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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,017 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.

2012 Ford F-150 steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 10 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Jul 202012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 4,000 miles

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

On vacation to ga from md in July of 2012, during a heavy downpour and lost power several times traveling on I-95 towing a boat. Driving about 65-70 mph stopped at the Ford dealer on rt. 1 in fredericksburg va and they did a temporary fix, a piece of cardboard was installed to prevent the moisture from causing problemsonly to be told to go back to our dealer for the part once it comes in all back ordered. We have since contacted sheehy and got nowhere never got a call either that the part was in. Truck gets the worst gas mileage and over the rain we had started to stall out again. Never called and never fixed.now with the rain again and the heat it is doing it again.....

- Sykesville, MD, USA

problem #11

Mar 272013

F-150

  • 7,000 miles
When driving under 40 mph on a an uneven surface especially gravel or dirt roads there is a clunking sound from front/also felt through steering wheel. Feels like a worn out vehicle with bad balljoints. After researching on the internet I found this is widespread on these 2011-2013 trucks with the electric steering. Notified dealer about all the complaints on here and forums about bad steering boxes. Took truck in to dealership and mechanic experienced it on test drive. Tightened all front suspension hardware and all was tight. Was told there is no problem and they can't replace anything if nothing is broke. They had no explanation of the concern even though the mechanic felt it on test drive. The truck has just over 10,000 miles on it now and has been happening since about 7,000 or 8,000 miles. Very dissatisfied with the quality of this truck. I have owned a lot of Ford in the past but if this is not resolved I will never buy a Ford again. For a truck that stickered just under 50K it is very pathetic that Ford does not step up and address that there is a problem with these steering racks. It is pretty clear with all the complaints on here and other websites with the same exact concerns that there is a issue here. I hope they figure something out because a malfunction in the steering could be a big safety issue. If you are reading this and thinking about buying a F-150 I would think of looking at other brands.

- Mt.Pleasant, WI, USA

problem #10

Feb 052013

F-150 6-cyl

  • 12,500 miles
I hear a thunking noise under the front suspension over bumps in the road. My first reaction is it's a brand new truck. It sounds exactly like a bad sway bar link. So I took the truck to my friends mechanics garage and noticed front tires are cupped badly, an unusually wear for a new truck. We rotated the tires and checked suspension. We noticed what we thought was a bad inner tie rod cause there was loose unusual movement side to side with the tire on driver's side. So I went home and started to read on F150 forum.com and found many people with 2011-2013 F150 year truck is having the same issue of thunkin noise. It turns out it is not tie rods, it is a bad steering rack and pinion. I read alot of information and a video of a truck that sound like mine. I have read where a service writer mentioned that 2 trucks lost steering but there was no accident and the steering racks were replaced. I have called Ford service recently and they said they know nothing about bad steering racks. Many owners of these trucks have posted in the forum that Ford knows of these so called contaminated steering racks that were made. I would like a tsb or a service bulletin that would get these bad racks off these trucks. Thank you

- Lower Burrell, PA, USA

problem #9

Feb 162013

F-150 6-cyl

  • 23,900 miles

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

My wife was driving on la 3033 when she began to notice that the steering response was erratic and slow, pulling a little to the right and hard to turn in corners. This started about 3 miles before the incident and she didn't know what was wrong but continued ahead. She reached a right hand curve on a local lake levee and noticed it still hard to turn but made it okay. The next curve was a left hander and when she stated into it the steering refused to respond. There are hardly any shoulders on this highway and she went straight down the levee embankment and hit a tree and into the water. The truck is badly damaged but she and the two grandchildren are okay. I am puttting this on this site because I know Ford is going to deny any problems like this. Now I'm wondering if it might happen again to us or someone else.

- Monroe, LA, USA

problem #8

Feb 172012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 14,890 miles
This is my second complaint I am not sure to list this under engine or steering either way I am experiencing the same shaking and shuddering that I was before. Ford fixed the so called intercooler problem but now it is experiencing the same shaking. In the past 2 weeks this has occurred multiple times when I first start out driving in the morning the vehicle begins to shake and shudder while driving at sow speeds of less than 45 mph it even did this yesterday at 5 mph. If you research this complaint there are 1000S F complaints online especially on the Ford F150 forum. Also my gas mileage is absolutely horrible at 13 to 14 mpg and that's on 45 and 55 mph roads in the country. The shaking occurs violently making the vehicle hard to control creating a dangerous situation especially on the freeway where the vehicle will slow down to 35 mph.

- Chardon, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 202012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 2,700 miles
The vehicle from original purchase date in October of 2012 has exhibited a knock/clunk/vibration from the front suspension and steering that transmits up through the steering column and can be felt while holding the steering wheel and heard from the frontal area of the vehicle while driving. The steering wheel is also off center to the left and vehicle seems to pull left regardless of road crown and the front two tires are feathered across the tread. The first visit to dealer at 2700 miles the dealer reset the toe as it was toe out causing uneven tire wear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at roughly 4700 miles for the knock/clunk/vibration and uneven tire wear again and it was found that pinch bolts were loose on the steering column causing the clunk. Dealer states the uneven tire wear was due to low tire pressure. After picking up vehicle the knock/clunk/vibration is still present. With the vehicle off and turning the wheel back and forth rapidly the knock/clunk can be heard from the front of the vehicle, however the dealer states this is normal noise from the Ford epas steering rack. Asked dealer to compare to a new like vehicle on the lot. Dealer changed the subject. Sounds like faulty tie rod ends or faulty internal rack components from my past automotive experience. Owned a 2011 F150 with the same suspension and epas steering rack and the wheel was straight, and no noise was heard or vibrations felt while driving. Tires did not show uneven wear either. Dealer states I cannot compare my 2012 F150 to my 2011 F150. Dealer states an appointment is going to be set with the local field service engineer to test drive my vehicle to make a determination if any further action is to be taken. At this point the dealer is not providing any further assistance in resolving my concern. Issue has also been documented with Ford customer care.

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 082012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 3,240 miles

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

Shortly after the purchase of this new 2012 Ford F150 ecoboost, a knocking developed that could be felt through the steering wheel. This occurred while driving straight, and could be felt and heard under normal road conditions. It doesn't have to be a bumpy road, normal road conditions this occurs. It feels like a rattle or knocking coming from the steering assembly. I brought the vehicle to the dealer for it's first oil change, and to have the knocking issue looked at on August 8, 2012. The dealer noticed the noise and their repair made was to rotate the tires. August 15, 2012 brought the truck back for the same condition. The dealer noticed the noise during the road test and contacted the Ford hotline. No repairs made. September 21, 2012 brought the truck back for the same condition. The technician could not duplicate the noise condition. No repairs made. October 25, 2012 after contacting Ford customer care center myself, they instructed me to bring the truck back in and they will replace the tie rods. Tie rods replaced on this date. November 5, 2012 brought the truck back in for the same condition. Service department refused to test drive the truck, and told me that everything is normal and "operates as designed". January 14, 2012-still have knocking/rattle condition through steering wheel.

- Osterville, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 152012

F-150 6-cyl Diesel

  • 1,852 miles
While driving in a straight line on us 395 North bound, North of pearsonville, ca, the steering began to feel loose with a "clunk" or "popping" that could be felt in the steering wheel. This was very concerning, and annoying, and lasted for 3 hours until I arrived at my destination. The outside air temp was about 90 degrees, and this "clunk" becomes more pronounced as the temperature rises. I have serious concerns with this new electronic power assist steering (epas) and the potential for total steering failure. Ford had serious issues with the 2011 Explorer epas, and now the new F150 (beginning with 2011 model) with epas is beginning to show the same problem. I was at perry Ford in poway, ca yesterday, and the service writer stated that two new F150's lost all steering control. The online forum, www.F150forum.com, has hundreds of new F150 owners with the same complaint. Many have had total steering rack replacements only to have the same problem come back in a few thousand miles. I limit my driving with this vehicle (only 3,012 mi.) after one year of ownership. I refuse to waste my time with a rack replacement as Ford has made no modifications or changes to the original design. The vendor for this epas unit is nexteer. I have contacted nexteer and received no response. I opened a case with Ford customer service. My personal safety, the safety of my family and the safety of others keeps me off the road until Ford acknowledges the problem and finds a fix. The problem needs to be addressed before a life, or lives, are lost. Thank you.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 082012

F-150

  • 25 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate. The failure occurred at any speed and became progressly worse when traveling 70 mph. The vehicle was inspected by two different authorized dealer, both were unable to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 25.

- Roseburg, OR, USA

problem #3

Apr 302012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 400 miles
The problem started with about 400 miles on the vehicle. I began noticing a loose/nibble feeling in the steering wheel especially over rough terrain, which is 90 percent of Michigan roads. When temperatures get hotter the problem is more severe. I have had 4 power steering rack and pinions (epas) replaced and each time it fixes the problem but for only a few days and then it reappears. I have also had the entire steering shafts replaced and this did nothing. The problem has become much more severe as time has gone by. I am now experiencing the vehicle pulling and jumping while going over uneven surfaces in the road. There are over 1000 people with this exact problem on other public websites. I can now slightly move the steering wheel back and forth while the vehicle is off and you can feel looseness/nibble in steering and also a very loud knocking of parts coming from the rack and pinion (epas). Parts banging against each other is not normal! everytime I put my 6 and 10 year old kids in my truck I fear for their safety along with my own. Ford Motor Company doesn't want to admit that they have an issue. I have heard from two representatives from Ford that during production of these vehicles it was known that a number of defective rack and pinions (epas) were installed during the assembly. I have also ran into a person that oversees the quality department (won't mention where) but told me that Ford is having all kinds of problems with their steering and told me to have them replace the epas system which I have already had done 4 times. I guess its going to take someone dying before Ford will take action and fix their problems. Its very unfortunate but is the reason why I am reporting this. My next stop is the local news to share my story!

- Trenton, MI, USA

problem #2

Sep 122012

F-150 8-cyl

  • 10,500 miles
Epas steering failure. While making a left turn the epas electronic power assist steering stopped working. Though we kept turning the wheel, truck did not make the turn, it seemed to be trying to turn and turning slowly. Then all of a sudden the epas started working again. Truck shook and jerked, as the epas tried to correct for steering input. Brakes were applied to emergency stop the truck and truck ended up off the road, on to the shoulder of the road.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #1

May 142012

F-150 6-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
The vehicle exhibits a knock or nibble that is felt in the electric steering system, this is very noticeable in the steering wheel when driving straight ahead on days when the temperature is above 70F. As the temp increases the severity of the issues increase. It is felt as if there is a major component in the steering system that is worn out or very near failure. The issues have not created a safety problem as of yet, however I believe that the possibility exists. The dealer staff have experienced the symptoms an two separate dates, they have taken no action on the matter. I have found over 600 similar complaints on a Ford forum.

- Beaver Dam, WI, USA

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