2011 Ford Fiesta Steering Problems

While driving my car with my two little nieces in the backseat, I heard a sound that made me think a wheel was coming off. As long as I was driving straight, the vehicle seemed to be okay. But when I made a turn onto the next road, something broke underneath the car and we began to spin around. It felt like the wheels were rubbing under the floor of the car and we were in the middle of the street. When I got out, I saw the rear wheels were cocked at an angle to the rest of the car. I thank God we weren't on a busy highway where we could have all been killed.

I WAS HEADING OUT IN REVERSE THE CAR FELT SLOW WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS IT TOOK A WHILE TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE WHEEL FELT STIFF AND SHAKY. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO TURN, BUT IT WOULDN'T GO. IT FELT LIKE THE GAS WAS SUFFOCATING IT WASN'T MOVING AND THE WHEEL FELT STIFF AND HARD TO TURN IT TOOK A AWHILE TO MOVE. I GOT SCARED AND DROVE BACK HOME. I TOOK IT TO FORD LEFT IT THERE TO GET CHECKED. I ASKED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE LIGHT HAD TURNED ON. I WAS TOLD THEY RESET THE MODULE AND THAT THEY SENT ME AN ESTIMATE TO MY EMAIL IF I WANTED TO DO THE REPAIRS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED. I ASKED IF IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE CAR THEY SAID YES, THAT I WOULD FEEL IT SHUDDER, BUT THAT IT WAS OK TO GO. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT TO WORK, BUT IT STILL TAKES A WHILE WHEN I PRESS THE GAS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE STEERING LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRIENDLY KIA (877-544-6719, LOCATED AT 5819 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO HUMIDITY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO FORD OF PORT RICHEY (727-233-7143, LOCATED AT 10715 US-19, PORT RICHEY, FL 34668) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

I HAD COMPLAINED OF A GRINDING OR CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SOUND AND SHUDDER TO STEERING WHEEL SEEMED LIKE IT WAS BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING GEAR. I LOOKED UP ONLINE ARTICLES AND IT MENTIONED STEERING BY WIRE AND OTHER MISDIRECTION. SEEMED TO ME TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A UNIVERSAL JOINT; BUT THIS IS NOT MY EDUCATED DIAGNOSIS, JUST A THOUGHT. DEALER SERVICE WRITERS CONTINUED TO SAY SOMETHING AKIN TO "YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO AND IT'S NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE/MODEL/ETC". ON 6/11/18, WHEN I GO TO PICK UP VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, [WHICH HAD RECALLS AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE FIXED "UNDER WARRANTEE" SEE FORD "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS 14M01, 14M02" AND FORD "SOFTWARE UPDATE PROGRAM 15B22] I AM TOLD I NEED TO HAVE RECOMMENDED WORK DONE. THIS RECOMMENDED WORK READS AS FOLLOWS: ITEM 03 CONCERN: STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CLUNKING/BINDING WHEN TURING (SIDE NOTE: YES, WRITTEN AS "TURING"!) LEFT OR RIGHT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH OLD DESIGN STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRRECT AND PREVENT CONCERN FROM REAPPEARING. CORRECTION: CUSTOMER DOES NOT WANT WORK DONE". [END OF WORK RECOMMENDED ON FORM]. IT IS NOT THAT I DON'T WANT THE WORK COMPLETED, IT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP THIS PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 4 YEARS; IE, UNDER WARRANTEE TIME AND MILEAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES, WHICH BROUGHT ME TO YOUR SITE. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM UP UNTIL NOW OTHER THAN THE SOUND AND CREAKING FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL. WHAT HAS ME UPSET FIRST IS THAT ALL THE SUDDEN THERE IS NOW!!! UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE; PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS "NORMAL SOUND AND FEEL". FROM 6/20, UNTIL 6/27/18 DAILY, I CALLED THE FORD WEST REP FOR CALIF CENTRAL VALLEY AREA @ 866/631-3788. THE PHONE CIRCLE ENDS WITH OPTIONS "LEAVE A MESSAGE" OR "FOR OPERATOR, PUSH 0" WHICH CUTS OFF THE PHONE CONNECTION. THIS "NORMAL" STEERING CLUNK APPEARS TO HAVE NOW BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.

STEERING WHEEL FLOPS AND CLUNKS DURING SLOW TURNS

CRUNCHING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. DUPLICATED CONCERN TRACE NOISE TO LOWER STEERING COLUMN . REPAIR WOULD COST $455. I BOUGHT AS A USED CAR IN AUGUST 2017

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN (IT WAS STATIONARY) UPON TRYING TO CLOSE IT AND LOCK IT. THE LATCH WAS BROKEN. IT WOULD NOT LATCH AT ALL, AND I HAD TO RATCHET STRAP IT CLOSED JUST SO THE CAR WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DOOR WAS IN FACT SHUT. WHEN GOING UP HILLS OR TURNING, THE DOOR TRIES TO FLY OPEN AND THE INSIDE LIGHTS AND ALARM WILL SOUND NOTIFYING THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR. ALSO, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, ESPECIALLY AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE IS A LOUD CLICK-LIKE SOUND WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLIER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISE BUT NEVER GOT ANY INFORMATION FROM THEM, IT WAS BLOWN OFF AS IF IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT COULD BE THE UNDERCARRIAGE OR HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CLUTCHES, FORKS AND SEALANT NEED REPLACING TOTALING $3700 IN WORK. WHEN I GO OVER 3 RPM THE WRENCH SYMBOL COMES ON SAYING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

CLUNK CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL FORWARD & BACKWARDS, WHEN MOVING. THIS WAS VERIFIED WITH DEAN SELLER DEALER. ADVISED THAT STEERING WHEEL SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD 17,782 MILES. REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR 8/24/16. RECEIVED CASE #CAS-10397672. NO HELP FROM FORD, EVEN THOUGH I SUGGESTED A DEFAULTED PART WAS INVOLVED. THEY CLOSED CASE, WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM MFG. OR DEALER.

PURCHASED 02/26/16 SINCE PURCHASE BREAKS HAVE LOCKED UP 7 TIMES, TOOK TO ORIGINAL DEALER OF PURCHASE 8 TIMES IN FIRST TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASE BY THE TIME THEY GET CAR THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES THEY REPLACED CENSOR STATES IT WILL FIX PROBLEM AND HAS NOT HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE BREAKS LOCK UP AND PREVENT CAR FROM GOING FORWARD AND UNABLE TO MOVE.

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE TURNING. WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $1200.00 TO REPAIR. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THERE IS A BACK LOG OF ORDERS FOR THESE PARTS DUE TO THE FAILURE RATE OF THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVING, I WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FEEL A GRITTY/CHUNKY MOTION. SO I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE BAD AND TO HAVE THE SHAFT REPLACED. I ORDERED PART NUMBER BE8Z3A525B FROM FORD AND ONCE I OPENED IT, THE JOINTS FELT THE EXACT SAME WAY MY CURRENT STEERING SHAFT FEELS. IT IS GRITTY AND FEELS LIKE A GRINDING MOTION. I TRIED TO RETURN THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THEY WERE ALL MADE THE SAME WAY AND THAT IT IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, NO CAR OR EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE A GRITTY FEEL, THEY SHOULD ALL BE SMOOTH. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING SHAFT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS FIESTA AND REQUEST FORD RECALL THE STEERING SHAFT AND CORRECTLY MAKE THEM TO BE SMOOTH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

BROUGHT CAR IN FOR A POPPING/GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT OF CAR WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS ENDED UP REPLACING LOWER STEERING SHAFT.

MY SISTER BOUGHT A 2011 FORD FIESTA AND HAS ONLY PUT ABOUT 50000 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO FORD AND WAS TOLD THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED. COST-OVER $300. THIS ISN'T COVERED ON WARRANTY. I FIND IT ODD THAT A STEERING ISSUE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FORD IS MAKING UNSAFE CARS!!!!!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR FAILED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V246000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,800. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. *TR

MY 2011 FORD FIESTA BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. IT IS NOW 35,000 MILES AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING OUT OF A STOP. IT WILL JERK, REV AND SHUDDER GETTING UP TO 30 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF A FEW RECALLS AND I HAVE NOTICED A 5 MILE DROP IN THE MPG. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY AND I OFTEN TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO ENSURE IT IS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING THE FIESTA FOR A WHILE IN A CITY SETTING SO I HAVE TO START AND STOP QUITE A BIT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE BROUGHT IT IN A FEW TIMES AND NO ONE HAS EVEN ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT.

BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS NOISE AND VIBRATION HAS STEADILY INCREASED SINCE FIRST NOTICING IT. FEELS AS THOUGH A BEARING OR BUSHING HAS FAILED OR A TOOTH IN THE STEERING GEAR IS MISSING. PLEASE NOTE: THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN A TIMELY FASHION AND ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS. ALSO I AM 59 YEARS OLD AND TREAT THE CAR WITH RESPECT. I AM WORRIED THAT WHATEVER IT IS MAY FAIL ALL-TOGETHER AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM POSTED ON THE INTERNET.

I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN STEERING THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO FORD, THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING SHAFT HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. I WOUND UP FOOTING THE BILL TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT.

I BOUGHT THE 2011 FORD FIESTA SE USED IN APRIL 2013. IN MARCH 2015, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED VIA THE FACTORY (NO AFTER-MARKET PARTS WERE AVAILABLE). THE VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND REPLACING THIS PART WAS ALMOST $1,000.00. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD CORPORATE ASKING WHAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THIS PART IS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH AN ANSWER. *TR