SOME 2015-2017 EXPEDITION/NAVIGATOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EPAS STEERING MAY EXHIBIT NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE PSCM. THIS MAY BE DUE TO AN OPEN 125 AMP MEGA FUSE, LOCATED ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. IF AN OPEN FUSE IS FOUND, THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE FROM THE EYELET/POST ON THE FUSE OUTPUT. IT MAY ALSO BE CAUSED BY AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES ATTACHED TO THIS EYELET POST, OR ACCIDENTAL CONTACT TO GROUND AT THIS LOCATION. IF NONE OF THESE ISSUES ARE FOUND, FOLLOW NORMAL DIAGNOSTICS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford Expedition steering problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Ford Expedition have filed 11 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
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Expedition | 5 |
| 2017 Expedition (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Expedition | 3 |
| 2019 Expedition | 5 |
2crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Ford Expedition in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Ford Expedition has a cluster of steering failures owners describe as sudden and dangerous. Most common is loss of electronic power steering assist with no warning—one owner lost it completely at 70 mph and had to be towed; another at just 1,400 miles from the dealer; a third lost both power and steering control on the highway, with the dealer tracing it to a broken ground wire to the PCM. One incident resulted in a crash into two vehicles when steering and throttle failed simultaneously during parking.
Owners also report the steering wheel itself becoming excessively loose—one describes it as "almost detachable" while driving, moving freely up and down and side to side even when parked and running. Another owner documents persistent steering instability where the vehicle counter-steers and drifts left and right unpredictably at 25-60 mph on flat pavement, unresponsive to three separate dealership service visits. One owner's left front wheel locked in the turning position for several seconds during motion, making steering out of the turn impossible until it released on its own.
The electrical component also surfaces: multiple owners report simultaneous loss of engine power, steering control, and transmission function accompanied by multiple warning lights (airbag, ABS, engine). Some vehicles restart after multiple attempts with warnings clearing; others do not. The one documented electrical diagnosis points to a corroded battery cable or broken PCM ground wire, with repairs approaching $1,000. Dealership responses have been inconsistent, with one service manager reportedly telling an owner not to return until the vehicle is "broken."
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering failure / loss of power steering
Electronic power steering system goes offline without warning, leaving the driver without assist. Occurs while driving or parking. Some owners report uncontrollable steering, throttle surge, or sudden unintended acceleration accompanying the failure.
When: Various speeds and conditions; one owner reported failure at 18 months/December 2019; another at only 1,400 miles from new
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist lost; Steering wheel did not respond to input; Unable to steer vehicle; Increased steering effort; Uncontrollable steering; Throttle surge; Loss of engine power
Codes mentioned: FUSE 77 SHORT OPEN, Steering Assist Fault
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited corroded positive battery cable as cause, repair cost approximately $1,000. Another owner's dealer indicated ground wire broke to PCM (Power Control Module). Body shop unable to restore function after towing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases; one contact referred to NHTSA Hotline. Campaign Number 24V542000 (Steering) mentioned by one owner but vehicle VIN not included in that report.
Loose / unstable steering wheel
Steering wheel attachment to steering column is excessively loose. Wheel moves freely in multiple directions (up, down, side-to-side) even when vehicle is stationary and not running. Owner expressed concern about wheel potentially detaching while driving.
When: Present while vehicle stationary and in motion
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel extremely loose; Steering wheel can freely move up and down; Steering wheel can freely move side to side; Wheel nearly detachable from steering column
Steering instability / counter-steering
Vehicle spontaneously changes direction, drifts left or right without driver input, or counter-steers as if compensating for drift on irregular road surface. Occurs on flat, level pavement. Owner reports it happens at lower to mid speeds (25-60 mph) with no warning. Dealership unable to fix after three visits.
When: Ongoing issue at 25-60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle counter-steers; Lane changes without driver input; Increased steering effort; Random changes in direction of travel; Drifts to left and right with no warning; Appears to compensate for drift or irregular surface
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to remedy after three visits
Steering wheel lock-up during turns
Left front wheel locks up in the turning position for several seconds when making a left turn while vehicle is in motion. Steering out of the turn becomes impossible until wheel releases on its own.
When: While vehicle in motion, on city streets, parking lots, and driveways
Symptoms owners cite: Left front wheel locks up in turning position; Unable to steer out of turn until wheel releases; Wheel locks for several seconds
Electrical system fault causing multiple system losses
Vehicle experiences simultaneous loss of multiple systems—engine power, steering control, and transmission function—often accompanied by multiple warning lights (airbag, ABS, engine). Vehicle sometimes restarts after multiple attempts with warnings clearing. One documented case traced to broken ground wire to PCM.
When: One documented case at only 1,400 miles; another case at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power; Loss of steering control; Loss of transmission function; Multiple warning lights (airbag, ABS, engine); Vehicle stalls; Vehicle restarts after multiple attempts
Codes mentioned: FUSE 77 SHORT OPEN
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified broken ground wire to PCM (Power Control Module) causing Fuse 77 to short open in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle referred back for further inspection; service manager suggested owner 'not to bring it back until it's broken'
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon his wife starting the vehicle, she observed that the steering wheel had turned all the way to the left, after which she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 Ford Expedition?
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 2017 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 53,629 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/2017/Ford/Expedition.
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.