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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,592 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.

2018 Ford F-150 steering problems

steering problem

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2018 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #73

Aug 142024

F-150

  • 140,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while leaving a parking space, the power steering functionality became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn after restarting the vehicle. The contact checked the tires for low air pressure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the steering actuator. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #72

Aug 012024

F-150

  • miles
I noticed the steering wheel became very loose one day randomly. If you placed your hands and the 9 and 3 position on the steering wheel it would rock back and forth very freely. I carried the truck to a shop and they looked into the steering wheel and found the bolt the holds the steering wheel onto the steering column was loose. It was spinning freely is was so loose. If the bolt would have loosen a little bit more the steering wheel would have became detached.

- Westminster, SC, USA

problem #71

Jul 092024

F-150

  • miles
Took my Ford F150 in for an oil change. Ford dealer informed me the steering gear assembly had completely broke near the gear box at only 68k (I do not know when the break happened). Although the vehicle is drivable, it has a chance of losing steering at any time and was advised not to drive it. No vehicle warnings are provided, and the truck has been regularly serviced over the years without me being informed of an issue. It is available for inspection as I am on a waitlist for a backordered steering gear assembly part.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #70

May 292024

F-150

  • miles

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

When the auto stop/start feature is engaged at a stop and I am the first vehicle at the light or stop sign, the steering is unresponsive when making a turn into or through the intersection after the auto start re-engages and has posed a safety issue steering/turning because of the delay that occurs in powering the power steering pump. On repeated instances, I have entered an intersection making a turn expecting the steering to be powered, only to find I have to struggle with the steering manually until the pump engages. The first time I asked the dealer to check the issue, I was told that my battery was dead and I had to buy a new one. I was told that would take care of the problem. The problem returned, however, and I took the truck back to the dealer. During the second dealer visit, I was told that the power steering pump is electric and has to run off the battery for a period of time (they confirmed the battery was fine during this second visit) after the auto stop/start re-engages and that is what causes the delay in power steering after the auto stop/start turns the engine back on. I was told that it gets worse if the battery doesn't have a full charge, but there was nothing that could be done to resolve the issue. On multiple occasions, I have feared that I would end up in a wreck with oncoming traffic after I struggled to steer until the pump engaged. Why would the manufacturer design a system that creates such a safety issue? The date below is the approximate date and mileage for the second dealer visit.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #69

Jun 172024

F-150

  • miles
I have been having nothing but problems with this truck since I purchased it and I'm looking to see if anyone can help me out with this truck. I have had it now almost two years and the truck was in the shop for 3 months of it getting worked. I have had nothing but problems with the braking system as well. The dealer wouldn't sell me the original pads for it, they sent someone to car quest to get a set of pads. Whenever i gave them the vin i would always end up with the wrong parts somehow. So i dont know if there is vin fraud or what but something wasn't adding up. The dealer i purchased it from is not much of help. The water pump has gone out, the cam phasers were replaced(and are rattling again.) The starter was replaced due to clunking when started.( still clunks) Oil pan gasket was replaced. The transmission had to be replaced. I am just trying to see what my options are with this truck. It's clearly a lemon and just wondering if there's anything anyone can do to help because the reliability of this 35,000 dollar truck is out the window.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #68

Jun 142024

F-150

  • 132,401 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle lost braking capability. The vehicle was placed in Manual Mode. The low power steering fluid message was displayed. The contact was able to pull into a gas station to purchase power steering fluid. The contact added power steering fluid; however, while the vehicle was parked, the power steering fluid leaked out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was due to a failed seal and that the master pump had leaked from the rear seal. The contact called the local dealer, who referred him to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 132,401.

- Pelham, NH, USA

problem #67

May 202024

F-150

  • miles

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

I was driving on a congested thoroughfare during rush hour on a Friday night. My truck became unresponsive and the steering wheel locked up. The truck made a screeching stop. With over 100 cars behind me honking. I was unable to drive car off the road shoulder in a safe location. The cars electrical system when dead. With very limited battery life on my phone, I worked to to solve this problem. Luckily I had a few tools in the truck and was able to dismantle the all of the underdash plastic and metal components in about 1 hr with cachophany of honking and yelling with ever car. No stopped to help. I had to push the vehicle approx a quarter of a mile on a moderate incline and jump in the cab without power steering and coast down a side street. I had to learn how to put the car in neutral this way to move. This is Friday night and unable to get a towing service provider to my location, I had to wait in a lesser than desirable neighborhood until 2:30 am to get the car to my place residence. This was one of the scariest and deadliest incidents I have ever had in a motor vehicle. I am deathly afraid this will reoccur on a highway with fatal consequences.

- Maitland, FL, USA

problem #66

Apr 232024

F-150

  • 132,410 miles
I was riding down the road the truck started to run hot then it slammed on brakes the power steering went out the panel the instrument panel was black I couldn't roll my windows down the truck was in drive but it wouldn't go and the motor was still running though and then it came all came back up and then it did this all the way home it would slam on break it didn't matter if I was going 30 or 60 and then it shut off before it got home and then the only way to get it going again was to jump it off

- Okeechobee, FL, USA

problem #65

Dec 012023

F-150

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Power Access" was displayed and the steering wheel could not be turned in either direction, making the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Rocky Point, NC, USA

problem #64

Jun 012023

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel had become loosened while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the plastic bearing behind the air bag in the steering column had fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #63

May 082023

F-150

  • miles

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

Steering wheel bolt came loose, allowing the steering wheel to wobble. I was able to remove the bolt by hand, that's how loose it was. I repaired it myself using loctite and retorquing the bolt.

- Sun City Center, FL, USA

problem #62

Sep 092022

F-150

  • miles
Issue is with the electric steering rack. Vehicle has 34,000 miles. Purchased used. Have been having to constantly to correct the vehicle that drifts to the left. Can hear the electric steering motor constantly attempting to correct driver's correction. Vehicle is equipped with engine auto shut down feature, which when starting to turn from a stopped/shutdown, becomes very hard. Purchased four (4) new tires six (6) months ago. Now both front tires are "scalloped", which effects the control and ride.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #61

May 112022

F-150

  • miles
The electric steering causes wandering to both sides and pulling to both sides especially on turns. Extra effort is required to steer and constant attention is needed to stay on the road and not into the oncoming traffic or running the car off the road next to you. You cannot turn your eyes away from the road to adjust controls for even a second, you don't know where you will be on the road. I've had it back to WESTHERR FORD 3X with the same complaint, only to be told it's normal and I'm not used to it and that they can't duplicate my concerns. Although it happens all the time and I drove other trucks on their lot that didn't act like that. If you take your hands off the steering wheel it will not drive straight. Sometimes it goes left sometimes it goes right. Sometimes it goes back and forth like it's getting an erratic electric signal. The mechanic even noticed it but the work orders never mention it.

- Buffalo , NY, USA

problem #60

Dec 222022

F-150

  • miles
While driving at generally any speed from 8mph up to 70mph the electronic steering wheel will pull in either direction, I have brought this truck into a certified Ford dealership and they said everything they checked out was okay with said truck. This is not okay as it almost pulled me into the ditch while turning a corner. Other then that incident this erratic steering situation arises anytime I am driving, it does not appear to be intermittent.

- Battleground , WA, USA

problem #59

Oct 022022

F-150

  • miles
The steering wheel has cracked in the center area housing the AIR BAG and HORN. I believe this is a safety hazard. With the crack going over half of the way through the steering wheel, there is a chance of the AIR BAG DEPLOYING without cause.

- Lancaster, TX, USA

problem #58

Jun 082022

F-150

  • miles
The rack and pinion of the vehicle is locking up and becoming very stiff when driving. The steering locked up while in a curve and steered me into oncoming traffic with others in the vehicle. This needs to to be recalled so it can be repaired. There are multiple TSB reports from the manufacturer about the issue as well as a law suit against the manufacturer for the issue. It is gradually getting to be worse of an issue the more I drive

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #57

Mar 012022

F-150

  • miles
The steering rack system (electronic steering) of the vehicle began 10 months ago to show in certain moments a condition of hardness even with vehicle parked. Then 2 months ago, while driving in an earthen type road the steering system completely blocked and it was impossible to turn and almost caused me to have an accident in the road when approached a curve.

- Colombia - South America, FL, USA

problem #56

Feb 012022

F-150

  • miles
When accelerating to pass another vehicle the truck started shaking violently engine rpms were erratic and I lost almost all forward momentum. This incident almost caused a head on collision. Truck has shifted erratic since purchased and has undergone the lastest ford updates/repairs to no avail. Four-wheel drive is also engaging randomly and has also been repaired to no avail. It would be great if something would be done about these issues before someone gets killed. You just never know how the truck is going to drive on any given day...

- West Liberty, IL, USA

problem #55

Jun 012020

F-150

  • miles
This vehicle won't track in a lane. it has to to be constantly held from changing lanes. At any given time it will want to turn to the right or go to the right and in 50 feet feet, it will want to do the same thing to the left. It never wants to go straight. The vehicle is a lot better since we placed it in Grapevine Ford for two weeks to repair the issues. They improved it greatly, but it's not fixed.

- Bedford, TX, USA

problem #54

Nov 182021

F-150

  • miles
The steering wheel horn button, where the airbag is behind it, is cracked. This is the second time it-??s cracked since I-??ve on the vehicle. The first time it was fixed by Mike Castrucci Ford April 22, 2019. I actually spoke to someone at Kings Ford named Tricia just a couple of days ago, and she told me that it was not under warranty. I tried to explain to her that this has happened before when it was under warranty and fixed already, and this was the second time, but she refused to help me. It looks like it-??s called the AB module - airbag on this invoice I-??m holding. At times, it seems to leak some sort of liquid slightly from the cracks, and the horn does not always work when I push on the button itself. I have included a picture of the invoice when it was fixed once before, and I-??ll try to include pictures I took today of the horn button.

- Goshen, OH, USA

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