Ford Ranger power steering loss problems

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Engine, Steering · TX

My truck has selectable drive modes. These drive modes control steering effort, suspension, shift points, the four-wheel drive system, ABS, and exhaust. My truck changes drive modes on its own without any input. Going down the highway, my truck is tried to go into rock crawl modes several times. If this happens, my truck will go into four low and the components above will be affected. A cursory Google search leads to a forum where 10 pages of people have reported this problem. It is scary to think that my truck has the potential to change drive modes on its own. This could lead to loss of steering control, sudden acceleration, or a locked differential can make me lose control of the vehicle. Here is the page referenced above: [XXX] Despite having an effect on the powertrain, Ford does not consider this to be covered under the 36,000 mile powertrain warranty, of which my vehicle is beyond. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 18, 2026 · Transmission · MO

I have around 26000 miles on my 2025 Ford Ranger Lariat 2.7l V6. My drive mode has changed on its own multiple times without anyone touching the dial. Recently I was letting it idle to cool the cabin. I hopped in and heard some thunking and saw my drive mode change all the way to slippery mode. Nothing was touching the dial. It has also changed modes while I was exiting my driveway, leaving the Taco Bell drive-thru, and driving down the highway at about 50 MPH. It's scary to think I could be driving down the road and it automatically shifts into 4WD on its own. Sometimes I don't know it's in a different mode until the steering is hard to turn and the wheels chirp. Since then I have been able to trigger the drive mode changes by only pushing down the drive mode selector's bezel, not turning/twisting it. Pushing downwards on the bezel at or just below the 2H label can trigger the drive mode change for me. It's very inconsistent and won't trigger very often. But I was able capture a video of it in case someone is interested. [XXX] No modifications, No Forscan alterations, Happens before and after installing a ford performance tune Before me capturing it on video, I asked the dealer (Sunset Ford [XXX]) about getting it fixed. They told me if they cant reproduce it, then they cant do anything for me and I would be charged for the diagnosis and a car rental. My vehicle is still under factory warranty. Since I created the video I sent it to them and I had to call them multiple times to get them to look at it. I have an appt on XXX, we'll see what happens. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 15, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · AK · 1 injury

I flew down to Anchorage Alaska this brand new 024 FORD RANGER XL on [XXX] sight unseen and no test drive from KENDALL FORD Dealership. After buying the truck I started it, engaged 4 wheel drive and slippery/ icy setting. On the way back to Fairbanks the steering was hard to turn and got progressively harder the faster I drove and the colder it became. About half way home it became exhausting to steer requiring a lot of force to turn the steering wheel that actually resisted with real force being turned. I didn’t know the lane keeping would turn on with the cruise control but it did and resisted me even more. The roads became black ice and it was freezing rain. The phone charge port lost power, the dash blanked out, there was no radio and the rear power port I had switched to lost power and my phone died. I was driving about 30 to 40 mph on the 2 lane undivided snow covered black ice covered highway. In a curve in the road where the highway maintenance snow plows had stopped plowing I believe the truck mistook the snow line for the painted line and unexpectedly and surprisingly actually turned the steering wheel towards the double solid dividing centerline and I turned back into my lane. This slight movement caused the truck to totally slide out of control and cross the double solid dividing centerline and the truck went into opposite highway oncoming lane! Luckily there was no traffic coming the other way or it could have been a horrible accident. I hit the brakes and the truck actually stopped good, and then I got back into my lane and pulled over at the first chance. My phone was dead so I had no flashlight because I flew down I carried nothing but my coat. I tried to inspect the steering but it was all dark and below zero so I continued on towards Fairbanks another hundred miles to the North. The truck also had a bunch of other problems like refusing to start that can leave a person to freeze to death quickly in the Arctic below zero temperatures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

Filed Mar 11, 2025 · NV

While driving on the highway the tensioner pulley snapped off from the timing cover. Losing the pulley caused my serpentine belt to become tangled in the radiator fan. My engine over heated and I lost power steering. This left me stranded on the side of the highway for hours. I took the truck to ford, the origional quote was 3900, but they worked with me and got it down to 1765.

Filed Jul 18, 2023 · Electrical · NE

See related steering problem report. After Electronic Power Steering Assist went out on vehicle without warning of any kind to owner, dealer's service department diagnostics as best as I can determine did NOT indicate a problem with the parts that were replaced. The parts replaced were: 1. steering gear/rack and pinion/EPAS (which seems to go by various names), and, when installing this new, expensive, and long-in-coming part didn't get the power steering to work, 2. the battery. The scenario suggests that the root problem was the battery, not the steering gear. A representative of another dealer has advised that the first thing they check in cases involving electronic components is the battery. He also advised that Ford does not have a standard operating procedure or service bulletin that says this is something that is to be done. Can this be? Apparently, at least for this vehicle, there was/is no system to check for adequate battery voltage or to warn that electronic components like the power steering may fail if the battery is not replaced. If my research results are correct, the Diagnostic Trouble Codes the Ford dealer repair tech found went to a steering angle sensor in the steering column, and things having to do with the anti-lock brake system. They weren't fixed, but the codes disappeared after the new battery was installed. The diagnostic tools seem to give more misdirection than direction. With so many critical electrical components in today's vehicles, the warning and diagnostic systems seem woefully inadequate. I have read about Fords limiting battery recharging to about 75% and have noted that one of the DTCs involved here, U3003, sets on-demand if the voltage supplies to the ABS module falls below 10 volts. I'm a layman, but these things suggest to me that some of the electronic components require substantial minimum operating voltage which an older battery would not supply, and the recharging cap could exacerbate the problem.

Filed Feb 15, 2023 · Steering · 245,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 245,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2023 · Steering · 37,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The contact called an independent mechanic and was also given an estimate for the repair. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rack and pinion steering assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired.

Filed Aug 28, 2017 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford ranger. On several occasions, while making a turn, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle also lost power steering functionality and braking ability. Using an obd diagnostic tool, the contact was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to allan vigil ford of fayetteville, inc (located at 275 glynn st n, fayetteville, ga 30214, (770) 461-1151) where it was diagnosed that the PCM needed to be flashed. The vehicle was serviced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Steering, Wheels · 60,000 miles · OH

I have noticed the whole spindle (the part that the brakes are bolted to and the wheel is connected to) has excessive rust so bad if is coming off in large pieces. The truck was never in water or exposed to excessive salt on the roads, always keep in a garage or carport. From where the top ball joint bolts on, to where the bottom ball joint bolts on, its nothing but rust. So much rust has come off that it is actually getting smaller, especially up where the top ball joint bolts on because it is smaller in size. I have sprayed rust killer on it because I was concerned about it breaking from getting weak because of so much of the metal turning to rust and falling off! If it should break the whole wheel would come off! This is the only metal part on the truck that is doing this and it is very dangerous. I think ford bought some bad parts from somewhere that was made of cheap metal. I think you are going to see many more complaints about this as people notice it. I hope they notice it before it starts breaking or failing, because of sure loss of steering. Its hard to see unless you have the wheel off and look behind. Also the wheel bearings are wearing out prematurely at less than 60,000 miles. I am still driving the truck but keep checking the rusting spimdle condition, and wheel bearings.

Filed Mar 24, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 277 miles · OH

Carquest water pump new 18420011 (t4188) complete failure after 100 miles. A new water pump was installed onto a 2003 ford ranger v6 3.0 VIN-v truck. He vehicle was driven between 25 - 60 MPH off and on for approximately 1 week totaling about 100 miles. Under normal driving conditions (30-35 MPH) and with slight acceleration, the bearing housing sheared off from the water pump body launching the cooling fan/clutch into the radiator. Power steering failed (no drive belt) and the cooling system dumped it's contents. The body of the pump is still intact to the vehicle, but the rest of it came off. Upon inspection of an identical part from the same store, there is an apparent casting color difference on the pump. It appears that there is a casting defect present in the pump and the installed pump broke almost perfectly aligned to the casting color differentiation.