RoadVitals

2016 Ford Transit Connect Steering Problems

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.
8
Latest Dec 18, 2023
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.
8%
of 104 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2016 Ford Transit Connect submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while initially starting the vehicle and while driving at various speeds, the main computer screen displayed the “Hill Stop Assist Not Available" and "Parking Assist Not Available" messages. The check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The speedometer, power steering, and several other unknown messages were displayed intermittently. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer after the original failure and was diagnosed and determined that the front passenger’s side wheel position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic after the second failure, and it was determined that the same front passenger’s and driver’s side wheel position sensors had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the steering wheel position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID
11560625
Incident
Aug 18, 2021
Mileage
70,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 19, 2023

Calipers and brake pads were replaced and still front brakes locking up. Unable to drive. Also, I had to replace a brand new brain on the van over $3000 electrical. The contact stated the vehicle is not working and needs help.

NHTSA ID
11545515
Incident
Aug 12, 2023
Steering
Filed Oct 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while making a right turn, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required to turn the steering wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering (EPS) needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no power steering recall for his VIN. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

NHTSA ID
11488037
Incident
Oct 5, 2022
Mileage
102,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 3, 2022

After battery replacement, the power steering (the EPAS system) failed. The dashboard-gauges display said, "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED." After towing and diagnosis, my mechanic said the system had to be reprogramed at a dealership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID
11463266
Incident
Apr 10, 2022
Steering
Filed Oct 5, 2019

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WITHOUT ANY WARNING

NHTSA ID
11266492
Incident
Oct 2, 2019
Mileage
17,071 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 19, 2019

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH STEERING JERKED TO CENTER AND I LOST POWER STEERING TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD BARELY KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE POWERING STEERING MOTOR SEEMED OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION AND I COULD EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN, ON THE DASH I GOT A "STEERING FAULT" CODE. SECOND ISSUE UNRELATED IS THAT THE TEMP SENSOR KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING, ONCE THE SENOR REACHES BELOW THE FREEZING POINT ON THE DASH ( KEEP IN MIND ITS 74F OUTSIDE) THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BLOWING HOT AIR UNTIL THE WHOLE SYSTEM RESETS AND THE DASH READS THE ACTUAL EXTERIOR TEMP. NEW FORD TEMP SENSOR INSTALLED WORKED FINE FOR TWO WEEKS THEN SAME ISSUE. ITS FRUSTRATING WHEN WE REACH 80+ DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS INTERMITTENT BECAUSE OF A SENOR ISSUE WHICH IS TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE UNIT ITSELF. TWO OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE OWN THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE AND ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. LOVE MY FORD BUT THEY SHOULD OWN UP TO THEY'RE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11221302
Incident
Jun 4, 2019
Mileage
95,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Oct 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPEED AUTOMATICALLY DROPPED TO 0 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FOX FORD MAZDA, 3560 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS-13297747. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID
11032849
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
7,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT VAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. ..UPDATED 04/13/17*BF UPDATED 05/15/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID
10956128
Incident
Feb 20, 2017
Mileage
40,000 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .