2016 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 30owner reports
- 59,850median miles
- $2,800median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 12, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
64 of the 2,057 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 30 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Power steering loss on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Power steering loss is the steering wheel suddenly going heavy, usually with a warning on the dash. Nearly six in ten complaints in this group mention a warning light or message, and almost two thirds mention driving or highway speed rather than parking.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the F-150
Champion ford edinboro / steering shaft. Closed jun 15, 2018.
Steering shaft separation. Closed may 29, 2003, led to recall 03V-196.
Steering column. Closed feb 6, 2002.
Tie rod end failures. Closed jul 21, 1998.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 30 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,300 to $3,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 36,100 and 89,200 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2016-2019 F-150 vehicles may exhibit DTC C0051 in the ABS module. This DTC compares steering angle between the power steering control module (PSCM) and ABS and may set due to towing, driving in heavy winds, loose suspension or steering gear components, ...
SOME 2015-2016 F-150 VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 9/24/2015 MAY EXHIBIT A DRIFT, PULL, AND/OR WANDER CONCERN. TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN, REPROGRAM THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM) TO THE LATEST LEVEL USING IDS VERSION 101.04 OR HIGHER AND ATTEMPT TO ...
What owners wrote
“"While operating my 2016 Ford F-150, the vehicle lost power-steering assist. Ray Skillman Ford diagnosed an internal failure of the power steering control module and replaced the steering gear assembly. The vehicle had approximately 94,620 miles. Sudden loss of steering assist significantly increased the effort required to steer the truck and created a safety concern. The repair cost me $3,804.27."”
Filed Aug 24, 2026 · 94,620 miles
“While driving vehicle between approximately 30-50mph and making a slight turn left or right and lane changes, vehicle steering would stick. Power steering would get stuck and driver would have to manually correct the steering wheel in the opposite direction after lane changes or slight turn to prevent further veering off of the vehicle. Only occurs when vehicle speed is approximately 30-50mph.”
Filed Feb 6, 2026
“Driving out of town for a trip and out of nowhere atÂSteering Assist Fail alert hill decent alert”
Filed Apr 11, 2025
“I was driving home on the 4 lane from baseball practice and my power steering went out all of the sudden and now I have to fight to get it to turn. I took it to the Ford dealership I bought the truck at and they said the steering rack had went out and I needed a new one. That's a $3000 repair and I feel that a truck in that year model under 150,000 miles should lose power steering”
Filed Feb 22, 2024 · 150,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 30 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 339 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 183 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 159 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 128 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 107 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 105 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 95 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 92 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 90 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 82 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 57 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 41 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 33 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 33 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 32 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 29 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 27 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 25 reports