2022 Bronco Sport 2.0

Question

Scotty,

I have a 2022 Bronco Sport with the 2.0 ecoboost currently at 7000 miles. At around 3000 miles I’ve noticed a noise coming from the steering column, it sounds like a child’s pull back car or wind up watch while turning the steering wheel, I thought it was a bad clockspring, because it happens whether stationary or not.

3 trips to the dealer and a ford field engineer getting involved and they’ve stated it’s a “normal operating characteristic” I find it annoying and unnerving, what can I do?

Doc · Accepted Answer

Sell it as soon as you can.

Dad2LM2 · Answer

Welcome new member. Sorry to hear about that. Idiosyncratic issues like that are tough to figure unless you know about the individual model. I'd start by looking up technical service bulletins (TSBs) to see if any dangerous problems have been notes with the steering on Bronco Sports or Escapes. If not, see if there is a BS (no pun intended) or Escape forum where you can post your info; maybe someone has had a similar problem and found a solution.

Good luck...

Justin Shepherd · Answer

Posted by: @broncosport57

At around 3000 miles I’ve noticed a noise coming from the steering column, it sounds like a child’s pull back car or wind up watch while turning the steering wheel, I thought it was a bad clockspring, because it happens whether stationary or not.

From how you describe it, it sounds like the electric motor for power steering assist is noisy. That doesn't surprise me, they're cheap cars made in Mexico. The clockspring is basically a ribbon cable holder that extends and retracts the cables for steering wheel controls and the airbag. It's spring loaded, but not under enough tension to make noise like that, I don't think.