Pickup owners who rely on their trucks for work and family duty are facing a new safety worry: a wave of recalls tied to steering and stability systems that can suddenly stop doing their job. Automakers are pulling back some of their most popular models after identifying defects that could rob drivers of steering control or disable electronic safeguards just when they are needed most.
The recalls span heavy-duty workhorses, electric pickups and half-ton favorites, underscoring how a single weak link in a steering column, control arm or wheel hub can turn a trusted truck into a serious risk. For drivers, the message is blunt but clear: treat recall notices as urgent, not optional maintenance.
Ford’s Super Duty and F-150 lineup under intense safety scrutiny
The most sweeping action centers on Ford’s big work trucks, where a steering column defect has triggered a recall of 115,000 F-250, F-350 and F-450 pickups. Ford, cited in late Sep 24, 2025, acknowledged that a defective steering column could cause a sudden loss of control, a worst-case scenario in trucks that routinely tow and haul at the limits of their capability. Follow-up coverage the next day reported that More than 115,000 Ford trucks were affected, and that the defect could lead directly to a loss of steering control if left unaddressed.
The scope of the issue becomes even clearer when looking at how consistently the same problem shows up across outlets. A separate report on Ford recalls over 115K trucks reiterated that the steering column defect could cause drivers to lose control and noted that owner notifications are expected to stretch into late 2025. A video segment on the same campaign stressed that ford is recalling more than 115,000 trucks because the defect may already be causing steering loss on the road. Another industry-focused breakdown highlighted that Ford is recalling 115,539 Super Duty pickups from 2023 and 2024 model years, underscoring how tightly this problem is tied to a specific steering column design in the Super Duty line.
Electric and half-ton pickups show different paths to the same risk
Ford’s troubles are not limited to its heavy-duty trucks. Earlier in the year, the company acknowledged a separate steering defect in its best-selling half-ton, issuing a recall for 9,181 F-150 pickups from model year 150. That campaign, reported on May 22, 2025, focused on fasteners in the steering system that might not have been tightened correctly, a small assembly misstep with potentially large consequences if the parts loosen while driving. Consumer advocates quickly picked up the story, noting that Ford Recalls Over 9,000 2025 F-150 Trucks for Dangerous Steering Defect, with the Recall Date again listed as May 22, 2025 and the Makes Affected limited to the latest generation of the truck.
Ford’s electric pickup is facing its own steering-related headache. The company is recalling approximately 41,000 F-150 Lightnings for Steering Risk after discovering that front upper control arm ball joints may not have been adequately tightened, which can lead to separation from the steering knuckle. That defect, detailed in coverage dated Jun 9, 2025, again traces back to a manufacturing issue rather than a design flaw, but the end result is the same: a risk that the driver could lose the ability to steer. Analysts have noted that these problems are particularly troubling for a truck marketed as a cutting-edge flagship, and that they add to a pattern of steering-related recalls that already includes the Super Duty and half-ton lines.
Ram and Chevy issues show steering and stability problems are industry-wide
Ford is not alone in grappling with safety questions around steering and stability. Stellantis has had to address a separate but related risk in its full-size pickups, recalling 33,000 Ram 1500 trucks after identifying a potential failure in the Electronic Stability Control system. The company, referenced in coverage dated Nov 5, 2024, said Chrysler had determined that a Damaged Part could disable the Electronic Stability Control, leaving drivers without a key safety net in emergency maneuvers. A deeper dive into the 2025 model year shows that Damaged Wheel Hub Parts May Disable ESC, Increasing Crash Risk on the 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 4×4, with reports tying the issue to Oct 31, 2024 and noting the role of Stellantis in coordinating the fix.
General Motors has its own steering-related headache on the heavy-duty side. Some Chevy Silverado HD and Express units have been flagged for premature power steering pump failure, a problem that can leave drivers wrestling with a suddenly heavy wheel at low speeds. Reporting dated Jan 22, 2025 noted that it is still unclear what causes the early failure, but confirmed that affected Chevy Silverado HD and Express units will need a power steering pump replacement to restore proper function. Taken together with the Ford and Ram campaigns, these problems show that steering and stability failures are not confined to any one brand or technology, but are emerging as a shared vulnerability across the modern pickup market.
What owners should do as recalls pile up
For truck owners, the pattern is unsettling: from Super Duty work rigs to electric F-150s and Ram 1500s, critical steering and stability components are failing inspection after the trucks are already on the road. Analysts have pointed out that Ford’s Super Duty trucks, marketed for “the heavy-lifting life,” are now at the center of a steering crisis that undercuts that image of unshakable durability. At the same time, the cluster of recalls across brands suggests that complex chassis and electronic systems are leaving less room for error in design, manufacturing and quality control.
Owners, however, still have clear steps they can take. Any driver who receives a recall notice tied to steering, power assist or Electronic Stability Control should schedule repairs immediately, even if the truck feels normal to drive. Service campaigns for the Sep 25, 2025 Super Duty recall, the in 2025 steering-column campaign, the Ford Recalls Some F-150 Trucks Over Steering Issue, the Ram Trucks Recalled for Potential ESC Malfunction Linked to a damaged component and the Silverado HD power steering pump issue are all designed to eliminate the chance of a sudden loss of control. Until those fixes are completed, the safest assumption is that the risk is real, even if it has not yet shown up behind the wheel.