Steering Column "Clicking" Noise when Cold
Trailering
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 3
Mine always does it when it's cold, gone through two winters now. When I last spoke to my local Ford service department, they said the clock spring was going to be recalled and expect to hear in Q1. Q1 is over....maybe we'll hear something before summer.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 17
From: Eastlake, Ohio
Glad I'm not the only one experiencing issue. After multiple "you tube" videos being recorded of the sound + 3 dealer replaced clock springs it seems like we have to live with the noise when its COLD. On a positive note, the noise goes away during summer months so we get some type of a break only to be reminded of it again in fall when temps dip near freezing. Thanks for the updates. I think my servicing dealer is at a loss and so is Ford...
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,949
Likes: 2,656
From: The Great State of Texas
Our 2023 F350 sounds like a ping pong ball is floating inside the stearing wheel. The first and last time I drove it was back in September so I can only imagine what it sounds like now after driving around in some cow pastures and gravel roads.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 312
Likes: 90
My 2020 does it too. Dealer couldn't duplicate because by the time I got an appointment, it was above freezing last year. Now it's cold again, but out of my bumper to bumper warranty.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Billings, MT
I've had the same issue since I've bought and I'm on the 2nd winter with mine. My local dealer has told me it would be at least a month before they can look at doing any warranty work. I have a long list of things that they need to fix.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
My '21 F350 XL has done this the whole time I've owned it. As soon as the temps drop under about 40°F, the noise comes back. So about half the year up here in WI, unfortunately. Disappointed to hear so many other people are experiencing the same thing with hit-and-miss fixes from Ford.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 1,196
From: Southeast MO
The clock spring is sealed and carries electrical signals.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 700
Likes: 478
22 F250 I purchased not long ago has been making a sound as if a marble is rolling back and forth in the steering column. Im used to equipment making odd noises when it starts to get below freezing so not too worried about this. Noise goes away once the cab is warmed up some.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 66
Likes: 17
From: Eastlake, Ohio
As winter arrived and so did the freezing temps, the infamous "steering wheel clicking" when cold has returned as well. I have a service appointment for my wifes explorer tomorrow and will see if the service manager has any new updates on this clicking noise. My truck has literally been in the shop last winter about 4x for this same problem and still not fixed. I'm thinking we need to live with it which is crazy as my wifes 2020 Explorer doesn't make the sound.
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 58
Likes: 13
I have a 21 that does the same thing. It's the clock spring in the steering wheel. I've had mine replaced twice now and it's doing it again. The noise goes away after they replace it and the following winter it seems to come back.