Problems · by component

2011 Ford Fiesta steering problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Fiesta cite steering, 4% of all 730 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2025Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11691605
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2020Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11355009
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2019Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11254430
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2018SteeringODI 11104447
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2018SteeringODI 11058483
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2017Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11010590

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.