Component

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

368 NHTSA complaints about steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid issues across 35 makes and 162 models.

The steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 368 filings from 35 manufacturers and 162 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 18 crashes, 19 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD TAURUS with 16 filings, followed by FORD WINDSTAR and FORD FUSION. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

368
Complaints
162
Models Affected
18
Crashes
19
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD TAURUS 16
2 FORD WINDSTAR 14
3 FORD FUSION 14
4 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 13
5 FORD EXPLORER 12
6 DODGE CARAVAN 11
7 RAM 1500 8
8 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 8
9 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 8
10 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 6
11 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 6
12 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 6
13 CHEVROLET MALIBU 6
14 PONTIAC GRAND AM 5
15 MERCURY SABLE 5
16 HONDA CIVIC 5
17 FORD F-350 5
18 FORD ESCAPE 5
19 DODGE STRATUS 5
20 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 4
21 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 4
22 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 4
23 HONDA ACCORD 4
24 BUICK LESABRE 4
25 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3
26 SATURN VUE 3
27 SATURN LS 3
28 HYUNDAI SONATA 3
29 GMC ENVOY 3
30 FORD CONTOUR 3

Recent Complaints

2011 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel failed to respond as intended. No warning light was illuminated. T

2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500

The power steering system lost it's fluid and pump is cavitating. It's available for inspection. The vehicles can be steered at the moment, but if it were to fail completely, it could cause loss of co

2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ. The contact stated that while driving on a neighborhood street at 25 MPH, the steering wheel became increasingly stiff. She was able to continue driving

2023 CADILLAC CT5 Crash

The contact owned a 2023 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while exiting the highway on the far right lane on a 2-lane exit at 45 MPH, a message appeared on the instrument panel that read "Steerin

2014 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel becomes very difficult to maneuver as the "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required, Serv

2014 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact stated that when attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel spun back to center and then locked. The failure caused the vehicle to move into oncom

2007 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ

See attached document for complaint.

2015 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and attempting to make a left or right turn, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that th

2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized and created a loss of the power steering functionality. The

2014 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the contact noticed a burning odor coming inside the cabin. The vehicle was tow

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to steer.

2013 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 4 MPH, the steering wheel locked with the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was slowed down an

2008 ACURA TSX

The contact owns a 2008 Acura TSX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to complete a turn, an abnormal amount of effort was needed to turn the steering wheel.

2021 RAM 1500 Crash

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the wheel became stiff and was unable to turn. The contact attempted to pull over but crashe

2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the message "Services Power Steering Assist - Drive with Care" was displayed and the steering wheel became fi

2007 HYUNDAI ENTOURAGE

2007 HYUNDAI ENTOURAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BROKEN POWER STEERING BELT.

2008 SATURN VUE

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the

2022 RAM 1500 Crash

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle crashed into trees. No air bags w

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

2022 FORD E-350

2022 FORD E-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO POWER STEERING SAFETY RECALL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid issues?
The NHTSA has received 368 complaints about steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid problems across 162 vehicle models from 35 manufacturers.
How dangerous are steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid defects?
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID issues have been linked to 18 crashes, 19 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid issues is the FORD TAURUS with 16 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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