Steering Problems of Ford F-150 - part 1

Vehicle repeatedly loses power steering and adaptive steering while driving. It happens randomly and can be at high speeds and low speeds.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford F-150 🔎.

I am aware this year f150 had issues with steering recall. My model did not come up as recall. However, I twice have had steering issues. On 04/26/24 I had the steering assembly repaired, car went into limp mode while driving. It cost $1,505. 45 for the parts and it had to be reprogrammed at dealership $225. 00. Total was $2,359. 14. Now this week 03/10/2026 the steering is hanging up again and it is in shop. It seems odd my truck was not part of the recall. As longtime Ford buyer and relative of many Ford employees around detroit, this is disturbing. Especially with steering !!!!! I will try to attach prior receipt.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford F-150 🔎.

I was driving down the road when my power steering went out in the middle of a sharp turn. As the power steering was going out the screen on the dash showed “service power steering now” and beeped three times, giving me only about a second to read the message and react to losing power steering. The steering wheel jerked right and I almost drove off the road. I have since taken it to a Ford dealership where they informed me that the entire rack and pinion needs to be replaced.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford F-150 🔎.

Was driving and all the sudden the steering went out. Was really hard to steer and almost crashed. Very dangerous. Came up "steering assist fault".

See all problems of the 2021 Ford F-150 🔎.

While driving my 2023 Ford F-150 raptor, the vehicle suddenly lost throttle response. The accelerator pedal produced no response and the engine would not rev even though the vehicle remained powered on. A battery warning light briefly illuminated at the time of the incident. I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop, but during the event the steering wheel became locked or extremely stiff and the vehicle did not respond normally to inputs. After stopping, I placed the truck in park and was unable to shift the transmission back out of park. The vehicle appeared to remain powered on but multiple systems were not responding. After pressing the start/stop button and cycling the vehicle, the issue cleared and the truck began operating normally again. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had already been scheduled to go to the dealership because it had been displaying numerous warning lights and diagnostic codes across multiple systems, totaling approximately 30 alerts. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealership reported codes indicating a network communication issue between vehicle modules but stated they were unable to reproduce the failure and no repair was performed. The dealership has requested that I take possession of the vehicle despite the unresolved cause of this failure. Given the loss of throttle response and steering function while the vehicle was in motion, I currently feel the vehicle is unsafe to operate until the underlying issue is identified and corrected. A sudden loss of throttle response and steering control while the vehicle is in motion creates a significant risk of collision, particularly in traffic or at highway speeds. The fact that the failure temporarily cleared after cycling the vehicle suggests a potential intermittent electronic or communication failure affecting critical vehicle control systems.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford F-150 🔎.

Rear wheel and steering lock up while traveling at 70mph on interstate causing broken controls on steering wheel . Vehicle is unsafe to drive. Truck was taken to rivertown Ford 1680 whittlesey rd columbus GA 31904 for recall repair. Truck was released to me with no signals no wipers. The steering is very loose and hard to control.

See all problems of the 2012 Ford F-150 🔎.

2013 Ford f?150 limited – VIN [xxx] on [xxx], my 2013 Ford f?150 limited experienced a sudden and dangerous transmission failure involving the transmission conductor plate (lead frame). My son was driving the vehicle when the dashboard abruptly shut off, multiple warning lights illuminated, and the truck lost engine power. Shortly afterward, while braking, the engine attempted to accelerate on its own, and the vehicle resisted slowing down. This created an immediate and life?threatening situation. These symptoms match the known failure mode of defective 6r80 transmission lead frames, which NHTSA has previously identified as a serious safety hazard due to sudden loss of power, erratic shifting, unintended acceleration, and dashboard failure. The vehicle became undriveable and could not be safely transported to a Ford dealership. It had to be repaired at a nearby independent shop (auto stop elite of purcellville, va). The conductor plate was replaced on February 12, 2026, at a total cost of $1,689. 59. Despite this being a well?documented safety defect affecting many Ford f?150 owners, no recall or service campaign was ever issued for my VIN. No warnings appeared on Ford’s website, carfax, or through any Ford communication. Other owners have received reimbursement from Ford for the same failure, yet Ford provided no notice or remedy in my case. This defect placed my son’s life in danger and represents a clear safety issue that should be addressed. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as part of the ongoing pattern of conductor plate/lead frame failures in Ford’s 6r80 transmissions. We are informing you because we have contacted Ford and they have done nothing to resolve this. We had to have it repaired and were never aware that there was a safety recall. We expect to be reimbursed in full for this repair by Ford. To date - we are being ignored and will now pursue with the virginia attorney general's office as well. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 55.

Complete electrical shut down driving on the highway on two separate occasions. While driving engine shuts off, dash board goes black, infotainment center goes black. Required to shift vehicle into park to restart after occurrence. Huge safety risk! when taken to Ford service; unable to find any issues and was told “vehicle is safe to drive”.

Yesterday I went to pull straight out of my parking spot after I switched from park to drive and the steering was completely locked up, so I put it in reverse to get back into my parking spot . I then put it back into park, turned the truck off waited for a few seconds turned it back on and it was fine to drive home . No service lights came on.

Driving approx 40mph on the road and a loud thump sound followed by grinding from rear end started. Came to stop in the road and when the gas pedal was pushed the grinding sound continued. The truck was pushed off the side of the road and had to be towed to the dealership since January 4th. It has been at the dealership with no estimate of time for repair from the dealership so far and we just keep being told there is nothing they can do. The dealership states that the parts are on back order and we are in a line of several other trucks with the same problem.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction, and the steering wheel seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the contact's son was driving on a busy three-lane highway. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the steering wheel had seized and the vehicle was inoperable to drive. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. In addition, the contact stated that the contact's vehicle and the other vehicle were both damaged; however the contact was still waiting for the insurance adjuster. The contact was advised by the insurance company to contact the NHTSA hotline and report the failure. 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 65,000.

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.

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.

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.

See all problems of the 2011 Ford F-150 🔎.

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.

Our 2016 Ford F-150 experienced a sudden, forceful, uncommanded lane deviation while traveling at highway speed. Without warning or driver input, the vehicle abruptly jolted into the left lane. The steering was corrected and returned to our lane, but shortly afterward the truck again forcefully veered left. The movement felt comparable to being struck by another vehicle. There was no oncoming traffic at the time; however, had there been oncoming traffic, this would have resulted in a head-on collision. Weather conditions were calm, roads were dry, and visibility was clear. Prior to this incident, the vehicle exhibited no warning signs, including no pulling, steering issues, warning lights, or diagnostic codes. We immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a mechanic who inspected the truck but could not replicate the issue. Although the vehicle was later driven approximately 120 miles home and short distances locally without recurrence, we believe it remains unsafe due to the unpredictable nature of this failure. A vehicle should never abruptly and forcefully change lanes without driver input. We have also experienced ongoing issues with the key becoming stuck in the ignition and intermittent starting problems, raising concerns about potential electrical or mechanical defects. This incident involved two uncommanded lane deviations under normal driving conditions with no identified cause or warnings. Due to the risk of serious injury or fatal collision, this remains an unresolved safety concern requiring investigation. We are requesting that NHTSA review this complaint, evaluate whether similar incidents indicate a pattern or defect involving the steering, transmission, or electronic control systems in the 2016 Ford F-150, and take appropriate action to protect public safety. Once we receive the NHTSA complaint number, we will also be submitting a formal complaint to Ford motor company requesting a thorough investigation and resolution.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford F-150 🔎.

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 ?.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2019 Ford F-150 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2025 Ford F-150 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford F-150 🔎.

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.

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.

I am the lessee of a 2024 Ford f?150 lightning XLT, VIN [insert VIN], and I am submitting this description due to repeated failures, recalls, and safety-related defects that have significantly impacted the safe operation, reliability, and value of my vehicle. Since taking delivery, the vehicle has experienced multiple malfunctions in critical systems that have been confirmed by the dealership and addressed through official recalls, yet problems persist. The primary components affected include the park pawl/park position system, which has intermittently failed to reliably lock the vehicle in park, creating a risk of unintentional rolling that endangers my safety, the safety of passengers, and the safety of others in the vicinity. This component is available for inspection upon request at the dealership. The front suspension upper control arm ball joints have also demonstrated premature wear or defects, reducing steering stability, affecting handling, and increasing the risk of loss of control, particularly in turns or under braking. Additionally, the high-voltage battery system has a documented recall due to a manufacturing defect affecting charging safety, posing risks of overheating, electrical hazards, or fire. All these defects have been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer during service visits, and the vehicle has been inspected by certified Ford technicians, with repair attempts documented in service records. Warning indicators and messages appeared prior to failures, including park and transmission warnings first noticed on [insert date] and battery system warnings appearing on [insert date]. Other symptoms included abnormal noises and handling issues linked to the front suspension, first observed on [insert date]. Despite following all recommended repair procedures, these defects have persisted, indicating a systemic problem likely rooted in manufacturer design or component failure. The vehicle has experienced repeated service downtime, inconvenience, loss.

See all problems of the 2024 Ford F-150 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2015 Ford F-150 🔎.

September 2025, we were on a vacation when we noticed that the column gear shifter on our 2021 Ford f150 seemed a bit "loose" when shifting. No issues getting into the appropriate gear…but a weird loose feeling. My husband pulled off the leather boot on the column (not sure if this is what it is called, I believe it keeps dust out) and found the problem. Two missing bolts! earlier that year, I had found a bolt in the floor of the truck, and, unable to find where it came from (or did it even belong to the truck? I did not know) I put it in a ziploc bag, into the glove box. Turns out that bolt fit. So we had one bolt, and the shifting felt okay. But we still needed one bolt, so I did some internet sleuthing. I found the part (w790628s900) and ordered it, and we installed it when we got home. We theorize that the “ziploc bolt” came loose early in 2025, and the second bolt (never found) came loose on our trip. We know that up until this problem, we had never, ever, removed that dust cover, so we were not responsible for the two bolts coming loose. Components: that "failed" would be the two bolts on the column gear shifter (under the dust cover) safety: we were very worried that without the two bolts, we would not be able to shift at some point! confirmed: no, because we were camping on vacation, and did the troubleshooting ourselves inspected: we will ask our mechanic when we next take the truck in warning: no, just that we noticed that the column gear shifter was "loose" (again, likely that this was after the 2nd bolt came out).

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.

See all problems of the 2007 Ford F-150 🔎.

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

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.