Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford Mustang steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Ford Mustang 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 Mustang | 10 |
| 2014 Mustang | 21 |
| 2015 Mustang | 16 |
| 2016 Mustang | 12 |
| 2017 Mustang (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Mustang | 4 |
| 2019 Mustang | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Ford Mustang, 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 5 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 ↗WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Steering problems on 2017 Mustangs span from assembly defects to mid-life component failure. One owner at 2,200 miles faced persistent steering vibration at 50–60 mph and wobble at 5–10 mph despite four wheel balancings and front rotor replacement; Ford acknowledged potential drivetrain involvement but left the case unresolved. Another owner discovered the steering wheel nut loose and virtually threadlocker-free, allowing the wheel to move side to side while driving—a sudden safety hazard.
Power steering failures are reported across the mileage range. One vehicle lost all steering assist at 47,900 miles while turning in a parking lot; the steering gear was backordered indefinitely. Another experienced complete lockup at 70 mph with no warning light, later traced to electronic power-assisted gear assembly failure. A third had steering assist warning light and loss of steering with no diagnostic codes initially found.
Lane-tracking instability appears as a separate complaint: the vehicle veers between lanes at highway speed without input, requiring constant driver correction to stay on road. Additionally, owners report steering roughness and noise during freeway driving.
Dealers have confirmed some failures (electronic power steering assembly) but attributed others to normal operation or user error, leaving owners skeptical of manufacturer response.
Same Ford Mustang steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Steering wheel vibration and wobble at low/moderate speeds
Steering wheel vibrates at 50–60 mph and has a wobble at 5–10 mph. Multiple wheel balancings and front rotor replacements have not resolved the issue. One Ford mechanic suggested the problem may be drivetrain-related.
When: 2,200 miles on odometer
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel vibration at 50–60 mph; wobble at 5–10 mph; pinging metal sound when shifting
Repairs/costs cited: Wheels balanced at least 4 times in 2 months; both front rotors replaced; right rear tire replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford contacted an engineer; case unresolved at time of complaint
Loose steering wheel at mounting point
Steering wheel loosened suddenly at its mounting point on the steering column. The nut securing the wheel to the column was not properly torqued and had minimal or no factory threadlocker applied. Owner was able to wiggle the wheel side to side while both parked and driving.
When: Failure occurred suddenly during normal use; no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel loose and able to wiggle side to side while parked and driving
Repairs/costs cited: Tightened steering wheel mounting nut; noted lack of factory threadlocker
Power steering system failure
Power steering completely failed while maneuvering in a parking lot. The steering gear failed and required replacement. Warning lights illuminated showing loss of power steering, traction control, and hill assist. No prior indication of failure. A second complaint reported power steering loss with steering assist warning light but no diagnostic codes found by dealer.
When: 47,900 miles; another complaint at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: steering became stiff and unresponsive; steering assist warning light illuminated; loss of traction control and hill assist warnings; inability to steer vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gear replacement part indefinitely backordered at time of complaint
Steering wheel lockup at highway speed
Steering wheel locked completely while driving at 70 mph with no dashboard warning light displayed. Ford diagnostics initially found no fault; after a test drive the dealer confirmed the electronic power-assisted gear assembly had failed.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel locked without warning at 70 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic power-assisted gear assembly fault confirmed after test drive
Lane-tracking instability at highway speed
Vehicle veers from lane to lane at highway speeds without driver input, creating risk of departure from roadway. Dealer stated Ford found nothing wrong with the vehicle.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: car veers from lane to lane at highway speeds without driver correction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer/Ford stated nothing wrong with vehicle
Steering noise and vibration
Steering is rough and noisy, particularly on the freeway. Owner reports the steering shakes and produces audible noise during operation, which the owner considers unacceptable for the price and claimed quality of the vehicle.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: steering rough and noisy; steering shakes; noise during steering operation
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Bought a vehicle from oxmoor Ford in louisville kentucky on august 26, 2020. Notice after driving it felt like alignment was off. On september 10, 2020 went to local dealership and they found three bad tires that had the thread/ wires showing on the inside of the three tires. That was only 15 days of having the vehicle. I talked to the gm of the dealership I got the vehicle and he stated he knew…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Ford Mustang?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 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 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 48,968 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/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.