Power steering hose is leaking fluid. Multiple dealers have stated that the part is on back order and fulfillment of a replacement order will take anywhere from several weeks to almost a year based on previous experiences they've had. They also stated that Ford ordered dealers to stop selling any hoses they currently have in inventory. Dealers have all stated that I should keep an eye on fluid…
2009 Ford F-150 steering problems
severe 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 29 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Owners have filed 29 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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
The steering systems on 2009 F-150s are failing well before owners expect them to. The most common issue is a leaking lower power steering pressure hose that appears as early as 32,000 miles. When the hose leaks, steering becomes hard and loses assist unpredictably—sometimes it works fine, then suddenly feels like manual steering. Ford has placed this hose on a national backorder affecting thousands of trucks, with some owners waiting over ten weeks and dealers reporting as many as 3,700–4,500 customers waiting for the same part. Rather than authorize repair, Ford told owners to keep topping off the fluid and drive on—unacceptable advice when a hose failure means you lose steering mid-maneuver.
Beyond the hose, lower steering shafts wear out or fail around 48,000–70,000 miles on light-duty trucks, making it hard to keep the vehicle in its lane and binding up during turns. Power steering gearboxes fail too, sometimes catastrophically—one owner nearly collided head-on when the gearbox locked up during a right turn on a busy intersection. Steering wheels have seized without warning and even detached while driving. Multiple owners have been in or narrowly avoided accidents due to sudden steering loss. Repair costs run $320 for a shaft to over $650 for combined work, and that doesn't account for the weeks or months waiting on backordered parts.
Same Ford F-150 steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Lower power steering pressure hose leaking
Lower power steering hose develops leaks, causing fluid loss and eventually loss of power assist. Owners report hoses on extended national backorder (some citing 3,700–4,500 units waiting, 10+ weeks to a year lead times). Ford dealers advised owners to top off fluid and keep driving rather than repair immediately.
When: 32,000–85,000 miles; some failures on 3-year-old, lightly driven trucks
Symptoms owners cite: Hard steering; Power steering fades in and out; Intermittent loss of assist; Visible fluid leaking from hose; Steering sluggish or difficult to turn
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement hose $200–$600 including labor; dealers reported part on national backorder with months-long wait times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford advised topping off fluid and continuing to drive despite known backorder issue; dealers told customers part unavailable for weeks to months
Lower steering shaft wear/failure
Lower steering shaft wears excessively or fails, causing slack, binding, or difficulty maintaining lane position. Owners replaced shaft at relatively low mileage on light-duty trucks.
When: 48,000–70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to keep vehicle in lane; Hard steering on curves; Binding upon turning (especially right turns); Loose or sluggish steering feel; Steering stiffness that increases over time
Repairs/costs cited: $320+ for shaft replacement; some owners reported total steering-related costs over $650
Power steering gearbox defective
Steering gearbox fails, causing severe steering resistance and dangerous loss of assist, particularly in one direction. Owner reported near-miss accident during right turn on busy intersection.
When: Not specified; occurred during active driving
Symptoms owners cite: Almost impossible to steer in one direction (particularly right); Working against hydraulic pressure sensation; Loss of power assist mid-turn; Loud popping sounds from engine compartment prior to failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed defective power steering gearbox
Steering wheel seizure
Steering wheel locks or seizes without warning, becoming immobile. Occurred during low-speed maneuvers; one incident resulted in crash into embankment.
When: 20–35 mph, varying mileages (34,790 miles in one case; 78,000 miles in another)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stuck/seized; Unable to turn steering wheel; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Steering wheel replacement required; one incident resulted in vehicle destruction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer declined assistance on out-of-warranty vehicle
Steering wheel detachment
Steering wheel attachment bolt or fastening loosens, allowing wheel to detach from column during driving. Two separate incidents reported where wheel partially or fully separated.
When: 25 mph in one case; 128,000 miles in another; also reported during steering wheel adjustment
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel detaches or pops loose; Steering wheel falls onto driver's lap; Loss of steering control momentarily
Codes mentioned: CSP200 (clockspring part number referenced)
Repairs/costs cited: Clockspring replacement (part CSP200); one owner self-aligned and reattached wheel to stop safely
Rack and pinion malfunction
Rack and pinion gearbox malfunctions, causing difficulty steering at all speeds.
When: 46,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to steer at any speed
High pressure power steering hose fitting defect
High pressure hose has defective fitting; backorder status creates safety concern even before failure occurs.
When: 85,000 miles (anticipated failure, not yet occurred at report)
Symptoms owners cite: Bad fitting identified during inspection; no failure yet
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated part on backorder
Intermittent power steering loss
Power steering assist cuts out unpredictably at highway speeds and low speeds, then returns, making steering heavy and dangerous.
When: Under 70,000 miles; some as early as 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fades in and out at all speeds; Intermittent hard steering; Steering works fine some days, fails others; Fluid level drops between checks despite no visible leaks
Repairs/costs cited: Often traced to leaking lower pressure hose or gearbox issues
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Was informed by dealer at 36,000 inspection and oil change that power steering pressure hose had a leak and needed to be replaced. Vehicle 3 yrs old, lightly driven. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Ford F-150?
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 2009 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 29 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 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 36,600 and 92,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,600; a quarter make it past 92,000. 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/2009/Ford/F-150.
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.