Twice in the last week the a warning to service the advance trac system came on and lost power steering. Making it almost impossible to drive home. The next morning it worked fine, no warnings. I am afraid to let my wife or kids drive it for safety reasons.
2013 Ford F-150 steering problems
severe 211 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
211
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
7crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 211 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Ford F-150, 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
Owners have filed 211 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.
Among the 17 model years of Ford F-150 in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Driving down the road and a message pops up on the screen. It says "steering assist fault". It should have said omg don't panic and slow the truck to a complete stop and try not to die because you have lost all of your steering capabilities. I could not imagine if I was around too many vehicles or one of my children were driving the truck. This is such a major safety concern that all f150s with…
Had steering trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 211 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 177 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 49,060 and 113,693 miles, with the median around 76,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,060; a quarter make it past 113,693. 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/2013/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.