FaultScore

Which cars have the most steering problems

Owners have filed 143,306 complaints with NHTSA about the steering. These are the models and model years that account for most of them.

Read these as volume, not as a reliability ranking: a model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone.

Worst model years for steering problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2010 Ford Fusion 1,660 24% 101,023 C
2012 Ford Fusion 1,479 48% 83,500 F
2011 Ford Fusion 1,436 39% 90,000 F
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 1,308 43% 60,750 F
2006 Pontiac G6 1,235 47% 74,000 F
2011 Hyundai Sonata 1,174 25% 65,000 C
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 1,154 52% 61,000 F
2008 Ford Escape 1,132 47% 116,000 F
2018 Jeep Wrangler 1,114 42% 5,000 F
2004 Chevrolet Malibu 933 57% 62,000 F
2012 Ford Focus 928 19% 78,000 C
2009 Nissan Altima 862 40% 80,000 F
2013 Ford Explorer 839 30% 95,000 D
2009 Ford Escape 828 35% 121,000 D
2006 Chevrolet Malibu 814 55% 85,142 F
2019 Ford F-250 SD 775 40% 20,000 F
2009 Chevrolet Malibu 768 33% 120,000 D
2011 Ford Explorer 746 50% 68,000 F
2022 Honda Civic 731 63% 26,263 F
2017 Ford F-250 SD 717 39% 28,000 F
2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 694 35% 52,000 F
2007 Chevrolet Malibu 673 54% 105,000 F
2013 RAM 1500 628 39% 90,000 F
2006 Saturn ION 551 36% 65,000 F
2007 Pontiac G6 543 30% 99,771 D

Steering problems by brand

Every brand's record for this part, across its whole range.

Models with the most steering problems

Ford Fusion 5,786 8.5%

Worst in 2010

Chevrolet Malibu 5,713 8.4%

Worst in 2004

Ford Explorer 4,173 6.1%

Worst in 2013

Ford Escape 3,952 5.8%

Worst in 2008

Chevrolet Cobalt 3,925 5.8%

Worst in 2006

Jeep Wrangler 3,528 5.2%

Worst in 2018

Pontiac G6 3,129 4.6%

Worst in 2006

RAM 1500 2,604 3.8%

Worst in 2013

Honda Civic 2,536 3.7%

Worst in 2022

Ford F-250 SD 2,487 3.7%

Worst in 2019

Hyundai Sonata 2,377 3.5%

Worst in 2011

Ford F-150 2,314 3.4%

Worst in 2011

Ford Focus 2,111 3.1%

Worst in 2012

Dodge RAM 2500 1,991 2.9%

Worst in 2006

Saturn ION 1,724 2.5%

Worst in 2006

Honda Cr-V 1,707 2.5%

Worst in 2023

Honda Accord 1,643 2.4%

Worst in 2013

Chevrolet HHR 1,591 2.3%

Worst in 2006

Worst in 2014

Ford Taurus 1,445 2.1%

Worst in 2013

Nissan Altima 1,346 2.0%

Worst in 2009

Jeep Grand Cherokee 1,337 2.0%

Worst in 2012

Chevrolet Impala 1,227 1.8%

Worst in 2014

Toyota Corolla 1,193 1.8%

Worst in 2009

Hyundai Elantra 1,145 1.7%

Worst in 2013

Chevrolet Corvette 1,144 1.7%

Worst in 1998

Ford F-350 SD 1,100 1.6%

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2010

Toyota Camry 1,070 1.6%

Worst in 2015

Dodge RAM 3500 1,051 1.5%

Worst in 2012

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files each complaint against a specific sub-assembly. These are the ones named most often inside steering.

Steering 117,197 82.5%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 3,965 2.8%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 3,845 2.7%
Rack AND Pinion 3,522 2.5%
TIE ROD Assembly 2,950 2.1%
Pump 1,984 1.4%
Column 1,731 1.2%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 1,326 0.9%
Linkages 1,153 0.8%
Electric Power Assist System 1,024 0.7%
Anti-Theft Device 965 0.7%
Hose, Piping, AND Connections 939 0.7%
Rack 616 0.4%
ARM 443 0.3%
Power Steering Fluid 371 0.3%