Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while exiting the driveway of his residence, he heard an abnormal noise while turning in either direction. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving the vehicle to a fast-food restaurant when the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the vehicle drove over a street divider bumper. The contact was able to get the vehicle out of the road. The contact stated that an unknown steering warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rack and pinion to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle drifted to the left. The contact stated it felt like it was windy. The contact turned the wheel to the right but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle swerved across two lanes of traffic however, the contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact turned the Lane Departure Assist feature off and continued to drive; however, the failure persisted. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and after five minutes the vehicle worked as designed. The ABS and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds on several occasions, while making left or right turns, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the "Steering assist fault - Service Required" and "Traction - Steering Assist Failure" message was displayed on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it diagnosed and determined that the steering rack and module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel almost seized, and was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that her husband was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that her husband pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the power steering functionality had not returned. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the electrical steering assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after stopping and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering assist and locked up, while driving 5 MPH. The contact stopped, turned off, and then restarted the vehicle however, the power steering assist did not return. The vehicle was driven to the residence in manual steering mode. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part not being available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,500.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed that the steering wheel had semi-detached and became loosened. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering bolt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that upon having the tires rotated, the contact was informed that all the lug nuts were swollen. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 22,845.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel aggressively started jerking to the right. The contact had to exert an excessive amount of force to steer the vehicle. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and the steering wheel functioned temporarily before the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the power steering assist became inoperable. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle lost the power steering assist feature. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
I'm a single mother driving a 2016 Ford F-150, my only vehicle, while transporting small children daily. I've been experiencing sudden, violent shaking and unexpected downshifting while driving, especially at highway speeds. On more than one occasion, it has felt like the rear wheels try to lock, causing the entire truck to jolt and decelerate rapidly, putting my safety and the safety of my children at serious risk. I've taken the truck to the dealership and multiple independent mechanics, but no one can diagnose the issue because no error codes appear related to the transmission or shifting. The only code that comes up is for a faulty catalytic converter, but both catalytic converters have already been replaced. The dealership confirmed that the check engine light keeps coming on anyway, even though there's no actual issue with the new parts. …
Steering complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2016 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 64 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Ford F-150, 3% of the model year's 2,080 complaints. The component named most often is steering wheel/handle bar (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford F-150 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2016 Ford F-150, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford F-150 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.