Some 2011 - 2014 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine and MT82 manual transmission may exhibit a vibration felt in the shifter, and/or the seat track and steering wheel, on deceleration between 3500 and 2000 engine RPM. This an operating characteristic of the vehicle and no repairs should be attempted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Mustang steering problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Ford Mustang have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Mustang | 3 |
| 2010 Mustang | 3 |
| 2011 Mustang | 25 |
| 2012 Mustang | 16 |
| 2013 Mustang (this page) | 10 |
| 2014 Mustang | 21 |
| 2015 Mustang | 16 |
| 2016 Mustang | 12 |
| 2017 Mustang | 11 |
2crashes
1injury
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.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Ford Mustangs describe electronic power steering (EPAS) failures across a range of mileages—some as low as 1,471 miles, others at 40,000 or 88,000 miles. The failure is often sudden and without dashboard warning: steering assist vanishes mid-drive, the wheel locks hard left, or becomes immovable in either direction. Several owners report this happening at highway speeds, forcing emergency maneuvers or crashes into curbs or other vehicles. One owner sustained neck, wrist, and back injuries when brakes and steering both seized at low speed.
A secondary pattern involves intermittent loss in cold weather. Multiple owners report getting a "Power Assembly Fault" message during cold-weather startups (30–40°F), losing power steering and traction control, then having the fault clear after the engine warms and the vehicle is restarted. An independent shop reproduced this but found no visible component defect, pointing to an electrical connection issue.
Some owners notice warning signs—steering stiffness and a clicking sensation—before the system locks up completely. Repair costs run $2,200 to $3,000, and owners allege that even warranty-replaced EPAS units fail again within 6 months. Owners note similar recalls exist for 2010–2015 Fusions and Taurus models but not for the Mustang, despite identical failure modes reported across the model line.
Same Ford Mustang steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Complete Electronic Power Steering Loss / Steering Wheel Lockup
The electronic power steering (EPAS) module fails completely, leaving the driver with no power assist. In several cases, the steering wheel becomes physically locked and cannot be turned. This occurs without warning and at highway speeds in some incidents, forcing the driver to operate the vehicle with manual steering effort only or lose steering control entirely.
When: Mileage ranging from 1,471 to 88,000 miles; typically occurs suddenly during normal driving, some instances after 4 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel locks hard left or cannot turn in either direction; No warning light at moment of failure in some cases; Loss of traction control and ABS functions accompanying steering failure; Dashboard message 'Power Steering System Malfunction' or 'Power Assembly Fault'; Crash or loss of vehicle control at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: Power Steering System Malfunction, Power Assembly Fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quotes $2,200–$3,000 for replacement; owners report new EPAS units fail again within 6 months even under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issues case numbers but refuses to acknowledge systemic issue or provide reimbursement; complaints filed with Consumer Affairs have not resulted in recall for 2013 Mustang despite similar recalls on Fusion and Taurus models
Intermittent Cold-Weather Power Steering Fault
The steering assist fails intermittently during cold weather (30–40°F) at startup, displaying a fault message. The condition clears after the engine warms up and is cycled off and on. An independent service center reproduced the fault but found no visible component damage, suggesting an electrical connection issue.
When: Cold weather startup conditions; resolves after engine warms and vehicle is restarted
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist fails on cold-weather engine start; Error message 'Power Assembly Fault' or 'Power Steering Assist Fault' displayed; Traction control disabled simultaneously; Fault disappears after engine warms and vehicle is restarted; Repeatable with each cold start
Codes mentioned: Power Assembly Fault, Power Steering Assist Fault, Traction Control Disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Independent service center inspected components but found no visible fault; no repair completed in reported cases
Steering Stiffness and Intermittent Clicking Before Complete Failure
Before complete loss of power steering, owners report stiffness in the steering wheel and an occasional intermittent clicking sensation felt while turning. This precursor symptom appears to warn of imminent EPAS failure, though it is not consistently present in all failure cases.
When: Occurs hours or days before complete steering lock-up
Symptoms owners cite: Stiffness in steering wheel; Occasional intermittent 'clicking' felt while turning; Precedes complete power steering loss
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 61,147 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/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.