This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Ford E-350 steering problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 6 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Ford E-350, 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I recently rented an rv from cruise america. I do not have the VIN but for id it was their unit 254869. It was built for cruise america by four winds on a Ford e350 chassis. Almost immediately I found I could not drive it at posted speed limits. I felt unsafe at any speed over 60 MPH and less depending on weather and pavement conditions. The posted limits were 65-80 in co, wy, mt, and sd.…
Vehicle was found to have severe vertical play in all four tie rod end joints. Not typical horizontal play with normal wear as seen in higher mileage vehicles.
Vehicle was found to have severe vertical play in all four tie rod end joints. Not typical with horizontal play normally found in higher mileage vehicles
I am a representative from an auto repair facility in charge of the repairs and maintenance of a fleet of emergency vehicles. This is an ambulance conversion and at 38,323 miles, it was found to have excessive vertical play in all four tie rod ends up to 1/4" and in the steering gear output shaft. There is no lateral play as in normal wear over a longer period of time. It is believed this is a…
I am a representative from an auto repair facility in charge of the repairs and maintenance of a fleet of emergency vehicles. This is an ambulance conversion and at 30,152 miles, it was found to have excessive vertical play in all four tie rod ends up to 1/4." there is no lateral play as in normal wear over a longer period of time. It is believed this is a defect in manufacturing and is a…
I am a representative from an auto repair facility in charge of the repairs and maintenance of a fleet of emergency vehicles. This is an ambulance conversion and at 56,701 miles, it was found to have excessive vertical play in all four tie rod ends up to 1/4." there is no lateral play as in normal wear over a longer period of time. It is believed this is a defect in manufacturing and is a…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 Ford E-350?
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 2014 Ford E-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 37,888 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/2014/Ford/E-350.
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.