Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jun 25, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 79 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed Jun 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was a loose steering bolt. The dealer performed an undisclosed repair, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact's son diagnosed the vehicle using a code reader and retrieved a diagnostic trouble code for the power steering control module. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
NHTSA ID
11669222
Incident
Jun 9, 2025
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, and the battery was replaced by an independent mechanic. The contact stated that soon after the battery replacement, while attempting to make a U-turn, the steering wheel seized with the “Power Steering Assist" message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact stated that a Mobile mechanic arrived at the scene and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be reset after the battery was replaced. The contact stated that five days after the vehicle was reset, the failure recurred. The contact called the same Mobile mechanic who had performed the reset and was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
NHTSA ID
11665084
Incident
May 21, 2025
Mileage
63,000 mi
BrakesSeat beltsSteering
Filed Mar 28, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported
Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered Ford sold us a car with a FLAT spare tire (donut). Dealership said no recalls, but coverup or fixed but not correctly previously? Car purchased used. Ford dealership said to go to body shop. Body shop couldn't do anything unless we paid $6,000.00 to get the seat belts replaced. That's 1/3 the price financed for the car!!!! Safety put at risk: flat spare tire & seat belts locked up. The dealership SAID nothing wrong with brakes & steering according to their electronic diagnosis. Didn't even LOOK at brakes & steering. 2 incidents total so far with brakes & steering. Didn't think anything significant the first time. seat belts locked up confirmed by certified body shop. No it has NOT been inspected by anybody else. No warning lights appeared. I unhooked wife's seat belt so she could exit the car as needed & it slammed into her left breast. See attached picture. It took a week for the bruise to go away. Bruise got worse before it disappeared. Hurt a lot.
NHTSA ID
11651282
Incident
Feb 4, 2025
Steering
Filed Sep 8, 2023
Rack and pinion malfunctioned causing vehicle steering to pull to one side, eventually causing steering wheel to lock up making it almost impossible to steer vehicle. Problem confirmed by dealer, happened under 60k miles, however vehicle was passed year for factory warranty. No warnings until failure
NHTSA ID
11543517
Incident
Aug 25, 2023
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 10, 2022
The future that failed on my vehicle was the epas or electronic power assisted steering. This feature failed while I was on the freeway at upwards of 65 mph the steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn the steering wheel. After pulling off of the freeway at slow speeds I was able to give a, very hard like pull to the steering wheel in the direction that I needed it to go. When this feature failed the notification on my dash showed "electronic power assisted steering failure. Service required." Definitely is a danger not only to myself but other drivers on the road who could have been innocently impacted by my car as a failure to be able to steer in the correct direction. This issue is known on 2010 to 2018 Ford vehicles and has been recalled on only certain vehicles not upwards of 2015. Now I'm unable to use my vehicle as I'm not able to steer it.
NHTSA ID
11488701
Incident
Sep 6, 2022
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 31, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported
I turned left after stopping at a four-way stop sign intersection. I crashed into a parked car waiting its turn but I did not see until I was upon it and it was too late to swerve away. My car's air bags inflated. My wrist was broken. My car was declared totaled by my insurer although I could not have been speeding since I had just stopped at the four-way stop sign, waited my turn, and turned my car left onto a street that runs slightly downhill. I am still trying to comprehend how my wrist on my right hand was broken since both of my hands were on the steering wheel at the point of impact but a trip to the emergency room proved my suddenly limp and suddenly pain-filled arm meant I had broken my wrist. It is not the first time I have been in my 2016 Ford Taurus and not noticed a car until it was close upon me-- typically though a car(s) has approached me from my rear right and I noticed it in a split second and avoided an accident; but this is my first collision accident in decades. I need to point that fact out. I don't know if the car has a blind spot. I don't know if the air bag broke my wrist. I don't know why my wrist was broken because both of my hands were on the steering wheel during my collision on May 9, 2022. There were not any warning messages that I recall seeing or hearing. My insurer acquired right of attorney over my vehicle and towed it away. To my knowledge, no one has inspected the car but I suspect there are actually several blind spots in the 2016 Ford Taurus. I owned a 1998 Ford Taurus before I bought my 2016 Ford Taurus but never had a collision in my 1998 Ford Taurus or any of the problems I've just described.
NHTSA ID
11476768
Incident
May 9, 2022
Steering
Filed Dec 6, 2020
CAR ELECTRONIC STEERING STOPPED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS.
NHTSA ID
11378109
Incident
Dec 3, 2020
Mileage
28,300 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2018
THE POWER STEERING ON THIS UNIT FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS ISSUED OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS AND AS A RESULT NO ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DO NOT HAVE THE INVOICE FOR THIS REPAIR AT THE TIME OF SENDING THIS COMPLAINT. IF YOU NEED IT I WILL GET IT FOR YOU.
NHTSA ID
11131885
Incident
Aug 27, 2018
Mileage
24,501 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2018
THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE LOCKED UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA ID
11131878
Incident
Jul 23, 2018
Mileage
19,766 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own