Symptom explainer · every vehicle on the site
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
Most reported: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado with 418 reports. Across the 357 model years on this site with at least five, owners filed 10,031.
- 10,031owner reports
- 357model years affected
- 56,200median miles
- 277involved a crash
- 20involved a fire
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.
Which cars report it most · By model · When it happens · What it is and what to do
The 25 vehicles with the most reports
Each row is one model year. The bar is its count of power steering loss reports; the share is how much of that car's complaint file this problem takes up. Bigger sellers draw more reports, so read the share alongside the count. Red dots mark crashes and fires in these reports; amber marks a recall on the same system.
- 12016 Chevrolet Colorado5 crashes41859% of its complaints68k mi
- 22014 Ram 150011 crashes36822% of its complaints83k mi
- 32015 Chevrolet Colorado7 crashesrecall32667% of its complaints60k mi
- 42014 Ford Explorer3 crashes1 fire30119% of its complaints92k mi
- 52015 Ram 15007 crashesrecall25117% of its complaints80k mi
- 62016 Ford Explorer4 crashes24910% of its complaints64k mi
- 72014 Chevrolet Silverado 15008 crashes1 firerecall24717% of its complaints72k mi
- 82016 Ram 15002 crashesrecall23415% of its complaints70k mi
- 92019 Ram 15007 crashesrecall21815% of its complaints35k mi
- 102014 Ford Fusion2 crashesrecall20316% of its complaints78k mi
- 112015 Ford Explorer1 crash20311% of its complaints63k mi
- 122015 GMC Canyon3 crashes1 firerecall19865% of its complaints68k mi
- 132017 Ram 15003 crashes17119% of its complaints66k mi
- 142016 GMC Canyon4 crashes15959% of its complaints65k mi
- 152022 Honda Civic7 crashesrecall14917% of its complaints20k mi
- 162014 Ford Focus5 crashes1 firerecall1345% of its complaints59k mi
- 172018 Jeep Wrangler2 crashesrecall1166% of its complaints11k mi
- 182014 Ford Escape2 crashes1126% of its complaints69k mi
- 192014 Chevrolet Impala1 crashrecall11120% of its complaints70k mi
- 202014 Ford F-1502 crashesrecall1047% of its complaints80k mi
- 212015 Chevrolet Silverado 15001 crashrecall1008% of its complaints55k mi
- 222016 Ford Fusion5 crashesrecall1006% of its complaints77k mi
- 232015 Ford Fusionrecall929% of its complaints70k mi
- 242017 Chrysler Pacifica2 crashes926% of its complaints44k mi
- 252017 Hyundai Sonata3 crashes8812% of its complaints44k mi
Where it dominates the complaint file
Model years with at least 25 reports, ranked by the share of all their complaints that describe power steering loss. That takes most of the sales-volume effect out (small sellers still swing more).
- 12015 Chevrolet Colorado7 crashesrecall32667% of its complaints60k mi
- 22015 GMC Canyon3 crashes1 firerecall19865% of its complaints68k mi
- 32016 GMC Canyon4 crashes15959% of its complaints65k mi
- 42016 Chevrolet Colorado5 crashes41859% of its complaints68k mi
- 52017 Chevrolet Camaro2 crashesrecall4423% of its complaints22k mi
- 62014 Ram 150011 crashes36822% of its complaints83k mi
- 75020% of its complaints82k mi
- 82014 Ford Taurus1 crash4420% of its complaints73k mi
- 92014 Chevrolet Impala1 crashrecall11120% of its complaints70k mi
- 102017 Ram 15003 crashes17119% of its complaints66k mi
By model, every year together
The 12 models with the most reports. Each chip is a model year; the darker chip is its worst year.
- Ram 15001,409
- Honda Civic427
- Ford Fusion425
- GMC Canyon357
- Honda CR-V297
- Ford Escape271
- Ford F-150267
- Ford Focus245
When it happens
5,387 of the 10,031 reports state a mileage. The middle half fall between 31,000 and 85,000 miles; the median is 56,200. Each column is a 20,000-mile band.
Reports by model year
Every report of power steering loss, grouped by the model year of the car. 277 involved a crash and 20 a fire. 163 people were hurt.
What owners describe
Share of the 10,031 reports that use each phrase. One report can use several.
What got replaced
Reports that name the part, across every vehicle.
What it is and what to do
Firestone says most new vehicles now use electric power steering, where an electric motor adds the assist under the control of sensors and a module. For most of automotive history it was hydraulic instead: a belt-driven pump pressurizes fluid that helps move the rack. Both can fail. On a hydraulic system Firestone points first at low or leaking fluid, then the pump (listen for a whine at low speed) or a loose or worn drive belt. On an electric system the usual suspects are the motor, a sensor or the module, although Firestone notes some electric systems still carry hydraulic fluid.
The car still steers with the assist gone, it just takes far more effort, especially at low speed. That's how NHTSA recalls describe this defect, and 277 of the roughly 10,000 complaints here mention a crash. One owner in five mentions restarting or shutting the car off, and a fault that clears on a restart can be hard to show a dealer.
Recalls in the data show the range of causes. GM's 18V-586 updated software on some 2015 Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban trucks where assist could drop out and then return suddenly. Ford's 19V-632 replaced corroding bolts that could let the steering gear motor detach on some Fusion, MKZ and Edge models registered in a list of mostly northern states. Tesla's 22V-818 recalibrated steering assist that could cut out on rough roads.
With a warning on the dash, the first step is a diagnostic scan, which is Firestone's advice for any warning light; on a hydraulic system the fluid, pump and belt get checked too. Where owners name a replaced part here, the steering rack comes up most, in about 15 percent of reports.
If the wheel goes heavy while you're moving, slow down and get somewhere safe with both hands on the wheel. Firestone treats driving with reduced assist as dangerous, since parking, sharp turns and emergency moves all get harder. Don't count on it staying fixed after a restart.
Tell the mechanic the speed, whether you were turning, what the dash said (a photo of the message is ideal) and whether a restart cleared it. Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup first, since recall repairs are free. If it isn't covered, the FTC says a defect reported during the warranty period must be fixed even if the warranty runs out first, so report it early and get a repair order.
Sources
- Steering wheel hard to turn? Causes and fixes, Firestone Complete Auto Care
- Types of car warning lights, Firestone Complete Auto Care
- NHTSA recall 18V-586, GM electric power steering
- NHTSA recall 19V-632, Ford steering gear motor bolts
- NHTSA recall 22V-818, Tesla power assist steering
- Check for recalls, NHTSA
- Warranties, FTC Consumer Advice
- Complaint counts, mileages and phrase shares: NHTSA complaint files as tallied on this site
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints on the 1,040 vehicle model years that have a page here, grouped by the word patterns described on the method page. A vehicle needs five matching reports to be counted in this ranking. Checked Sep 27, 2026. All problem explainers.