2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 40owner reports
- 22,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
83 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 40 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 40 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 EPS motor or module (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2018 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 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,000 and 68,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 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 2018 F-150 vehicles may exhibit temporary heavy, stiff, or slow steering assist and/or diagnostic trouble code U3003:68 after an engine auto start stop event. This may be due to a reduced steering assist state caused by a low state of charge battery.
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, ...
What owners wrote
No report on this problem is short enough to quote in full.
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 40 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
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 519 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 251 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 227 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 195 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 180 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 164 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 119 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 114 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 91 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 91 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 89 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 65 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 54 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 48 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 42 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 38 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 32 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 30 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 29 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 29 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 26 reports