Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owned a 2017 Ford Fiesta. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently drifted to the side of the road. The contact attempted to drive back to the roadway; however, the brake pedal failed to engage when it was depressed and the steering wheel seized without warning. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact stated that only the side air bags deployed. The contact noticed smoke coming through the air vents. The contact was unable to open the doors and had to exit through the passenger window. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the cvc joint under the vehicle was fractured. The contact sustained back, arm, neck, right knee, and right hip injuries as well as cuts on his left arm that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. …
Only had vehicle a month.had 2 blow outs on tires.have had problems with suspension since that time.had to several alignments and replace more tires due to ware.have problems with steering mostly on the passenger side still continues
While driving car suddenly jerked wheel out of drivers hands and almost pulled the car into a ditch on the right side. Lights on the dash say steering assist unavailable service now. There has been a recall on Ford cards with this EPAS system but somehow this system has still not been fixed and is going to kill more people if your agency keeps allowing it to not be a total recall on all vehicles with this system installed.
Transmjtions feels slugish one day normal next revs up at times more than normal makeing vehilce speed up when needing to slow down . Suspension often warps out of place makeing the drive harsh on motar and falls back on place. Steeding collum falls out of place to odften have to bend the wheel to get back alignment
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact noticed smoke coming from an unknown location of the vehicle and the vehicle started to shake. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to operate. The transmission warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that she received a notification of Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM and clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided two case numbers and advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
I was driving for couple hours then my oil light came on check engine light came on. Vehicle started to shake very badly. I had to pull over and see what happened. I started the vehicle up again and the oil light and check engine light are still on. I know that these vehicles have the wet belt system on the automatics. But they don't have one for the manual transmission. There should be a recall for these just like the automatics.
Intermittently and without warning, the traction control light will come on in dry and mild conditions. This has occurred while the car is in motion and while it is stopped, all in city traffic. This will often lead to a warning saying "hill start assist not available" and, occasionally, the power steering will stop working. On the three occasions the power steering has stopped working in the past 5 weeks, once was while moving straight and twice were while turning, making it very difficult to complete the turn. We have taken the car to the dealer for the traction control light issue 4 times now. The first 2 trips, the car was under warranty but the last 2 have been after the warranty expired. The first 2 trips we were told that the problem could not be recreated and therefore could not be fixed. On the third trip the dealer was able to see the light and pull a code. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the hard edge on the trim of the steering wheel would constantly cut the contact's hand. Also, the contact mentioned that the steering wheel would vibrate and a buzzing noise emitted from the steering column. In addition, the vehicle failed to shift when in reverse, the vehicle would grind and independently shift in to neutral. The traction control and hill assist also intermittently illuminate while driving. The vehicle was taken to two different dealer, on 5 separate occasions. The technician diagnosed that the power steering module, sensors, nvh tape, steering wheel, steering module, reprogrammed main computer, and air bags were all replaced. A Ford engineer was contacted to diagnose the cause of all these failures. However, all failures except the traction control and hill assist light were not rectified. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Fiesta years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (26), 2012 (13), 2014 (11), 2015 (8) and 2016 (7) model years. Steering complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Ford Fiesta steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for any Ford Fiesta model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford Fiesta steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 32,000 miles; 72% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (1 mentions).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.