On my 2007 mustang gt. The lower ball joint on left side would not pass pa state inspection @ 16,700 miles and right side went bad and would not pass inspection at @ 29,800 miles. The inspections were done at a Ford dealer. Each time the cost is over $500.00. Ford did split the cost after I complained about the first issue. I have checked a few mustang sites and have found out others have had…
2007 Ford Mustang steering problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
1fire
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report power steering pump failures starting just 240–270 miles after delivery, with at least one failure occurring at 75,000 miles accompanied by smoke and a broken harmonic balancer. Early replacement happened under warranty, but intermittent pump operation—power steering working sometimes and failing other times—appears in later reports.
Front struts fail early and cause steering wheel misalignment and off-center conditions by 1,700 miles. One owner reported a thumping noise from the right front after strut replacement. Ball joints on both left and right sides wear out prematurely, failing inspection at 16,700 and 29,800 miles respectively; repairs cost over $500 per side.
Multiple owners experienced violent steering wheel vibration and jerking at highway speeds (60–70 mph), with the vehicle veering uncontrollably right or left. Three of these incidents resulted in crashes into concrete barriers or walls, with two causing neck and back injuries requiring medical care. Dealers could not replicate some issues, and one suggested engineering review and buyback but the manufacturer took no documented action.
One owner reported the steering wheel becoming stiff and unresponsive when the air conditioner was on, making it nearly impossible to turn from a parked position and nearly causing a collision. Dealership repairs did not resolve the issue. Another owner described braking pulls left or right with the vehicle drifting all over the road during dealer test drives; Ford Customer Service did not follow up on the complaint.
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Pump Failure
Pump stops functioning, leaving driver with manual steering or severely reduced assist. Reports span from near-delivery (240–270 miles) to higher mileage (75,000 miles).
When: 240 miles, 270 miles, 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering stops working; Loss of power assist while driving at highway speeds; Smoke from under hood (at 75k miles); All warning lights illuminating on dashboard; Intermittent failure—power steering works sometimes but comes and goes
Repairs/costs cited: Pump replaced under warranty at dealership; one owner also noted fluid replaced. No cost figures provided by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage confirmed for early failures; no TSBs or recalls mentioned by owners.
Front Strut Failure and Misalignment
Struts fail early, causing steering wheel off-center condition, alignment issues, and thumping noise over bumps. One owner's struts may have been damaged during transport via train; others report failure independent of that context.
When: 270–1,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel off-center; Alignment issues requiring correction; Thumping noise from right front over bumps; Vehicle skittish on bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Strut replacement performed at dealership. Owners did not provide parts costs but noted warranty covered the work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage confirmed for strut replacement.
Lower Ball Joint Wear
Ball joints on both sides fail prematurely and cause vehicle to fail state inspection. Appears to be a known issue across multiple model years (2005–2008) according to owner research.
When: 16,700 miles (left), 29,800 miles (right)
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension component wear causing inspection failure; Vehicle handling issues (inferred)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost over $500 per side according to one owner. Ford split cost after complaint on first failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall mentioned; manufacturer split cost on one repair after customer complaint.
Steering Vibration and Loss of Control
Multiple reports of violent steering wheel vibration or jerking without warning while driving at highway speeds (60–70 mph), often accompanied by vehicle veering left or right. Three complaints resulted in crashes into barriers or walls; two caused injuries requiring medical treatment.
When: 100,000 miles (two reports), 111,117 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strong vibration from steering wheel; Steering wheel jerks to the right; Violent shaking of steering wheel; Loss of vehicle control; Clanking noise heard during loss of control; Vehicle steers towards the right unintentionally
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were not diagnosed or repaired per owner narratives; one was towed to salvage yard by insurance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; no recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners.
Intermittent Hard Braking Pull and Steering Drift
Vehicle pulls hard left or right during braking, behavior is intermittent and difficult for dealers to reproduce. One dealer recommended engineering review and buyback. Safety concern ongoing with vehicle still in daily use.
When: Early in ownership (mileage not specified)
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent braking problems; Vehicle pulls hard to right or left during braking; Vehicle drifts all over the road during test drive; Erratic steering behavior
Repairs/costs cited: First dealer cut rotors but issue persisted; second dealer could not replicate. No permanent repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Customer Service contacted but did not follow up per owner; no recall or TSB mentioned.
Difficulty Turning With AC Engaged
Power steering becomes stiff and unresponsive when air conditioner is on, making it difficult or impossible to turn the wheel from a parked position upon initial engine start. Creates acute safety hazard when leaving parking.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty turning while AC is on at initial engine start; Steering wheel tenses up suddenly; Requires excessive force to turn wheel; Almost caused collision with another vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repaired several parts but issue not resolved per owner.
Harmonic Balancer Failure
Harmonic balancer breaks while driving at highway speed, causing power steering failure, smoke from engine, and all warning lights to illuminate. Related to power steering system failure at that moment.
When: 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering failed; All warning lights illuminated; Smoke from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as harmonic balancer failure; vehicle not repaired per owner.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Ford Mustang?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 43,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Ford/Mustang.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.