2011 Ford F-150: Electric power assist not working properly
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2011 F-150 report: electric power assist not working properly. CarComplaints.com lists 12 owner complaints, average mileage 80,600 miles.
NHTSA has 413 owner complaints for the 2011 F-150 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11664724 (filed 06/03/2025): “The electronic power steering locked up while driving & could not turn the wheel at all. yes this has been inspected & confirmed by an independent service center. there were no warning lamps or messages prior to this incident. the vehicle is render useless wi…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11658765 (filed 05/04/2025): “I was driving when the steering locked up with no warning light on the dash or fault messages. was driving on a road and taking a turn when i went straight into the woods not allowing control of vehicle…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace steering rack with electric assist (3 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Electric power steering faults typically need module diagnosis with a scan tool and calibration. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,960 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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