The steering has developed a clicking/wind up noise while turning around 4000 miles. The vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle was brought to the dealer twice. The noise was able to be heard, and seems to be an issue with a few bronco sports on their lot. The dealer noted “operating normally”
2022 Ford Bronco Sport steering problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1fire
4injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2022 Bronco Sport owners report serious steering and electrical failures—power steering loss linked to battery detection faults, intermittent steering lockup, and concerning noises from the steering column itself. Several failures occurred within months or thousands of miles despite dealer attempts at repair, and at least one safety-critical issue (steering column separation, heated steering wheel fire hazard) suggests structural concerns.
The 2022 Bronco Sport steering system shows a pattern of electrical and mechanical failures that dealers are struggling to resolve. Several owners experienced total power steering loss paired with complete electrical shutdown—no dashboard lights, no headlights, no turn signals—sometimes while driving at night. These incidents followed Ford's recall software updates for battery detection; Ford expanded the recall in May 2024 but initially offered no remedy, leaving owners unable to drive safely.
Steering lockup during turns has occurred at low mileage, requiring forceful input and producing loud grinding noises. Owners took vehicles back multiple times, but dealers either couldn't replicate the failure or said it was "operating normally" despite confirming the same clicking noise on other units on the lot.
A clicking or wind-up noise when turning appears temperature-dependent in at least one case, happening only above 90 degrees. Early mileage appearance (3,500–4,000 miles) across multiple complaints suggests a design or component issue, not wear.
One owner reported a blue flame and smoke from the heated steering wheel cover that self-extinguished when disabled. The dealer's response was to recommend a new steering wheel with no investigation.
A structural failure—steering column separation at its base—prevented airbag deployment and exposed wires. These failures span electrical software problems, mechanical binding, noise, and safety-critical structural integrity.
Same Ford Bronco Sport steering reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss related to electrical faults
Loss of power steering coupled with electrical system failures, including loss of dashboard displays, headlights, and other accessories. Narratives link this to battery detection and charging system faults, often preceded by recall software updates for battery state-of-charge calibration.
When: Multiple instances reported within days or on repeated drives; one at 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly unavailable; All dashboard lights and displays go dark or turn off; Headlights and turn signals fail; Hazard lights fail; Check engine warning lights illuminate; 'System Off to Save Battery' messages on center screen; 'Charging System Service Soon' messages; Multiple error codes: pre-collision assist not available, service advancetrac, check park aid, service vehicle soon, front camera fault
Codes mentioned: BCM calibration fault, PCM calibration fault, 12V charging system fault, Front camera fault, Pre-collision assist fault, Advancetrac service fault
Repairs/costs cited: Ford dealerships performed power steering control module reprogramming and BCM/PCM software updates per recalls; however, failures recurred. One owner was advised by dealer that they could not duplicate the problem and could not guarantee vehicle safety.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: April 2024 recall for vehicles not detecting low battery charge; expanded May 2024 recall included affected vehicle. May 2024 update: no remedy available at that time; expected update May 29, 2024. No rental car offered to owner unable to drive vehicle safely.
Steering wheel locking during turns
Steering wheel locks up inadvertently while turning left or right, requiring forceful input and producing abnormally loud grinding noises. Failure is intermittent and recurring.
When: Approximately 9,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up during left or right turns; Abnormally loud grinding sound when turning steering wheel; Check engine warning light illuminates; Intermittent, recurring failure
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown repair attempted at dealer; failure persisted. Vehicle returned to dealer for diagnosis but was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case opened. Contact related failure to Ford Campaign Number 23S09, but vehicle was not covered under that recall. Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA Hotline.
Steering clicking/wind-up noise when turning
Clicking or wind-up noise emanates from steering system when turning the wheel. In one case, the clicking occurs only when ambient temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Dealer observed the same issue on other vehicles on lot.
When: Early in vehicle life: one at 3,500 miles, another at approximately 4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking sound (click, click, click) when turning steering wheel; Wind-up noise when turning; No warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes present; Temperature-dependent (occurs above 90°F in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspected noise and noted 'operating normally'; confirmed issue present on multiple Bronco Sports on dealer lot but did not perform repair.
Heated steering wheel fire hazard
Heated steering wheel feature became unsafe when a blue flame appeared on the steering wheel cover 30 seconds after activation, with visible smoke. Flame self-extinguished when feature was disengaged, but no warning was provided.
When: At approximately 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Blue flame on steering wheel cover; Smoke visible from steering wheel cover; No warning lights prior to ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired. Dealer advised purchasing a new steering wheel.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer contacted and made aware but no recall or remedy offered.
Steering column separation from base
Steering column detached at its base, preventing airbag deployment and exposing structural failure of the steering assembly.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column separated from base; Passenger knee airbag did not deploy due to column separation; Driver and passenger sun visors detached, exposing wires and metal rods
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2022 Ford Bronco Sport?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 44,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Ford/Bronco Sport.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.