There are 50 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2018 Ford F-150in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 ?
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.
The contact owned a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at 20 MPH, the contact's son noticed an unusual sound. The steering wheel did not turn in the intended direction. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the steering wheel was detached and loose. The vehicle crashed into a nearby tree. The contact's son did not sustain any injuries. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the insurance company for inspection. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised that the vehicle needed to be inspected by the investigator. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while leaving a parking space, the power steering functionality became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn after restarting the vehicle. The contact checked the tires for low air pressure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the steering actuator. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
I noticed the steering wheel became very loose one day randomly. If you placed your hands and the 9 and 3 position on the steering wheel it would rock back and forth very freely. I carried the truck to a shop and they looked into the steering wheel and found the bolt the holds the steering wheel onto the steering column was loose. It was spinning freely is was so loose. If the bolt would have loosen a little bit more the steering wheel would have became detached.
Took my Ford F150 in for an oil change. Ford dealer informed me the steering gear assembly had completely broke near the gear box at only 68k (I do not know when the break happened). Although the vehicle is drivable, it has a chance of losing steering at any time and was advised not to drive it. No vehicle warnings are provided, and the truck has been regularly serviced over the years without me being informed of an issue. It is available for inspection as I am on a waitlist for a backordered steering gear assembly part.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Power Access" was displayed and the steering wheel could not be turned in either direction, making the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel had become loosened while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the plastic bearing behind the air bag in the steering column had fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Steering wheel bolt came loose, allowing the steering wheel to wobble. I was able to remove the bolt by hand, that's how loose it was. I repaired it myself using loctite and retorquing the bolt.
Issue is with the electric steering rack. Vehicle has 34,000 miles. Purchased used. Have been having to constantly to correct the vehicle that drifts to the left. Can hear the electric steering motor constantly attempting to correct driver's correction. Vehicle is equipped with engine auto shut down feature, which when starting to turn from a stopped/shutdown, becomes very hard. Purchased four (4) new tires six (6) months ago. Now both front tires are "scalloped", which effects the control and ride.
The rack and pinion of the vehicle is locking up and becoming very stiff when driving. The steering locked up while in a curve and steered me into oncoming traffic with others in the vehicle. This needs to to be recalled so it can be repaired. There are multiple TSB reports from the manufacturer about the issue as well as a law suit against the manufacturer for the issue. It is gradually getting to be worse of an issue the more I drive it
The electric steering causes wandering to both sides and pulling to both sides especially on turns. Extra effort is required to steer and constant attention is needed to stay on the road and not into the oncoming traffic or running the car off the road next to you. You cannot turn your eyes away from the road to adjust controls for even a second, you don't know where you will be on the road. I've had it back to WESTHERR FORD 3X with the same complaint , only to be told it's normal and I'm not used to it and that they can't duplicate my concerns. Although it happens all the time and I drove other trucks on their lot that didn't act like that. If you take your hands off the steering wheel it will not drive straight. Sometimes it goes left sometimes it goes right. Sometimes it goes back and forth like it's getting an erratic electric signal. The mechanic even noticed it but the work orders never mention it.
The steering rack system (electronic steering) of the vehicle began 10 months ago to show in certain moments a condition of hardness even with vehicle parked. Then 2 months ago, while driving in an earthen type road the steering system completely blocked and it was impossible to turn and almost caused me to have an accident in the road when approached a curve.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized as if the vehicle was in park(P) with the vehicle turned off. The contact stated that the vehicle was still running. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to have the vehicle towed to a local dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
JUST PURCHASED A 2018 F150 XLT WITH XTR PACKAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 36,500 MILES. NOTICED THAT VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND TENDS TO SWAY, ALMOST FEELING LOOSE, WHEN DRIVING UNDER 50MPH. INFORMED DEALER AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. ASKED DEALER FOR RESULTS OF ALIGNMENT CONDITION AND MEASUREMENTS PRIOR TO ALIGNMENT BEING PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT KEEP RECORDS OF PREVIOUS MEASUREMENTS ONLY RESULTS AND MEASUREMENTS AFTER WORK WAS PERFORMED. UPON LEAVING STEERING WHEEL STILL STEERS AWAY WHEN DRIVING UNDER 50MPH. WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER VEHICLES IT DEFINITELY HAS PLAY. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME HAZARDOUS ISSUE BEING REPORTED. SWAYING AND PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL IS CONSTANT UNDER 50MPH. CORRECTION OF STEERING WHEEL IS EXHAUSTING TO HANDS AND WRISTS AND FEELING OF BEING UNSAFE IS PRESENT WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER, LEFT MESSAGE TO SPEAK MORE ON THIS AND NO ONE HAS CALLED US BACK SINCE WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A WEEK AGO. WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP!
THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING DOES NOT TURN BACK ON QUICKLY WHEN STARTING FROM START/STOP.THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE (02/2019). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE STEERING DID POWER AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS.
VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC START STOP FEATURE. AFTER VEHICLE RESTARTS POWER STEERING DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR 2-5 SECONDS. VEHICLE IS MOVING UNDER POWER BUT HAS NO STEERING ASSIST. 3 REPAIR VISITS WITH NO DIAGNOSIS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALMOST SINCE NEW. SOMETIMES DELAY IS PRESENT, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT. CAN'T PREDICT WHEN STEERING ASSIST WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
IN HEAVY RAIN ON 10/15/2020 VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT. RESULTING IN VEHICLE HYDROPLANING OF OF I26 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WENT INTO THE MEDIAN HITTING A BUNCH OF SMALL TREES AND TEARING UP THE VEHICLE. I BARELY MISSED A LARGE TREE THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES TO ME AND MY 6 YEAR OLD SON. LUCKILY NO INJURIES WHERE SUSTAINED. PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL PULLING TO THE LEFT. ALSO A GRINDING NOISE. BELIEVE TO HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE LEFT FROM SIDE. INCIDENTS WHERE SO OCCASIONAL THAT I DID NOT TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR BELIEVING THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE THAT HAPPENED ONLY VERY RARELY. (MAYBE ONCE PER MONTH) AFTER THE INCIDENT I GOT LOOKING AROUND AND FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD THAT I BELIEVE IS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING VEHICLES FOR THIS SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT INJURED. BULLETIN NUMBER IS 18-2273. PICS AND BULLETIN ATTACHED.
MY 2018 F150 BEGAN HAVING STEERING ASSIST FAILURE AT APPROX 50,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OCASSIONS WHERE WHILE DRIVING STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STIFF ALMOST CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND AS THEY ARE AWARE THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AT MY EXPENSE.AT 63,000 MILES MY PICK UP HAS NO POWER STEERING.
DRIVING THE F150 I NOTICED A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. SHORTLY AFTER THE POPPING NOISE WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN THE RACK AND PINION LOCKED UP. TRUCK WENT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. NOW THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND A TROUBLE CODE WAS DISPLAYED. RACK AND PINION IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. RACK AND PINION ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER THROUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS WAS A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WITH HOW THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST STEERING TOOK THE WHEEL FROM MY HAND AND JOLTED IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026