20th Mar 2006, 11:59

Steering rack also needs to be replaced after fluid levels continually dropped. Apparently the seal has gone on the rack and the whole thing has to be replaced, because they cannot just repair the seal!! Three months out of warranty.

29th Jun 2006, 15:23

My Ford Fiesta 1.4 LX 2002 year.

Very little use, only 12000 miles, has just had a service at the main agents, only to reveal a leaking steering rack problem. Cost of new rack is £700 + my appeal to Fords for assistance was met with a polite sorry!

11th Jul 2006, 03:32

Got a 2002 fiesta 1.4 LX steering fluid leaking at 27000k 700 quid to fix. I think that is pretty poor for a modern car.

13th Jul 2006, 16:17

Fiesta 1.4 TDCi LX 2003.

A nice car to drive, good mpg and low tax, but loads of faults.

Fuel faults, causing hot starting problems, faulty fuel injectors, leaking drive shaft seals, and this week the clutch master cylinder failed. All this and more in only one year.

The cam belt also seems very noisy, but the dealers won't replace it unless it fails.

The car is booked into my local dealer again for erratic engine running since the last repair. All in all very poor, looks like it will have to go at the end of the warranty.

3rd Aug 2006, 05:40

I run a driving school and have six Fiestas some powered by Fords own petrol engine and some by the Peugeot 1.4 Diesel, the petrols have all been very reliable, but the diesels have been poor. I wish Ford would drop the Peugeot engined models and stick with their own engines. I have had no power steering issues and given that I have a few and they all have covered ten to forty thousand miles I am happy, given the number of Fiestas on the road I suppose some breakages are likely and should be expected. My dealer has always been very helpful.

22nd Mar 2007, 17:42

2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec one of the first of the new shape has required steering fluid top up for some time. The first MOT was done slightly before the end of the three year warranty period, to catch any faults. The leaking seal was not mentioned by the ford agent, but we were topping it up even at that stage. Ford must be fully aware of this intrinsic fault to the range and should do something before a lot of people are put off buying another one of their cars.

24th Apr 2007, 09:37

Hi, I have got Fiesta Ghia 2002,has got 28 000 on clock. I have got the same problem with steering wheel rack - first power steering fluid was leaking, so I took it around a mechanic, and the mechanic said it is steering wheel rack, and cost me £750 absolutely stupid.

I am very disappointed with Ford, and this will be the last I ever buy. ford head office never responded on my e mail. This seems like factory mistake, because if you look through the Internet, there are hundreds of people with the same problem.

I would not recommend this car to anyone.

14th Sep 2007, 08:07

Yes I'm another with the steering rack problem just outside the warranty period.

This is my second ford and I think it will be the last. It is unfortunate, the car is generally good. Well laid out and with a lot of extras.

But consistent problem with part quality means I shall try another marque next time. My last model had problems with the alternator.

17th Sep 2007, 14:16

My issue is not the steering rack, but the very intermittent cold starting. I have a 53 plate 1.4 TDCi LX, which on occasions will not start. I have tried replacing the key battery as I was informed that it may be the immobilizer, but no success.

Any one out there had anything similar and found the 'fault'?

5th Oct 2007, 11:31

We have been told today that our fiesta ghia 2002 needs a new steering rack and pump. I cannot believe it seems to happen to so many fiestas. So sorry I bought a ford fiesta. Our other car is a Toyota. Great car, and never gave any trouble. I live in Ireland.

10th Nov 2007, 09:30

I own a 2002 Ford Fiesta, just two months out of the 5 years assistance policy, I have a power fluid leak and it turns out that the whole rack needs replacing. I have looked elsewhere for this problem and I am shocked, very shocked by what I have read.

13th Nov 2007, 05:41

1.4 TDCI zetec 2002 again with the power steering rack seals gone. My local garage response was " another one ". Didn't bother going to ford because they will empty your pockets of everything you've got & not really care to much when you go back with the same problem. My local garage did the job for £260 fitted & VAT. Where ford come up with between £600 & £700 is beyond me.

20th Nov 2007, 14:04

Ford Fiesta 2003 Zetec.

I had the same thing back in April 2007 steering rack had to be replaced at a cost of over £600. Only done 17,000 miles approx.

Now, November, there is a problem with the clutch, which I have just been told is a common fault on this model car.

Will not be buying a ford again.

31st Dec 2007, 08:19

Ford Fiesta 1.3 lx 2002.

I inherited my Fiesta just over two years ago from my grandfather who bought it brand new. It has given both of us over 5 years of trouble free motoring and is still a pleasure to drive after 40,000 miles, with no rattles or squeaks to be found.

I would recommend a Fiesta to anyone.

1st Jan 2008, 12:03

I bought a ford fiesta zetec 2003 and have noticed that the power steering fluid is leaking near the left wheel. I just hope this is not the rack gone. I will take it to garage to have it checked while I continue to pray.

3rd Feb 2008, 17:13

Ford fiesta 1.4 tdci nov 2007 misfire

Ford cannot or will not repair my new car they claim as it doesn't show hard fault code then there isn't anything wrong. RUBBISH It drives like crap I just think ford don't know how to fix cars anymore I am gonna take this all the way.

5th Feb 2008, 15:58

I have a Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.25 with an 02 plate. I have worke d out the mpg for it and it is about 18 mpg!!! It is supposed to be around the 40 mpg mark! Any one who can help me figure out what is wrong as it is wasting alot of money? cheers.

31st Mar 2008, 02:38

Ford Fiesta Finesse 2002. Steering rack gone for the second time. Cost me nearly £700 18 months ago to have the rack reconditioned. Apparently very difficult to get hold of the Mk6 rack and currently on 5 months back-order from Ford so my local garage is trying to look for the part on ebay/spares/scrap. Will never buy this model of Ford again.

11th Nov 2008, 13:16

Hi, I've got a Ford Fiesta Zetec 03. It has done 43,000 miles and the power steering is leaking. It sounds like it's a common fault. It's not very well put together is it? You'd expect better build quality from Ford. Hope mine isn't the steering rack; it sounds like a very expensive thing to fix, and I don't have money to throw around, and there's a credit crunch going on.