Track rod end wear and EPS column rattle or heaviness
SeriousSteeringSteering is the ix20's measured weakness: Get Car Wise's MOT analysis finds track rod end ball joints wearing prematurely, with hundreds of tests recording excessive play and even serious-risk-of-detachment categories - far above the people-carrier class average. Fault File records owners reporting a rattle or knock through the electric power steering column plus heavy, inconsistent steering at parking speeds that dealers struggled to cure even with repeated rack and column replacement. It is a cheap part to fix if caught as an advisory (£100-£180 per track rod end) and an MOT failure and safety risk if not.
Clunks and knocks from the column over small bumps, Heavy or inconsistent steering feel in car parks, Constant small corrections needed on the motorway, Inner-edge front tyre wear
- Have an assistant rock the steering while you feel for play at each front wheel joint
- Drive slowly over broken tarmac with windows down, listening for column knocks
- Search the MOT history for repeated steering advisories or rack replacement notes
- Full-lock the wheel both ways and listen for the EPS motor groaning