SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Ford Flex steering problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 24 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Ford Flex, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Steering accounts for 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering assist cuts out completely and unexpectedly on 2012 Ford Flex vehicles, leaving drivers wrestling with a stiff steering wheel. The failure happens at highway speeds, in parking lots, while turning in traffic—sometimes intermittently, clearing after an engine restart only to strike again hours or days later. Dashboard displays "Power Steering Assist Fault" or "Power Steering Assist Failure" when it happens. Owners describe the sudden loss of assist as extremely dangerous; one owner was backing into an elementary school parking lot, another at 60 mph had to muscle the wheel onto a highway shoulder, a third lost control in traffic.
Steering wheel seizing, refusing to turn at all, also occurs. Grinding noise during turns shows up in multiple complaints. Some owners report the steering stays heavy and difficult even when power assist works—excessive effort needed at low speeds and parking speeds.
Owners have found that NHTSA recalls 15V340000 (Steering) and 15N01 (EPAS Steering Efforts) address identical symptoms, yet many Flex VINs are excluded despite being built in the same plant, same timeframe, same model year as covered vehicles. Dealers quote $3,000 for steering rack and pinion replacement; some mechanics report the parts sit on backorder indefinitely. One owner's pump was replaced; the issue remained. Warranty programs exist but expired 10 years after manufacture on several vehicles.
Ford has told multiple owners that no active bulletin exists for their complaint or that the recall was already completed, though the problem persists.
Same Ford Flex steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Complete power steering assist loss (intermittent or abrupt)
Power steering system disables suddenly during driving or stationary operation, forcing driver to manual steering. Accompanied by 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Power Steering Assist Failure' dashboard message. Steering wheel becomes stiff and extremely difficult to turn. Failure can occur in traffic, parking maneuvers, or highway speeds. Multiple owners report this happening repeatedly over days or weeks. Issue appears to affect vehicles across different mileages and conditions.
When: Ranges from 40,000 to 180,000 miles; some failures occur within months of purchase. No clear mileage pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist disables suddenly; Steering wheel becomes stiff and extremely difficult to turn; Manual steering required, posing safety hazard; Dashboard displays 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Power Steering Assist Failure' message; Failure is intermittent—may resolve after engine restart, then recur; Occurs during driving, parking, or engine startup
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Assist Fault, Power Steering Assist Failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and mechanics propose steering rack and pinion replacement and power control module reprogramming or replacement. One owner reports $3,000 repair quote. One owner states dealer replaced power steering pump without resolving issue. Steering gear parts reported on endless backorder due to manufacturing delays.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 (Steering) and 15N01 (EPAS Steering Efforts) address similar symptoms. Multiple owners report their VINs are excluded from these recalls despite matching production plant, build year, and model year of recalled vehicles. One owner mentions recall 15S18 exists but part is on backorder. Extended warranty programs mentioned but expire at 10 years; several owners' vehicles are past warranty period. Ford told multiple owners recalls were already completed or that no active bulletin exists for the issue.
Grinding noise during steering wheel turns
Abnormal grinding sound occurs when turning the steering wheel. Noise reported at lower speeds and during parking maneuvers. Grinding persists across multiple drives and is audible enough that mechanics note it during inspection.
When: No specific mileage noted; one owner at 180,000 miles reported grinding.
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise when turning steering wheel; Occurs during parking and turning maneuvers; Audible to driver and service mechanics
Repairs/costs cited: One mechanic diagnosed ABS sensor replacement as needed but did not perform repair. Grinding may be related to steering rack/pinion deterioration, but owners did not pursue repair.
Steering wheel seizing or locking
Steering wheel becomes seized or locked, preventing driver from turning it. No warning light illuminates before failure in some cases. Failure occurs when entering vehicle or while parked. Resolves intermittently after waiting or engine restart but recurs.
When: One owner at 59,620 miles; another at 116,062 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seized or locked; Unable to turn steering wheel; Power steering assist warning light may or may not illuminate; Vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to drive; May resolve after waiting or engine cycle, then recurs
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Assist warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend steering rack or steering gear replacement. One dealer noted extended warranty available for steering rack. Repairs not completed in reported cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer mentioned extended warranty for steering rack.
Steering wheel stiffness at low speeds (persistent difficulty turning)
Steering wheel requires excessive force to turn, particularly at lower speeds such as during city driving and parking. Issue persists across multiple trips and conditions regardless of road type. Distinct from intermittent power loss—steering operates but demands unusual effort.
When: No specific mileage pattern; one owner with 48,000 miles; conditions persist across varying speeds and driving environments.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel requires excessive force to turn; Occurs at lower speeds during city and highway driving; Persistent across multiple drives and conditions; More difficult during parking maneuvers and tight turns
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports rack and pinion and power steering pump replacement did not resolve issue. No diagnosis provided in other cases.
Steering wheel wobble and vertical shift
Steering wheel wobbles side-to-side and shifts upward and downward during driving. No warning lights precede failure. Affects vehicle control and steering stability.
When: Reported at 110,000 miles on 2017 Ford Flex (note: 2017 model, not 2012, in cluster of 24 complaints spanning 2012 models).
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel wobbles back and forth; Steering wheel shifts upward and downward; No warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
ABS and ESC warnings accompanying steering issues
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) warning lights illuminate while steering problems occur. May indicate steering control module communication failure or integrated system malfunction.
When: One report at 30 MPH driving speed; another at 180,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; ESC warning light illuminates; Grinding sound from steering; Occurs simultaneously with power steering or steering control issues
Codes mentioned: ABS warning, ESC warning
Repairs/costs cited: One mechanic recommended ABS sensor replacement; however, no diagnostic test was completed for the steering grinding.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the ABS and the ESC warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she had recently heard an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS sensor needed to be replaced. The…
There is serious safety trouble occurring with the power steering components, and the brake system. I went to the Ford dealership and they said the recalls weren’t fixed back in 2015. And those recalls are the same issues that are occurring with my 2012 Ford Flex SE now. I just bought this vehicle and there is grinding noise when steering my vehicle and the ABS brake system comes on as soon as I…
First incident happened while driving about 40 miles an hour. Idiot lights came on the dash and the cars engine turned off. Thankfully I was able to get car off to the side of road. Car cranked right back up. 5 days later while sitting in a fast food line, same thing happened and was able to crank car. Called dealership in town, brought car in and they said, "nothing is wrong with your car, come…
Wife returned to her car after a day of driving to find the power steering had suddenly stopped working. She decided to drive it home and it had moments where the power steering functioned and luckily she got it home. I contacted Ford but they advised me that there is no active bulletin for this particular model so we would just need to fix it.
Power steering assist fails; driving and the power steering stops working, sometimes unexpectedly. Very dangerous! It is sporadic--sometimes it works and other times it does not work. Usually happens when stationary, and turning it on--power steering will not engage for several seconds. Once it happened when driving and I was lucky to pull over car. Turned it off and back on and it started…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford flex. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to disengage and drive. The contact stated she continued to experience the failure. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to local dealer penske Ford located at 8970…
I was driving in traffic when a warning sounded and my dashboard displayed the message "power steering assist failure". Steering became extremely difficult. I pulled into a service station and shut off the engine. When I restarted the engine, the steering problem had resolved itself. Approximately an hour later, the same problem repeated itself. An internet search revealed that many other…
I was backing my car into a parking space, turning my wheel all the way to the right when I hearo and felt a noise in the steering column and then all power steering assist completely ended making the car go into manual steering mode. Very difficult to steer and potentially hazardous being so sudden. There is a recall out for the power assist steering already and my flex fits all the same…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 Ford Flex?
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 2012 Ford Flex?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 45,000 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 59,620. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 108,000. 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/2012/Ford/Flex.
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.