Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 25% | 7,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 17% | 34,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 8% | 5,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 22% | 38,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 20% | 91,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 6% | 94,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 10% | 38,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 11% | 180,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 8% | 43,000 miles |
| 2000 | 2 | 4% | 83,000 miles |
| 1999 | 17 | 20% | 65,000 miles |
| 1998 | 4 | 7% | 80,000 miles |
| 1997 | 6 | 6% | 162,000 miles |
| 1996 | 4 | 7% | 112,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 7% | 144,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The "service advance track" warning light has come on several times since my purchase of this used vehicle 3 months ago. I took to the Ford dealership for diagnosis this morning and was informed that the electronic steering gear box needed replacement at a cost of $1500. It was additionally explained that steering could fail due to this condition. At this time I have not experienced any steering issues however I am deeply concerned about the safety of this vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford e-150. While driving at any speed, the vehicle made a very loud noise and decreased in speed while turning. The steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion electronic assist failed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 217,000.
My power steering and brakes went out as I was driving. I was making a turn in town, and I almost collided with another car at the intersection. I pushed the brakes as hard as I could, but it didn't slow down, the car just eventually rolled to a stop on its own. The exact cause is unknown, but it seems like it was a failure in the power steering pump. After turning off the van and turning it back on again a minute later, it started driving normally again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford e-150. The contact stated that the frame experienced severe corrosion. As a result, the vehicle lost steering ability because the bolts connected to the gear box, which were all connected to the frame, detached from the vehicle. The contact was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to les stumpf Ford (3030 w college ave, appleton, wi) where the failure was confirmed; however, no further assistance was offered because the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Frame/ chassis cracked at steering box mount due to rusting from the inside of the frame out. There are holes and small open areas in the 4 sided frame. There is no wheel well material protecting this area from excessive amount of salt, water, dirt and debris entering in these holes as well, there is no way to maintain, clean, protect or inspect the insides of the frame to know your steering is going to fail. I am not the only person that is having this problem. Please review. Thanks for reading. Sincerely [redacted] or [redacted].
While turning into a parking space the bolts to the steering box sheared off with complete loss of steering. Further inspection showed severe cracking and loss of metal in the steering box area. After doing some searches I found that this is common issue in the E series vans. I did do a recall search and a CSA search to see about having this problem resolved safely by a certified shop. Unfortunately I haven't found any recall information on what is obviously a serious safety issue. Apparently the bolts shear off at low speeds while turning. The real concern is should one bolt only crack and not let the steering box become useless the vehical may be at highway speed when the failure does occour causing complete loss of control of the vehicle. I've read hundreds of emails on this subject and none had a resolution provided by the Ford Motor Company. …
Vehicle veered off the road and into a tree. The air bags did not deploy during the accident. NHTSA did some testing but could not pin point the problem. A recall was initiated which the consumer received August 24, 2003, 30 days prior to the accident. Since the vehicle was to be out of service for approximately two weeks the consumer was in the process of rearranging his schedule to comply when the failure occurred. Five days after the consumer purchased the vehicle the brake unit failed. The manufacturer replaced the unit after some installer/manufacturer disagreements. The emergency brake never worked properly.
Failure of ball joint in steering linkage attaching passenger side front wheel to steering linkage. The result was loss of control of the passenger side front wheel. This occured on a straight stretch of highway. The part was original equipment and had not been damaged. The ball came out of the socket, a potentialy fatal flaw.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of steering control
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford E-150 years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (17), 1997 (6), 1995 (5) and 2011 (5) model years. Steering complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Ford E-150 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for any Ford E-150 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford E-150 steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (8 mentions), followed by the hydraulic power assist › pump (6).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.