2004 Ford F-150 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 75about this part
- Share
- 4%of 2,029 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 41,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 75 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Ford F-150, 4% of the 2,029 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving home I made a right turn on to my street and then the wheel spun all tge way to the left. I had no control of steering and the truck hit a guard rail. Steering wheel doesn't turn the tires at all now. The steering was stiff before accident. I believe that the rack and pinion snapped. Truck is a total lose. No recalls from Ford for my VIN.”
NHTSA complaint #11000332, filed 2017-06, 109,000 miles“Shaft assembly part #8l32-3b676-b on 2004 Ford F-150 needed to be replaced. Mechanic told me there was a technical service bulletin (TSB) . Steering wheel would stick badly especially at low speed turns and intermittently at high speed turns, as well, causing two near accidents. Still having problems...one mechanic tells me it the tie rods that require replacing and another tells me lower steering shaft needs replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #10461240, filed 2012-06, 70,000 miles“Most recently,(not including rear end replaced, reverse band on trans replaced, blown spark plug out of engine block) my truck has started to stall out for no reason that I can fathom,1st time was at 65 MPH on a major highway, now more recently at lower speeds, coming to a stop at stop signs lights ect , turning street corners at lower speeds, or coming to a stop in my driveway. I see many complaints of this same problem in forums with no cause or repair that seems to be a root cause. Please help !”
NHTSA complaint #10850557, filed 2016-03, 120,000 miles“Steering became very hard intermittently. I thought that I had a power steering problem. Steering would not return to center when completing turns and froze up on turns at low speed. Took to dealer and advised that universals in steering shaft were rusted frozen. Truck had 98,000 miles. A friend with a 2007 F-150 with 50,000 miles had same problem. This is a very dangerous situation, since it was difficult to control the vehicle in turns.”
NHTSA complaint #10326396, filed 2010-04, 98,000 miles“In low speed and high speed turns, power rack and pinion, the steering becomes very stiff causing the vehicle to turn hard, feels like the truck has manual steering. This issue is most common on slow speed however I have encountered the issue at highway speeds. Research I have done indicates this is an issue, backed by a member of a local Ford dealership service dept, of a failure of the universal on the lower steering shaft. The part # for the replacement part is as follows... #8l32-3b676-b. …”
NHTSA complaint #10552045, filed 2013-11, 89,600 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10023854Oct 1, 2007High pressure power steering line seepage-cold climates only (excluding heritage f-150).
- 10014252Jan 1, 2006Vehicle/steering wheel vibration at 50 mph (80 km/h) or higher - steering wheel nibble at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 | 4 | 2% |
| 2023 | 17 | 4% |
| 2022 | 10 | 2% |
| 2021 | 43 | 4% |
| 2020 | 10 | 1% |
| 2019 | 22 | 2% |
| 2018 | 83 | 4% |
| 2017 | 59 | 4% |
| 2016 | 64 | 3% |
| 2015 | 84 | 5% |
| 2014 | 160 | 10% |
| 2013 | 216 | 7% |
| 2012 | 204 | 11% |
| 2011 | 419 | 19% |
| 2010 | 48 | 6% |
| 2009 | 29 | 9% |
| 2008 | 53 | 14% |
| 2007 | 29 | 6% |
| 2006 | 55 | 9% |
| 2005 | 34 | 3% |
| 2004 | 75 | 4% |
| 2003 | 15 | 4% |
| 2002 | 25 | 3% |
| 2001 | 33 | 3% |
| 2000 | 68 | 6% |
| 1999 | 50 | 5% |
| 1998 | 96 | 7% |
| 1997 | 202 | 7% |
| 1996 | 20 | 6% |
| 1995 | 25 | 4% |
| 1994 | 20 | 3% |
| 1993 | 9 | 2% |
| 1992 | 5 | 1% |
| 1991 | 7 | 2% |
| 1990 | 7 | 3% |
| 1989 | 8 | 4% |
| 1988 | 3 | 2% |
| 1987 | 2 | 2% |
| 1986 | 3 | 5% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford F-150
863 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
232 complaintsEngine cooling
167 complaintsBrakes
139 complaintsSuspension
118 complaintsBody and structure
104 complaintsElectrical system
99 complaintsEngine
92 complaintsOther or unknown
86 complaintsAir bags
85 complaintsFuel system
74 complaintsVehicle speed control
70 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology