Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Ford Mustang steering problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Ford Mustang have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Mustang | 25 |
| 2012 Mustang | 16 |
| 2013 Mustang | 10 |
| 2014 Mustang | 21 |
| 2015 Mustang (this page) | 16 |
| 2016 Mustang | 12 |
| 2017 Mustang | 11 |
| 2018 Mustang | 4 |
| 2019 Mustang | 5 |
1crash
What stands out
Among the 16 model years of Ford Mustang in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
SPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for dedicated competition vehicles and "track day" cars some of which may be used on both track and highway. SB 23-01 adresses proper installation torque of cap bolt fasteners attaching SPL's aftermarket lower control arms, recurring inspection and confirmation of torque setting and removal and replacement of damaged or under torqued fasteners to reduce risk of premature failure and accident. SB-23-01 was mailed, emailed and posted on SPL website to known resellers, race teams and users of the affected parts and is being submitted here as required by part 579.5. Vehicle Applications include: BMW series 1,2,3,& 4, 20
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗During replacement of the electronic power assist system (EPAS) steering gear assembly on 2015-2023 Mustang vehicles, removal and replacement of the inner tie rods and bellows boots is required. To assist engineering with root cause analysis of failed steering gears, include these parts in the same package when returning warranty replacement steering gears. Make sure to avoid damage to the bellows boots or inner tie rods during removal. The steering gear should also be packaged in the original box with all protective insulators in place to properly protect it during shipping.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side under the steering column at the GWM, make sure that the ignition is off before connecting the VCM. If the ignition is on or the engine is running during the connection, it can result in various warning lights being illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), no start, no crank conditions or the IPC inoperative. If a vehicle displays these issues, disconnect the equipment from the DLC and disconnect the vehicle battery. Wait 10 minutes and reinstall with the ignition off. Clear any DTCs present and retest.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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
Sixteen complaints describe serious steering issues on the 2015 Mustang. The most dangerous pattern: electronic power steering system failures causing complete loss of assist. Owners report steering wheels that suddenly lock, jerk violently back to center, or become immovable while driving—sometimes at highway speeds. One owner's husband had to force the car back into a lane to avoid oncoming traffic when steering failed mid-turn. Another was backing out and couldn't turn at all. Warning lights for power steering, ABS, traction control, and hill assist typically illuminate. Dealers diagnose failed steering racks and electronic gear assemblies; one repair cost $2,658. Multiple owners mention parts on back order.
A separate pattern: steering pull to the left under acceleration and right when coasting. Four-wheel alignments don't fix it. One dealer blamed mismatched tires (three different brands with different ratings) but refused to replace them, instead recommending strut replacement—which also didn't solve it.
Less common but notable: steering wheel won't return to center from hard turns, loose steering wheel bolts, and power steering failure specifically in cold weather. One owner's dealer claimed the steering is just "very sensitive" and blamed road conditions.
Same Ford Mustang steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Rack/Gear Assembly Failure
Complete loss of power steering assist, often accompanied by steering wheel lock or severe resistance. Multiple owners report the steering wheel became difficult or impossible to turn, sometimes with sudden jerking back to center. Warning lights for power steering, ABS, traction control, and hill assist appear. One owner noted the electronic steering gear assembly failed; another had a steering rack requiring replacement due to internal EPAS rack failure (part FR3Z-3504-A).
When: Failures reported between 2,000 and 76,000 miles; one owner at 39K miles, one at 44K, one at 40K, one at 65K. Some failures occur suddenly with no prior warning; one escalated intermittently over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel locks or becomes unmovable; Steering wheel jerks violently back to center; Steering wheel stiff and difficult to turn; Power steering warning light illuminates; ABS warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light illuminates; Hill assist warning light illuminates; Steering wheel moves on its own; Service power steering and ABS messages displayed
Codes mentioned: Power steering failure code, ABS failure code, Traction control failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic steering gear assembly replacement required. One owner reports part was on back order and subsequently had programming issues, requiring a second part order. Another repair cost $2,657.99. Part FR3Z-3504-A (steering kit) mentioned. One owner reports part not available at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed in multiple cases but did not assist. One owner advised VIN was not included in a recall and dealer required owner to pay for repair. One dealership could not reproduce issue despite multiple visits.
Steering Pull/Drift (Intermittent)
Vehicle pulls strongly to the left during acceleration and to the right when decelerating or coasting. One owner reports the car pulls left consistently despite holding wheel straight, requiring constant steering attention. Another owner reports pulling developed to both left and right intermittently. One owner at 2,000 miles had pulling that worsened over time and developed in both directions.
When: Reported as early as 2,000 miles and at 19,200 miles upon purchase. Intermittent and persistent over weeks of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Car pulls to the left under acceleration; Car pulls to the right when decelerating or foot off gas; Pulling to both left and right intermittently; Requires constant steering wheel correction; Pulling occurs on any road surface
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers performed four-wheel alignments without resolving the issue. One dealer blamed mismatched tires (3 different brands with different load and speed ratings: 101Y, 105Y, 100Y) and refused to replace them. Dealers also replaced front struts on one vehicle without resolving the pull.
Steering Wheel Does Not Return to Center
Steering wheel gets stuck and does not return to center position when turning, particularly on hard left turns. Owner reports having to manually pull the steering wheel to bring it back to center.
When: Intermittent, reported in one 2.3L EcoBoost Mustang
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stuck and does not self-center; Steering wheel must be manually pulled to return to center; Issue occurs when turning left
Steering Column Hardware Failure
Loose bolt on steering wheel housing.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loose steering wheel; Loose bolt holding steering wheel
Cold Weather Steering Failure
Electric power steering failure specifically under cold weather conditions.
When: Cold weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Electric power steering failure in cold weather
Steering Clunk Noise
Clunking noise from steering when wheels are turned hard left or right, intermittent.
When: Developed over time on vehicle with pulling issues
Symptoms owners cite: Clunk noise when wheels turned hard left or right; Intermittent clunking
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
At about 2000 miles I noticed the steering tending to pull to the left preventing the car from going straight down the road. It appears to happen on any road surface and was intermittent. The dealership suggested the mustangs steering is very sensitive and was responding to road conditions. They deflated the tires as well as conducting a diagnostic. As time passed the condition worsened and…
Had steering trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 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 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 12,000 and 49,500 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 49,500. 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/2015/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.