in rapid steering movements. While such overtaking reflects poor driving by others, an automated system must handle these common scenarios reliably. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On October 13 at 9:23 pm in seguin, TX, with Ford bluecruise hands?free engaged, the vehicle abruptly steered strong left and headed toward the left barrier. I immediately overrode the system and steered back to avoid a collision. No impact occurred. The maneuver was sudden and without adequate warning, presenting a serious crash risk.

While driving, my 2020 Ford F-150 suddenly displayed a warning on the dashboard that read “steering assist fault – service req’d. ” moments later, the truck completely lost power steering, and the steering wheel began to lock up while the vehicle was still in motion. I, (the owner of the vehicle), was able to muscle the steering wheel just enough to safely get us off the road and home. Had he not had the physical strength and experience to manage the vehicle manually, this could have resulted in a major accident or fatality. The truck was towed to duval Ford on October 13, 2025, where it was diagnosed as needing an electronic power steering rack replacement, with a total repair estimate of $4,049. 70. The vehicle is not under warranty, and Ford has informed us there is no recall currently associated with this issue. This is a critical safety failure of a steering system and should not be happening at any mileage. We are reporting this incident to request a formal NHTSA investigation into this issue, as it could easily lead to severe injuries or death in other cases.

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At a stop light vehicle will turn off and nothing electrical will work. It will have to be restarted, while turning at low speeds the electronic steering completely stops working and almost hit another car. All electrical power failure until modules reset then will start. This all happens randomly so it could happen at any point and cause serious injury. Ford can't seem to find a repair for the intermittent issue.

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Truck has 74,000 miles when I notice truck having issues prior to this my front wheels wearing unevenly truck eletric steering light up im being told has to be replaced from what im reading up on this shouldnt be having this type of issue and some models in 2021 did have issue.

Subject: safety defect report – 2015 Ford F-150 clock spring failure to whom it may concern at NHTSA, I am writing to report a safety defect in my 2015 Ford F-150 (VIN: [xxx] ). The steering wheel clock spring has failed, which prevents the use of steering wheel controls to cycle through and monitor critical vehicle information. This creates a safety risk because the driver cannot access important vehicle data while driving. I contacted Ford motor company to request assistance, as the repair was quoted at $700. Ford acknowledged my request but refused to provide assistance, stating the vehicle is outside of warranty. However, the clock spring is a safety-critical component that should not fail under normal use. Ford has issued recalls for clock spring failures on other vehicles, which indicates this can be a systemic safety issue. This failure compromises safe vehicle operation and should be investigated as a potential recall matter. Thank you for your attention to this issue. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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After making a sharp right turn tie rod came loose from steering rod. After inspection the threads on the steering rod seem to be too small for the tie rod. The truck has been taken care of and only has 75000 miles on it. The new tie rod I installed was also loose on the steering rod. The threads were not stripped, rusty or damaged in anyway. This truck has never had any work or been damaged. I have never had front end lined up because tires have not had any wear indicating misalignment.

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Steering is binding during turning. Very scary. Beginning at startup and continuing while driving.

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Driving about 10 mph when steering lockup shop replaced rack opinion.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to auto zone, and dtc: p0720 was retrieved, which indicated a failure with the output shaft speed sensor. The contact was informed that the output shaft speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under any unknown recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that neither repair was covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

This is the 2nd time this has happened in 2 years. I have my truck turned off completely and locked and go to get back in it a few hours later and I open my door and the gas from the airbag has completely filled up the cab of my 2015 f150. I turn the truck on and it’s like it’s been in a wreck, all the lights on the dash are on, and it’s saying my airbags are deployed which the gas that fills the airbag did deploy, and it keeps telling me to contact 911. How does this keep happening without Ford making a recall or not taking responsibility. It could seriously hurt or I hurt me or my family.

Was in a car collison not wherein setbelt and airbags did not deploy or come out at all.

While driving today, my Ford f150 manual light came on while I was driving and then break assistance. Light came on, and it told me to check the brake system. And immediately immediately the truck slammed on the brakes while driving. I almost wrecked with my two year-old daughter who is autistic in the vehicle. This needs to be fixed ASAP. This is very dangerous and could’ve been a lot worse this morning.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clockspring. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v847000 (steering, air bags); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 68,000.

I had several instances where my electronic power assist steering (epas) has failed resulting in advance trac and other errorson my information screen. This has resulted in effectively no steering. Thank goodness I was in a parking lot or going slow otherwise may have resulted in severe injury or death. This appears to be a problem with my make and model of truck based on what I have read on the internet and my personal experiences. I am in shock that there has not been a proper recall as of this date. I am having dealer put in a second epas unit in less than 2 years and considerable cost to me.

Power steering rack failure, while driving though a puddle less than 6 inches deep. Cost over $1900 to replace. My wife's 2014 Volkswagen passat is able to drive though deeper water. . On 8/13 I was unable to move over on a road that had some puddles due to oncoming traffic. After driving though the small puddle my power steering went out. Took to the mechanic and he said its a known issue due to how Ford did not seal their wiring well under the trucks and it hangs lower allowing the water to seep into the cables and cause the powering steering rack to fail. . This is unacceptable its a truck a puddle should not cause a truck to loose power steering.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the steering wheel seized, with the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

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Random times my clockspring makes clicking sounds and the car iant able to be driven. Getting many messages about issues with the vehicle.

I brought my 2020 F-150 XLT to cook Ford texas city for a recall (24e12 pm reprogramming) and a steering issue that have happened while driving and making me loose control, almost hitting the vehicle front! after spending over $3,400 to get the whole steering system changed, I picked up my truck thinking everything was good. Within one day of the recall being done, my check engine light came on with an emissions fault. When I asked about it, I was told this was "normal" after the recall because now the pcm is able to read codes. But it feels shady that a brand-new problem shows up immediately after a recall reprogramming. Now, I'm being told I might have to pay for even more expensive repairs like a catalytic converter (5k for both) - right after just spending thousands. It's frustrating, stressful, and feels like a never-ending cycle. After looking online, I found many other Ford owners sharing the same experience with this recall on forums like reddit. That makes me believe this is not an isolated case.

Short loss of control with a short period of excessive play and a slight shimmy/shaking sensation when turning left into a curve. The issue seems to only occur when turning to the left.

First experienced slight steering weaving for a week. Then electric power steering assist completely went out. $2,450 bill to replace. This issue has been to common with f150's and should be a recall fix for free issue. Requesting assistance.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford F-150 🔎.

Getting multiple messages like service advancetrac, pre collision assistance not available, and steering assist fault. Vehicle makes noice randomly when turning but not every time.

The power steering goes out randomly. While driving forward , backing up, parking, turning. Very dangerous to drive.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that three months after purchasing the vehicle, while her husband was driving, the vehicle was driving roughly, and the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact was unaware whether any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was a misfire in cylinders #1, #3, #4, and #6. The spark plugs were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, a month after the repair, there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearing and axle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. In addition, the steering failure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

When driving across railroad tracks, or at lower speeds primarily when turning sharp or into parking spaces, a power steering assist fault light flashes and steering becomes difficult unless truck is moving. The only remedy that I know is to put the truck in park, turn off, and restart. This corrects the issue until the criteria mentioned above is met and then it happens again, and again. . . . . . The vehicle has been taken to a repair shop where they recommended a new rack and pinion. They mentioned this is a very common issue with Ford vehicles. This vehicle has 34k miles and has been well maintained. I'm very disappointed that it consistently has this issue and worry about the loss of steering at a higher rate of speed.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14v316000 (steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 268,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel independently steered to the right and the vehicle independently drove off the road and into an embankment. The advanced tracking warning light illuminated, however it went off. The contact stated the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle came to a stop in a leveled field. The contact stated that the power steering faulty assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed electronic power steering module. The contact was informed that the electronic power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed gear box. The contact was informed that the gear box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was advised that the vehicle was manufactured 31 days outside the manufacturer's recall date. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.