Lack of steering wheel returnability to center line on left hand turns. When making a slight left hand curve over 45 MPH it is difficult to get the steering wheel to return to centerline. Ford has issued a tsb 11-08-18 for trucks build before 7/11/11 for the exact same issue I am having. My 2012 f150 has 39,000 miles at this time and is not safe to drive!
2012 Ford F-150 steering complaints
Page 6 of 8: complaints 131 to 160 of 204, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Power steering goes in and out at highway and slower speeds in turns, without notice causing near accidents. No noise involved. After several days steering is now always stiff and barely operable.
The truck displayed a service advancetrac error, partially disabling the turn signals while driving a 2012 ford f-150 with 64,000 miles on it. Ford has diagnosed a failed power steering rack and pinion. Research indicates that failure of the rack and pinion can result in failure of a driver's ability to control the vehicle, especially during turns. Part is apparently failing early.
My truck is a 2012 platinum model with the 3.5l ecoboost motor. Motor failed at 60k miles due to head gasket leak and had to be replaced. Less than a month later I am now dealing with a "service advancetrak" message and steering wheel is locking up completely while trying to make right hand turns. Vehicle is very frightening to drive and has pulled me into oncoming traffic 2 times. Dealer is saying the truck needs a new steering rack and $2k to fix.
The service advancetrac warning light comes on and the blinkers will not function.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-150. While driving 45 MPH, the power steering system malfunctioned and the contact loss complete steering assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Bought truck less than a year ago with 28k miles on it. I now have 37k and my service advancetrac light would come on intermittently. I noticed too that the steering felt kind of clunky and would make a strange grinding type noise, mostly at low speeds. I brought it in to a local dealer and they diagnosed the problem and had to replace the steering rack. $1754.00! When I bought the used, very low mileage, one owner truck I thought I struck gold. Not quite, but love the truck otherwise! A poorly designed steering system seems to be common for these. Shame on ford for not owning up to this problem. More about profit I guess.
I have a 2012 ford f-150 fx4 with less than 60,000 miles on it. The electronic power steering failed unexpectedly. Fortunately the vehicle was stationary when this occurred. Although I was not moving, I happened to be over thirty miles from home. My concern is that this issue could possibly present itself while the vehicle is in motion. I am in decent shape and was absolutely exhausted by the time I arrived at home. My thoughts went to my wife operating the truck in traffic, with my children in it, which in my eyes poses a very real safety hazard. I have contacted ford customer care several times and received not help, or potential solutions.
My vehicle went into the dealership 3 times for diagnostics/repair. Each time it was the advance service track light coming on which disables the turn signals. Each time the vehicle was in, they replaced sensors. This third time they diagnosed that the steeeing rack needed to be replaced. I have read in the ford f-150 forum that this is a common problem in this model year. Same story, the truck goes in 3 to 4 times with the same light and they finally diagnose the true issue which cost between $1700-$2500. My vehicle is less than 5 yrs old and only 45k miles on it. My understanding speaking with the service tech and manager this part of the vehicle should not wear out in 5 yrs. The steering rack should last at least 80k miles to the life of vehicle. Please look into this issue and if needing me to explain more information please contact me. Thank you.
Power steering rack went out while driving back from vacation/ disney. Family in vehicle. Loss of steering/steering become tight and hard to steer. Extremely dangerous! On the highway going 75 MPH.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-150. While driving 65 MPH, the power steering seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000. Updated 05/16/17*lj
Received a "service advance trac" warning on the dash display, followed by advancetrac warning light illumination. Took vehicle to dealer and was told that there was a fault with the steering gear, and the entire steering box had to be replaced at a cost of over $1850. The dealer said if it had failed completely, it would have likely resulted in loss of steering. Checking online, it seems ford is recalling older vehicles for this problem, but not trucks this new, and is instead making customers pay for what is clearly a defect.
Power steering went completely out while trying to park at work. No warning at all. Ford does not back this up with a recall as yet. Cost 1772.29 to repair. Had 93,217 miles on truck.
Lost power steering while driving on a freeway. I was able to drive vehicle home. But vehicle unsafe to drive. Ford needs to make a power steering recall to this vehicle before somebody dies....
After speaking with ford motor company I thought I should file a complaint on here as well. My husbands 2012 ford f150 power steering shut off while driving down the road. After much research, it appears his is by far not the only one. Apparently other models of the same year have had recalls but not the f150. I was told go get it checked out and fixed and if we issue a recall, you might get a refund. $2200 and we can get it checked out and fixed if they see the problem. This is not an in and out service and its very disappointing a company that has been around since 1903 has turned to such poor quality in service. Everyone needs to file a complaint so they will stop taking advantage of the loyalty of the customers.
When making sharp turns my truck would get a " service advancetrac" alarm. After I turned the vehicle off and restarted it would go off. Now it is on and will not go off and my turn signals don't work, so I cannot drive truck. It has 66,000 miles on it. I have read about a 100+ different statements from other ford truck owners with the same issue. I don't have $2,000 to have it fixed. I have always had fords and this issue is really making me think that I should have bought this truck. Ford should fix this problem since so many have had problems. I spent a lot of money buying this truck and bought it out of loyalty to ford and they should recognize this defect and be loyal to its customers and fix this problem free of charge. Before someone gets hurt or killed. My truck is a 2012 ford f150 xtr 44. This complaint probably won't do anything but I wish it would. Now I have a truck I can't drive. This is b.s.
While driving down the highway my power steering suddenly stopped working resulting in difficulty controlling my vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to maxwell ford in austin, tx and after several days they determined the issue was a failed power steering gear/motor and replaced it at my expense for approximately $1800. Doing basic online searching there are tons of other people with various year models of f-150s reporting the same issue. This would appear to be related to other vehicles that have similar issues that have recalls, but 2012 f-150s do not seem to be included.
The service advance trac warning light appeared on the vehicle console after a sharp turn, turn signals would not work while the warning light was on. Hit the ok button as indicated on the vehicle console, and the warning light went off. Turned off vehicle and after restarting the vehicle and driving forward the service advance trac warning went off. Since the vehicle is a 2012 with 65,000 miles it is not covered under warranty from ford. The warning turns on after turning sharply out of a parking space or backing out of a driveway. Sometimes the warning comes on several days in a row and other times after it clears it will stay off for days.
The service advance trac warning light appeared on the vehicle console, turn indicators would not work while vehicle was moving, or stationary. Hit the ok button as indicated on the vehicle console, and the warning light went off. Turned off vehicle and after restarting the vehicle and driving forward the service advance trac warning went off. Drove to a local lowes store approximately 2 miles away. After returning to the vehicle and putting the vehicle in drive, the power steering would not work and a new warning appeared epas "electric power assist " fail and the service advance trac warning also came on. Called a tow truck and was towed to local ford dealership. Since the vehicle is a 2012 with 53,000 miles it is not covered under warranty from ford. I was very fortunate that I was not driving the vehicle on the busy highway "wilma rudolph blvd." I had been on just a few moments prior to the steering problem as I am sure an accident would have been very hard to avoid.
Rattle in steering, can be felt in steering wheel. Can be felt mostly when going in a straight line. Vehicle does not have to be on rough road to feel and hear rattle. Purchased vehicle used, but this problem is reported by many owners!
While driving on three separate occasions within the last two weeks the vehicle steering has locked up while in motion. Two of these incidents were while I was driving at approximately 70 MPH on toll 130 outside of central texas. The last incident happened august 3, 2016 while driving in a 45 MPH zone and curve on a city street.
I was driving on the freeway on our way to vacation and had pulled off to visit a friend. When we went to the store my electronic stability control warning came on but the vehicle still drove fine. After we came out of the store the power steering was completely gone and almost impossible to drive. I'm lucky it didn't fail on the freeway. It ended up being the steering angle sensor and cost 2k to fix(they had to replace the whole steering gear assembly). The truck only has 50k miles on it and I was told it was not covered under warranty. I called ford and they were no help. I am just lucky it didn't happen on the freeway. I checked the forums and this has happened to others and caused them to lose control of the vehicle.
Tsb 11-08-18. Exactly what happens to my vehicle. Random. In long sweeping left turns when steering wheel is at the 11 oclock position between 40-75 MPH. Steering wheel will not reset itself back to center. I have to manually move wheel back to center. Meaning, when coming out of the lefthand turn the wheel will stay at the 11oclock position until I move it back to center. Not every time but often. If you dont pay attention 100% of the time the truck will steer itself into a wall or median only going left.
"service advancetrac" light. This is a common problem reported on many web forums. A sensor in the steering rack is not able to determine the direction that the wheels are pointing and generates the alarm. The indicators will not work whilst the alarm is on unless the stalk is held in place. The error can sometimes be reset but restarting the car but not always. This deficiency is well know by ford and many dealers yet ford refuses to acknowledge the problem with a tsb or recall action. The sensor can not be changed so the entire steering rack assembly needs to be replaced at over $1500. I have just tried to work with a ford csm to get the problem fixed on my out of warranty truck but was told that "there are no programs in place to help me". This is either poorly designed part and/or a early component failure. 2011/2012 was one of the first years that ford installed the eps unit in the f150's.
While driving my 2012 f-150eb, the power steering assist quit working in the middle of a turn in a parking garage. I had to put all 180 lbs of my weight into the steer in order to avoid a concrete stanchion, 2 pedestrians and another vehicle. Had my wife been driving, this could have resulted in a fatality. Ford corp. Claims they know of no problems with the steering on this vehicle. However, I have found numerous complaints on line citing the same problem/issues. Diagnosis was "power steering electric motor failure" and repair cost is $2,200.00.
I was driving home from the speedway gas station an about 2 miles from the gas station my power steering failed completely while making a left hand turn,I had steering but no power steering an very difficult to steer the vehicle or make any turns!I finally made it home but still have to drive vehicle to repair shop for repairs to be done.
While making a sharp left turn at slow speed I heard a squeal and got a (service advanced track warning). And my turn signals stopped working properly. Later that day it happened again and this time the steering quit all together and got a (electric power steering fault) on the display cluster. Cant believe this is not a safety recall isue!
At first the service advance trac warning appeared and the directional blinkers would not work. Standing still or moving. Hit ok and it would disappear, but would come right back on. Now. It appears and also driver assist fault warning comes on and you loose your power steering. Extreme difficulity turning or anything at any speed.
Vehicle is displaying "service advancetrac" error message when vehicle is turned sharply left or right. When the error message comes on, the turn signals do not function properly. The driver must hold the turn signal switch to activate turn signals anytime needing to change lanes or turn off roadway. Vehicle error has been checked by servicing dealer and an update was performed to ABS module to attempt to fix the problem, but explained that a possible need to replace the power rack and pinion to resolve the problem. I am afraid that the power rack and pinion is going to fail and cause me to have an accident, or the turn signals not functioning properly is going to cause an accident. Ford needs to issue a safety recall to fix this failing part in the 2012 f150 model line.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-150. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact heard a squealing noise emerging from the engine. The steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to have the dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer stated that the steering column module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
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