Hello

Picked up my Fiesta ST-2 on Thursday. I love it to bits! The only problem I have is a slight rattle around the steering column. It doesn't sound serious, its a bit like a loose washer sound. Anyone else experienced this?

Adam

Hi, I have the same problem! Have you found the fault?

Registered because I saw this!

I have a 2013 FiST, it has also developed the annoying metal squeak around the steering wheel area about 2 months back (50k km right now).

I guess you have not figured out where the problem is? I only notice the squeak/rattle when above 60km/h and going over bumpy roads.

Thanks for the replies. Car is going into Ford next Monday. Rattle has got worse and steering wheel is off centre. Hope it can get sorted as its annoying!!!I will keep you guys posted on what happens

Collected the car from local Ford dealer. Car is still rattling after the dealer had it all day. To be honest I think they did their best but they couldn't find where the noise is coming from. It's going back in for a few days so they can spend more time on it. It's weird as the noise stops after about half an hour of driving, its driving me mad and spoiling a wonderful car. Hope it can be sorted out soon.

Does it only happen when you turn the wheel or just driving in general?
Is it seem to be behind the cowling or somewhere remote?
If it is you could try driving with the cowling off to see if it helps locate the noise.

Some rattles are a nightmare to find, I had one behind the glovebox that I've kind of sorted before I go to Germany this year as it will drive me insane.

Thanks for your message. It seems to be coming from the steering wheel area. If I tap the wheel upwards it rattles. Sounds like a loose washer. It happens when I turn the wheel and driving in general, rattles like mad when I'm on a bumpy road.

So glad someone else has this ratte because mine has the exact same rattle! (St-3 5months old) been doing it for a good couple of months now and been back to ford to get it sorted but they couldnt find the proplem! It is really bad on uneaven roads, sounds exactly like a lose washer as you described. Will be good if you can find the problem as its is driving me crazy!

Sorry to hear that you are having the same problem as me! Well my car went into my local Ford dealer for two more days. They phoned me to tell me it was sorted and when I drove it it was worse than ever! I have contacted Ford directly by telephone and they are ringing me back on Monday. I will keep you posted

The same happened to me...dropped mine off twice and the second time it was worse then ever! Now given up taking it to ford and trying to sort it myself, yeah please keep me updated on how you get on!

Ford e-mailed me today and said they couldn't get in touch with the dealer so will contact me again on Wednesday. I'm seriously going off the car as the rattling is terrible now. I think it's coming from the airbag. This has been going on for four months now. Not good

Sorry to hear that it is putting you off the car, I am feeling the exact same way but I am pretty sure that I have figured out what the problem is. I believe that it is the electronic steering lock that engages once you have locked the car because every time I come back to my car the noise is there again ( I can make the noise go away by banging the steering wheel and the noise will stay away until I have locked the car). I have bought a mechanics stethoscope for further testing and will report back!

That is exactly what is happening to my car. I thought it was the airbag, I never thought it maybe the electronic steering lock - that makes perfect sense! My car is booked in to another local Ford dealer on the 6th April. I will let you know how I get on. Thank you for your help.

Sounds like typical Ford dealers....

Well got the car back yesterday from the dealer. Steering wheel was removed and the airbag. Guess what? The rattle is still there! I'm giving in and turning the radio up!!!!!

I don't think they are looking properly. I can't remember off the top of my head but the focus used to do this too. have a search for focus steering wheel rattle and you may come up with the answer.

Thank you for your reply. I think I have found the problem at last! It's coming from the automatic steering lock as when it is engaged the wheel will not rattle if I tap it, and as soon as I press the start button the rattle starts again. Hopefully it will get sorted as its back in the garage again soon.

Hi guys, did you get your rattle fixed? Mine recently developed a similar rattle and it's only got 12K on the clock!

I am having the same problem too. Rattle from the steering wheel area when going over bumps. A quick bash on the wheel and the rattle disappears. Seems to return everytime I start the car so makes sense that its something to do with the electronic steering wheel lock. Has anyone managed to confirm this or even better fix it?

Same here, once you adjust the steering wheel and move it round a bit, it stops rattling! I've left my ST into the garage a few times and they decided to replace the knee airbag but unfortunately that made no difference. They also tighten all the bolts in the steering column and it didn't make any difference either. Not sure what to do now!

Ok so I decided to take the plastics around the steering wheel off and have a look. The rattle seems to be coming from a silver metal box which clamps onto the steering column which I'm guessing houses the electric steering lock.

Because I have keyless entry the lock automatically engages about 30 seconds after locking the car. (You can hear it from outside). Then when i unlock and open the car I can hear the lock disengage. I'm guessing that something is not disengaging fully and that it what is causing the rattle.

I tried unplugging the cable which runs into the silver box and the steering lock didn't come on and no rattle. Next step might be the ford garage as this box looks pretty impenetrable.

Hi everyone
My issue with the rattle around the wheel is sorted! It turned out that it was the electronic steering lock. Just wanted to say thank you for all your help and advice i really appreciate it

If anybody needs any further information just send me a message be glad to help

Adam

Great to hear that you got the issue sorted in the end.

Cheers for that. I'm really happy it's sorted.

Adam

Could be pretty useful info to a lot of people. Little things like this can get on your nerves and ruin a car.

G'day folks!

I've discovered a DIY solution to fix this problem (albeit an odd one), after trying to get Ford to fix it for almost 3 years and the rattle getting worse, I finally had an epiphany of sorts and fixed it with a neodymium magnet. The magnet I used has a pull force of ~40kg, you just need to attach it to the underside of the steering lock housing. The magnet holds it's own weight but still slides around pretty easily as the housing is aluminium, so I used some Sikaflex 227 to perma-stick it. The rattle hasn't returned since I used this fix. Don't even ask how I thought of this, I don't even know.

Links to magnet
AUS site: https://magnet.com.au/neodymium-disc-50mm-x-12-5mm.html
US site: https://amfmagnets.com/neodymium-disc-50mm-x-12-5mm.html

Link to pic: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jRLbto6wMFntTBlH8rIFd1yY-d3Ked9n/view?usp=sharing



I hope this helps!