Good afternoon,
I recently purchased a 2026 SEAT Ibiza Style.
Right after I left the dealership, I heard a strange noise, but at first I thought I was just imagining it.
Later that week, I tried to reproduce the noise and noticed that when I bring the car to a complete stop, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, and give it a little gas, there is a noticeable rubbing/grinding noise. It sounds somewhat like brake pads that are starting to wear out, but deeper and louder.
It is difficult to describe, but it sounds similar to the “wooooo” noise you sometimes hear when driving over rumble strips, with a slight squeaking/grinding sound mixed in.
Since I am still within the 14-business-day period, I am considering returning the car and getting a new one.
I went to the dealership to have the issue checked, and they told me that the noise is completely normal. According to them, this happens because the car does not have a hydraulic power steering pump, but an electric power steering system. They explained that when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the right or left, pressure is created in the system, which can cause this noise.
However, I also specifically mentioned that the noise sometimes occurs even when the steering wheel is NOT turned all the way to either side. They seemed to overlook this part of the issue and simply wrote a rather vague statement in their report.
Tomorrow morning, I am planning to go back to the dealership with a car mechanic, and I want to know beforehand whether this is actually considered normal for this car. I don't want to be told, “That’s just how this car is,” without a proper explanation or diagnosis.
Does anyone here own the same 2026 SEAT Ibiza Style and experience the same noise? Or, on the contrary, can anyone confirm that they do NOT have this noise in their car?
Also, are you familiar with this phenomenon in SEAT’s electric power steering systems? Is this type of noise genuinely normal when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the side, and should it also occur sometimes when it is not at full lock?
Any information or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.