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.
2018 Ford F-150 steering complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 83, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
When the auto stop/start feature is engaged at a stop and I am the first vehicle at the light or stop sign, the steering is unresponsive when making a turn into or through the intersection after the auto start re-engages and has posed a safety issue steering/turning because of the delay that occurs in powering the power steering pump. On repeated instances, I have entered an intersection making a turn expecting the steering to be powered, only to find I have to struggle with the steering manually until the pump engages. The first time I asked the dealer to check the issue, I was told that my battery was dead and I had to buy a new one. I was told that would take care of the problem. The problem returned, however, and I took the truck back to the dealer. During the second dealer visit, I was told that the power steering pump is electric and has to run off the battery for a period of time (they confirmed the battery was fine during this second visit) after the auto stop/start re-engages and that is what causes the delay in power steering after the auto stop/start turns the engine back on. I was told that it gets worse if the battery doesn't have a full charge, but there was nothing that could be done to resolve the issue. On multiple occasions, I have feared that I would end up in a wreck with oncoming traffic after I struggled to steer until the pump engaged. Why would the manufacturer design a system that creates such a safety issue? The date below is the approximate date and mileage for the second dealer visit.
I have been having nothing but problems with this truck since I purchased it and I'm looking to see if anyone can help me out with this truck. I have had it now almost two years and the truck was in the shop for 3 months of it getting worked. I have had nothing but problems with the braking system as well. The dealer wouldn't sell me the original pads for it, they sent someone to car quest to get a set of pads. Whenever i gave them the vin i would always end up with the wrong parts somehow. So i dont know if there is vin fraud or what but something wasn't adding up. The dealer i purchased it from is not much of help. The water pump has gone out, the cam phasers were replaced(and are rattling again.) The starter was replaced due to clunking when started.( still clunks) Oil pan gasket was replaced. The transmission had to be replaced. I am just trying to see what my options are with this truck. It's clearly a lemon and just wondering if there's anything anyone can do to help because the reliability of this 35,000 dollar truck is out the window.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle lost braking capability. The vehicle was placed in Manual Mode. The low power steering fluid message was displayed. The contact was able to pull into a gas station to purchase power steering fluid. The contact added power steering fluid; however, while the vehicle was parked, the power steering fluid leaked out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was due to a failed seal and that the master pump had leaked from the rear seal. The contact called the local dealer, who referred him to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 132,401.
I was driving on a congested thoroughfare during rush hour on a Friday night. My truck became unresponsive and the steering wheel locked up. The truck made a screeching stop. With over 100 cars behind me honking. I was unable to drive car off the road shoulder in a safe location. The cars electrical system when dead. With very limited battery life on my phone, I worked to to solve this problem. Luckily I had a few tools in the truck and was able to dismantle the all of the underdash plastic and metal components in about 1 hr with cachophany of honking and yelling with ever car. No stopped to help. I had to push the vehicle approx a quarter of a mile on a moderate incline and jump in the cab without power steering and coast down a side street. I had to learn how to put the car in neutral this way to move. This is Friday night and unable to get a towing service provider to my location, I had to wait in a lesser than desirable neighborhood until 2:30 am to get the car to my place residence. This was one of the scariest and deadliest incidents I have ever had in a motor vehicle. I am deathly afraid this will reoccur on a highway with fatal consequences.
I was riding down the road the truck started to run hot then it slammed on brakes the power steering went out the panel the instrument panel was black I couldn't roll my windows down the truck was in drive but it wouldn't go and the motor was still running though and then it came all came back up and then it did this all the way home it would slam on break it didn't matter if I was going 30 or 60 and then it shut off before it got home and then the only way to get it going again was to jump it off
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 federal safety agency 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 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.
While driving at generally any speed from 8mph up to 70mph the electronic steering wheel will pull in either direction, I have brought this truck into a certified Ford dealership and they said everything they checked out was okay with said truck. This is not okay as it almost pulled me into the ditch while turning a corner. Other then that incident this erratic steering situation arises anytime I am driving, it does not appear to be intermittent.
The steering wheel has cracked in the center area housing the AIR BAG and HORN. I believe this is a safety hazard. With the crack going over half of the way through the steering wheel, there is a chance of the AIR BAG DEPLOYING without cause.
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 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.
When accelerating to pass another vehicle the truck started shaking violently engine rpms were erratic and I lost almost all forward momentum. This incident almost caused a head on collision. Truck has shifted erratic since purchased and has undergone the lastest ford updates/repairs to no avail. Four-wheel drive is also engaging randomly and has also been repaired to no avail. It would be great if something would be done about these issues before someone gets killed. You just never know how the truck is going to drive on any given day...
This vehicle won't track in a lane. it has to to be constantly held from changing lanes. At any given time it will want to turn to the right or go to the right and in 50 feet feet, it will want to do the same thing to the left. It never wants to go straight. The vehicle is a lot better since we placed it in Grapevine Ford for two weeks to repair the issues. They improved it greatly, but it's not fixed.
The steering wheel horn button, where the airbag is behind it, is cracked. This is the second time it’s cracked since I’ve on the vehicle. The first time it was fixed by Mike Castrucci Ford April 22, 2019. I actually spoke to someone at Kings Ford named Tricia just a couple of days ago, and she told me that it was not under warranty. I tried to explain to her that this has happened before when it was under warranty and fixed already, and this was the second time, but she refused to help me. It looks like it’s called the AB module - airbag on this invoice I’m holding. At times, it seems to leak some sort of liquid slightly from the cracks, and the horn does not always work when I push on the button itself. I have included a picture of the invoice when it was fixed once before, and I’ll try to include pictures I took today of the horn button.
My air bag in the steering wheel is starting to come out I am worried it is going to deploy with the way it looks. See photo...I called the Ford Dealership and they refused to report it.
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.
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.
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.
I was taking my grand daughter to school and she got in the front passenger side, she closed the door and it would not "latch" and we could not get it to latch to secure the door from opening while driving. This has happened numerous times. I was afraid the door would open while driving and fall out (this needs fixed asap. Another problem is when driving 60 MPH or greater the steering will "catch" that is when going around a turn left or right when turning the steering wheel it kind of jerks and doesn't maintain constant turn it seems to loose a constant control. This can cause an over correction and loss of control. In order to try to control I have to have both hands on the steering wheel and know it going to happen. What would a young inexperienced driver do...most likely over correct and crash.
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.
On two occasions I have been stopped and waiting to turn left across two lanes of traffic on a four lane state highway. The engine auto stop feature shut the engine off. When I let of the brake, the engine auto started and I began to accelerate. I had no power steering and nearly drove into a ditch. It seems that there is a delay between when the engine auto starts and when the power steering works. This is very dangerous as it is difficult to turn the wheel without power steering. Especially when crossing lanes of oncoming traffic.
My truck had a total powering steering failure today(4-12-2020). No advanced warning. The truck was being driven when the failure occurred. Thank god no accident!
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2018 Ford F-150?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history