Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
221
Latest Aug 11, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 2,596 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 221 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
The 25 most recent of 221, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The message "See the Dealer" was displayed, and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a slight loss of automotive power while driving uphill and the steering became very loose. The contact stated that while turning to the left or the right, the steering wheel failed to return to center. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failures with NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V369000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and 14V514000 (STEERING); as possible causes for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
NHTSA ID
11756250
Incident
Dec 1, 2021
Mileage
83,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 6, 2026
When I turned on my car the power steering said at fault and normally I could turn it off then turn it back on and it worked but after that time it never turned back on
NHTSA ID
11755369
Incident
Nov 1, 2025
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2026
I was driving down the road when the car dinged and a yellow light came on the bottom of the dash and it said steering loss please pull over for safety reasons so I pulled over shut the car off waited a couple minutes and then turned the car back on and the light turned red and I had no power steering at all.
NHTSA ID
11743118
Incident
Jun 5, 2026
Steering
Filed Jun 4, 2026
Lost steering
NHTSA ID
11742008
Incident
May 24, 2026
Steering
Filed Dec 14, 2025
My power steering just suddenly stopped working
NHTSA ID
11704965
Incident
Nov 1, 2025
Steering
Filed Sep 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel fractured. The contact stated that the steering wheel independently moved back and forth. The contact stated that the failure was persistent and a safety issue. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic with a fractured steering wheel bolt. The contact was informed that the steering wheel bolt, nut, and seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was advised to contact the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
NHTSA ID
11687433
Incident
Sep 1, 2025
Mileage
156,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V514000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the steering wheel gear needed to be replaced. The DTC: P3000 was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
NHTSA ID
11653593
Incident
Apr 4, 2025
Mileage
32,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that a dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
NHTSA ID
11646516
Incident
Mar 2, 2025
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, an unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic and the steering rack, steering gears, and the stabilizer bar were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 81,000.
NHTSA ID
11639063
Incident
Dec 2, 2024
Mileage
81,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that an unknown message was displayed. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle as not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
NHTSA ID
11637279
Incident
Jan 8, 2025
Mileage
81,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel becomes very difficult to maneuver as the "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required, Service Now" warning message was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, however, the vehicle was not diagnosed as the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,643.
NHTSA ID
11634926
Incident
Dec 20, 2024
Mileage
87,643 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized, and felt very stiff. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
NHTSA ID
11626602
Incident
Nov 21, 2024
Mileage
167,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2024
Car failed to turn
NHTSA ID
11622015
Incident
Sep 2, 2024
Steering
Filed Oct 10, 2024
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel, the steering became tight. The contact was unaware of any warning lights being illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent and the contact was informed about a recall. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V514000 (STEERING). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact there was no recall coverage on the VIN. The vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the steering gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ID
11619142
Incident
Oct 3, 2024
Steering
Filed Sep 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH and pulling up to the fuel pump at a gas station, the steering wheel was turned to the right, and the contact could not release the key from the ignition. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited a while before restarting the vehicle. The contact attempted to turn the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact checked the diagnostic app for the vehicle and noticed it had stated that the power steering assist had failed. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) but not in any recall regarding the power steering. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in a steering recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
NHTSA ID
11612990
Incident
Sep 5, 2024
Mileage
145,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the "Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic also made the contact aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V514000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,520.
NHTSA ID
11610207
Incident
Aug 16, 2024
Mileage
96,520 mi
Steering
Filed May 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering assist fault warning light illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel did not function as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently at first; however, the failure became persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
NHTSA ID
11586815
Incident
Feb 3, 2024
Mileage
62,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while turning the steering wheel in either direction there was a grinding noise coming from the steering column. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V514000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 107,000.
NHTSA ID
11582678
Incident
Mar 1, 2024
Mileage
107,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shake uncontrollably, and the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact also became aware that the clutch was slipping. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start with a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 135,610.
NHTSA ID
11555141
Incident
Sep 22, 2021
Mileage
135,610 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2023
The power steering went out while driving it. She could hardly turn the vehicle to get it to a parking spot. Vehicle needs a new steering assembly. My daughter drives this. So many other concerns about steering issues on this type of vehicle.
NHTSA ID
11552289
Incident
Oct 18, 2023
AirbagsSeat beltsSteering
Filed Oct 6, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported
Unable to control vehicle in light rain conditions. Steering took me straight off the highway into a steel wire fence. Totalled the car with massive front end damage. Seat belt did not lock. Knocked window out with head during impact. The ONLY airbag to deploy was the knee airbag, shooting the hard plastic straight into my kneecap.
NHTSA ID
11548551
Incident
Sep 27, 2023
Steering
Filed Sep 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 10-15 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 48,700.
NHTSA ID
11545271
Incident
Sep 15, 2023
Mileage
48,700 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 1, 2023
Steering gear box failure. Open recall 14s18 for same month and year manufactured but Ford declines to repair.
NHTSA ID
11542070
Incident
Sep 1, 2023
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2023
AsI drive down the road my car swerves back and forth hard to control the steering wheel. This has happened several times and gets worse every time. Very scary to drive down the road I took it to a mechanic he said that it was the rack and pinion part on the car. He also said that there was a recall on it in 2014, I have only had this car since 2018 so I don't know if it was fixed in the recall. This car is very dangerous to drive. The traction light came on and has not gone off since, also a message comes up that Hillside assist start not available . Would like to have this problem fixed if it a recall. I don't feel safe traveling in it.
NHTSA ID
11539464
Incident
Aug 13, 2023
Steering
Filed Aug 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the “Power Steering Failure" message was displayed, and the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 147,000.
NHTSA ID
11538449
Incident
Aug 11, 2023
Mileage
147,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own