Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Ford Mustang steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Ford Mustang have filed 12 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
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Mustang | 16 |
| 2013 Mustang | 10 |
| 2014 Mustang | 21 |
| 2015 Mustang | 16 |
| 2016 Mustang (this page) | 12 |
| 2017 Mustang | 11 |
| 2018 Mustang | 4 |
| 2019 Mustang | 5 |
1crash
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
Owners report multiple distinct steering failures on 2016 Mustangs. The most serious involve loss of power steering assist while driving—some incidents occur at highway speeds (60 mph), others during city turns or reversing. These failures typically trigger warning messages referencing transmission Park position or service codes (Advancetrac, Hill Assist, traction control), though the vehicle still steers once power assist is lost. Restarting clears the fault temporarily, but it recurs within hours or days.
A second pattern involves erratic handling: vehicles drift or pull hard to one side during acceleration, sometimes switching sides after new tires are installed. Owners report that suspension and alignment inspections turn up nothing, and dealerships have provided documentation claiming electronic power steering drift is normal. One owner had to replace the entire steering gear at cost—$3,000—after the steering bound at the 11 o'clock position.
A third group reports steering assembly noise and binding during cold startup, causing shaking, popping, and vibration. One owner experienced complete loss of vehicle control (all wheels locked by traction control) at 40 mph on a straight road with dry conditions; the vehicle had prior suspension noise complaints that worsened from 14k to 26k miles.
Owners also report loose or wobbly steering wheels and difficulty controlling the vehicle due to excessive play in the steering input.
Same Ford Mustang steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Intermittent Loss of Assist
Power steering assist fails and disables during driving, with warning messages citing transmission Park status, Advancetrac, Hill Assist unavailable, or traction control. Vehicle remains steerable without assist but becomes difficult to control. Fault clears temporarily on engine restart but returns.
When: Occurs at 60 mph cruising, during turns, reversing, and city driving; reported as intermittent over months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist while driving; Warning messages: transmission not in Park, Advancetrac service needed, Hill Assist N/A, traction control warnings; Vehicle difficult to steer without power assist; Multiple occurrences over several months (1–2 months apart in one case; 3 times on city streets, 4 times on driveway in another)
Codes mentioned: Service Advancetrac, Hill Assist N/A, Traction control warning
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle still under factory warranty in at least one case; some dealership visits documented but no resolution mentioned
Erratic Handling and Lane Drift
Vehicle drifts or pulls hard to one side during acceleration and various speeds. Pull direction has changed sides after tire replacement. Suspension and steering component inspections found no mechanical issues; alignment checked. Dealership provided documentation claiming electronic power steering drift is normal for Ford models.
When: Occurs during acceleration and at various speeds; one instance noted uneven tire wear over several months
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts to the right across lanes during acceleration; Vehicle steers to the left after new tires installed; Hard pull to one side; Uneven tire wear on one tire
Repairs/costs cited: New tires installed; no mechanical defect found by dealer inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership provided paperwork stating EPAS/PDC drift is normal behavior and not a safety concern; owner reports this as one of four unresolved complaints
Steering Binding and Excessive Force Required
Steering wheel binds and requires excessive force to return to center position (11 o'clock position), occurring both while driving and at rest. One owner had steering gear replaced; binding recurred or persisted.
When: Occurs while driving and while vehicle is stationary; reported intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel binds at 11 o'clock position; Excessive force needed to return steering to center (12 o'clock); Steering difficult to move
Repairs/costs cited: Defective steering gear diagnosed and replaced at cost of $3,000
Steering Assembly Noise and Vibration on Cold Startup
Shaking, popping, and loud noise from steering assembly, wheels, and steering wheel occur during initial movement from cold/parked state. Described as causing temporary loss of control.
When: Four months of ownership; occurs on intermittent basis during cold startup
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking from steering assembly; Popping noise from steering assembly; Vibration in steering wheel; Loud noise from steering components and wheels; Temporary loss of control during initial movement
Loose or Wobbly Steering Wheel
Steering wheel exhibits looseness and wobble, moving excessively in all directions with minimal input force. Described as feeling like a loose locking bolt. Owner reports difficulty maintaining control while driving.
When: Ongoing over ownership period; observed while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel very loose; Steering wheel wobbles in all directions; Minimal force required to move steering wheel; Up and down movement of steering wheel while driving; Difficulty controlling vehicle
Traction Control-Induced Wheel Lock and Loss of Vehicle Control
Traction control system locked all four wheels simultaneously on a straight, dry road, causing vehicle to slide sideways into oncoming traffic and hit a curb. No throttle or brake control available while wheels were locked. Vehicle had prior suspension noise and handling complaints beginning at 14k miles that worsened by time of incident (26k miles).
When: At 26k miles; dry, 94-degree conditions, 40 mph on straight road; prior complaints at 14k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control locked all four wheels simultaneously; Vehicle slid sideways into oncoming traffic; Complete loss of throttle and brake control; Vehicle struck curb; Prior front suspension noise; Prior difficulty controlling vehicle on certain road surfaces; Unsafe feeling handling
Codes mentioned: Traction control engagement
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle under factory warranty; front suspension noise issue being diagnosed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer scheduled appointment one week after initial complaint; incident occurred 3 days before appointment. Dealer was defensive and concerned about charging for damage rather than investigating safety issue. Dealer attempted to discourage computer log preservation by quoting expensive fee.
Synthesized from 12 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 2016 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 2016 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 17,951 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/2016/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.