Problems · by component
2008 Ford F-150 steering problems
53 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford F-150 cite steering, 14% of all 369 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
53
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The truck has a body frame that was cracked in several spots and welded back together in more then 5 different spots and the welding job is very poor. The truck has a power steering line leak, cvs axle leaks and a exhaust manifold leak. The dealership fixed upper ball joints when we agreed on lower and upper in the front. They added a exhaust but did not do the job correctly with completing the job and the welding of it. Ive made a complaint with the loan company and i as well have talked to the owner of the dealership and he fights that none of those things are wrong with the truck and im lying but i have had a inspection done on the truck. When i got the truck i looked it over and so did my brother i pointed the issues of what needed fixed that i could see and that was not done. I then started having issues with the truck and took it to a mechaninc and had an inspection done”
“THREE MONTHS AGO I HEARD A POP NOISE UNDER THE HOOD THEN SHORTLY AFTER THE STEERING BEGAN TO FEEL STIFF EVEN ON THE RETURN AFTER TURNING I NEEDED TO HELP.UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT JOINTS ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED UPON CHECKING THIS SEEMS T BE A LARGE PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD MUCH OLDER VEHICLES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE.”
“MY TRUCK HAS 80,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT GRADUALLY THE STEERING WAS BECOMING STIFFER AND HARDER TO TURN FEELING AS IF IT WAS BINDING AT TIMES. IT GOT TO A POINT THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RECOVER AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BE PULLED BACK MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO MY SERVICE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND FOUND VARIOUS FORUMS WHERE OWNERS AND REPAIR TECHS DESCRIBED THE TWO "U" JOINTS ON THE F-150 STEERING SHAFT BECOMING BADLY CORRODED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND POINTING OUT THE JOINTS HAVE NO GREASE FITTING. I CHECKED THE JOINTS ON MY TRUCK AND THEY ERE CORRODED. I APPLIED LUBRICANT EXTERNALLY AND IT COMPLETELY ELIMINATED MY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE TO REAPPLY LUBRICANT EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE UPPER JOINT AFTER I LUBRICATED IT. FORD HAS TO KNOW THIS SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS AND THAT THIS IS COSTING OWNERS NEEDLESS REPAIR COSTS.”
“STEERING BECAME STIFF. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO MAINTAIN EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROAD. AFTER MY INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS HORRIBLY CORRODED AT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL I REPAIR IT. IT IS AT THE POINT WHERE IT COULD BREAK AND LOOSE ALL CONTROL OF STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR OVER 30 YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS IN ANY VEHICLE, NO MATTER WHAT AGE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CONTACT'S HOME TO RIVERSIDE AUTO SALES, INC. (2511 LUDINGTON ST, ESCANABA, MI 49829, (906) 786-6834) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,419.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL WAS TOPPED OFF; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE REMAINED. AUTONATION FORD NORTH CANTON (5900 WHIPPLE AVE NW, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720, (330) 238-3206) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.”
Showing 6 of 53 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.