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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,941 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Ford F-150 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 21)

problem #402

May 282024

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Loses power steering while driving without warning.

- Madison, GA, USA

problem #401

May 112024

F-150

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of an intersection. Immediately following the failure, the traction control warning light illuminated. The was not able to be restarted. A Police Officer arrived to have the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failed steering and stated that the electric rack source unit needing to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

- Cartersville, VA, USA

problem #400

Apr 142024

F-150

  • miles
This is the second Ford factory replacement steering rack that has failed and almost caused me to wreck by having the steering wheel lock and may not being able to move the wheel in any direction. It has almost caused multiple accidents, and I know that there are multiple reports of Ford electronic power, steering racks failing

- Pearl, MS, USA

problem #399

Oct 012023

F-150

  • 98,571 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel was loose. While making a left turn the steering wheel unintendedly turned to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft, tie rods, and steering rack needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the steering shaft, tie rods, and steering rack however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that no cause of the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the tire and struts had previously been replaced and the wheels were aligned. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 98,571.

- Hunlock Creek, PA, USA

problem #398

Sep 282023

F-150 8-cyl

  • miles
I own a 2011 Ford f-150 4x4. The VIN I entered should provide any further information you need. This vehicle is equipped with electronic power assist steering. This vehicle has experienced stiff return of steering in left turns at approximately 45-50MPH. This vehicle has about 156,00 miles on it. This steering difficulty has existed for 4-5 years that I have owned the vehicle. Recently, the steering stared to make loud screeching noises in both left and right turns. This was accompanied by stiff steering as if the power assist was not functional. The power assist failed completely after a weekend vacation. I had to have the steering replaced at a cost of $2552.12. I have never had the power steering fail on any other vehicle I have owned, no matter what the mileage. I have read that many other owners of this year and make have experienced the same problem. Good thing I was strong enough to control the vehicle without the power assist. This could have been very serious problem!

- Cloverdale, CA, USA

problem #397

Sep 042023

F-150

  • miles
While driving the steering locked up, steering assist came up, and something about steering sensor. Very dangerous going down highway and steering locks up on you. They need a recall on 2011 Ford F150 Electronic Steering.

- Orleans, NE, USA

problem #396

Jul 152023

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electric power steering stopped working with no warning. One second it was working, the next second nothing. Happened backing out of a parking spot or it could have caused a serious if not fatal accident.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #395

Jul 152023

F-150

  • miles
At speeds greater than 45mph on left hand turns or corners the steering wheel will lock in place and will only return to center with driver intervention.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #394

Jun 212023

F-150

  • 201,506 miles
Electronic Power Steering. Power Steering Assist Fault. Lost complete control of Steering going around a corner at highway speeds.

- Helena , MT, USA

problem #393

Jun 202023

F-150

  • miles
EPAS system has failed twice now while driving. I have had to replace it for the second time. While owning the vehicle.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #392

Jun 142023

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving in my 2011 f150 the electric power steering assist has went out intermittently during a turn causing the steering wheel to lock up or get very tight which has led to curb hits and near miss collisions. No warning indicators have ever come on during or after this has happened. I took ut to a shop and they could find no history of codes releated to steering or any failures during test drive or shop visit. This still continues to happen daily. Ford dealer recommended i replace entire steering systems at a cost of over $3000 without giving me a specific component failure.

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

problem #391

Nov 152022

F-150

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sporadically shifted right and then lost power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed the contact that the steering control arm failed; however, the part to do the repair was on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #390

Mar 202023

F-150

  • miles
The steering on my Ford F-150 has begun to be (hard)... it jerks and is sometimes difficult to turn the steering wheel... it behaves like it is low on power steering fluid, which is what I initially thought until I brought it to a repair shop. The shop owner told me my Ford does not use power steering fluid... it is (electric). The (rack & pinion) are controlled by an electric motor.

- Cambridge, NY, USA

problem #389

Dec 212022

F-150

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message "Service Auto Trak" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. However, the failure reoccurred inadvertently while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering assist had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Decatur, NE, USA

problem #388

Nov 012022

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist with the Advancetrac warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle made abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Lebanon, TN, USA

problem #387

Nov 182022

F-150

  • miles
Driving down the road and my steering became difficult almost like the power steering stop working. After a while it started to work. This has happened several times in the last 5 years.

- Rapid River , MI, USA

problem #386

Oct 142022

F-150

  • miles
I was parked in a semi hill in Orlando Fl, turned my truck on hit reverse, turned the steering to the left and when I rolled down the hill the steering wheel completely locked up on me, couldn-??t turn it left or right. I pulled up the hill once again because that-??s the only way I could go and it released the steering wheel. I had to drive back home for 2 hours on the highway terrified because I can feel the tension on the steering wheels every time I-??m turning left, even if it was a slight turn. God permitting I made it back to the shop where I work at in Tampa Florida. That same day as I was going home I have to make a u turn, once again as I make my u turn I should land on the right lane, but the truck decided to lock the steering wheel once again and I landed on the left lane almost on the ditch, luckily there were no vehicles on the left lane. This issue is not new, I-??ve been doing research and I just pray someone does something about it before someone gets hurt or gets killed. Thanks for your time and have a blessed day.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #385

Oct 012022

F-150 6-cyl

  • miles
On 10/1/22whike driving my 2011 Ford F-150 eco boost with a130 k miles the service advancetrac warning came on along with turn signals not working and the electronic power assist failure warning came on and stayed on.This is a well documented issue with 2011-2014 f150s especially 2011 model because this is the first year cord changed to Electronic power steering, the issue almost caused me to wreck while taking the on ramp curve to INTERSTATE 10 in Port Arthur Tx.The hundreds of thousands to millions of complaints on this safety issue and the lack of ford not addressing it on the first year this electronic power steering was offered needs to be taken care of by Ford.This is extremely dangerous.It makes no sense for them to have a TSB ON THis issue on models 4 years after they started offereing EPAS on the same body style and not on the first year it was offered.Plese address this with Ford motor company before someone is killed due to this safety issue

- Vidor, TX, USA

problem #384

Oct 112022

F-150

  • miles
Driving down residential street about 100 yards from my driveway and power steering completely failed. Dashboard message says steering assist fault. Luckily school hadn't let out yet so there weren't any kids running around. I was able to get the truck in my drive safely. I am having it towed to certified repair garage. Safety first. I've learned that this is a fairly common issue and that it can happen at highway speeds. Not cool Ford. Do better.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #383

Mar 012022

F-150

  • miles
The steering wheel will often get stuck or catch when turning left. It will do it consistently for a period of time, then quit for a while. It has done it while driving on winding roads, causing the vehicle to cross over the center line in the middle of a turn. It has also caused over correction when pulling the wheel back to the right. We had it looked at by an independent mechanic. He was able to replicate the problem, but was not able to find the cause. There have not been any warning lights or messages. The vehicle has never been in a wreck.

- Rose Hill, KS, USA

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