10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 31 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 18 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 89,388 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I was traveling approximately 45mph when the power steering service light came on and the wheel became difficult to turn. I had to move over onto the bike lane out of the way of oncoming traffic and came to a complete stop. I could not turn into a parking lot because the wheel was in the lock position. I then towed my vehicle to my house and called the dealership where it had been purchased. They looked up the VIN and stated that there had not been any recalls, but according to the internet several 2010-2012 Ford Fusion have had this problem.
- Corpus Christi, TX, USA
I recently purchased the vehicle used with 43,000 miles on it. In order to get the vehicle registered in my state I had to have an emissions test done. At some point during the test the vehicle's electronic power steering system detected a fault that disabled the power steering. When I got back in the car I had no power steering and the trip computer listed the following errors: "service power steering now" and "service advanced trac". I immediately took the car to the Ford dealer where they diagnosed the problem as being an internal electrical issue with the eps system. They stated this wasn't an issue that could be fixed other then replacing the whole power steering rack. The dealer is charging $1,854.52 for the job. I have looked up this issue online and it appears that many people have had this happen while driving. I wasn't driving the car at the time but the test did involve driving the car on a dynamometer up to speeds of around 60 mph. If the system failed then, it could have happened at anytime. I don't understand why the system shuts off automatically when it detects an issue. Driving the car, and suddenly loosing power steering is a scary concept. These systems seem to be unreliable and put the passengers and other vehicles at risk. When reading in the owners manual about these error codes it states that the system will shut off when it detects a fault. But this is not a "normal" problem for cars. With a hydraulic system this would never happen.
- Lakewood , CO, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, there was a complete loss of engine power without warning. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. The engine was restarted after several attempts and the vehicle resumed normally. The failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the rack and pinion failed. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
2nd time it happened: While driving, electrical power steering gear failed, steering was hard to turn, dealer reset the failure (power steering assist fault; service power steering now) and steering was working fine again. This is a serious safety issue and needs to be investigated. Thanks
- Terre Haute, IN, USA
Traveling down the street at about 25-30 mph when the car alerted us that there was a problem, messages read service power steering now & service advtrac. We pulled over at the next block into a parking lot, turned the car off & looked for the power steering reservoir. Found none, . turned the car back on and had no power steering.
- Findlay, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact was driving 60 mph when the power steering failed. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 103056. The VIN was not available.
- Bayminndtte, AL, USA
Started indicated "power steering fault in parking lot. Power steering inoperative. Dash board. Shut down and restarted steering now fine.
- Salem, NH, USA
We had just bought our 2010 Ford Fusion 10 days prior to this incident. I had just picked up my children from school and when I was leaving the school parking lot I had too come to a complete stop (which is on a downward slope) when trying to accelerate the car lost all power and had shut off, I had no control of course and rolled right in front of an oncoming school bus that was in other lane. The bus had to come to a complete stop to avoid hitting us. It cranked right back up but seemed a little sluggish. My little girl was screaming for me to turn (which I was trying but could do nothing) she was very upset and crying. It never showed any sign of problems before hand. I contacted the dealer we purchased it from and they said they could do nothing it was not a Ford dealer it was used when we bought it with 50000 miles. I contacted a Ford dealership and they said unless it showed a sign they could do nothing I have tried other mechanics and nothing. We did have throttle body checked and it was fine. We have had several incidents of it shutting off with no warning and it is a regular basis it seems to not want to go when I press the accelerator.it seems slow to respond. The shutting off of the car only seems to happen when im trying to take off from a stopped position then it will die right after it starts going. This makes me very nervous and not want to go anywhere. We haven't had it long so we cant get rid of it due to the negative we have in the car and cant afford higher pmt. I will never go with Ford again not saying that all are like this, but one bad apple can spoil them all for me.
- Vinemont, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the power steering control software was corrupt. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 105,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Walnut Creek, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while reversing, the advanced trac and power steering warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.
- Blairsville, GA, USA
On my drive home from Chicago to Pontiac mi, I was just past halfway home when without any warning my car began beeping at me and displayed the following messages, service advancetrac, service power steering, service power steering now. Simultaneously I lost all power steering however, its not the same as losing power steering on a normal car or driving an older vehicle that was never normally equipped with power steering. The wheel became locked to the right and the car darted to the right taking me onto the shoulder of the expressway, I fought back pulling the wheel to the left as hard as I could. Suddenly I felt a popping sensation and the car darted to the left taking me from the right shoulder to the left lane. I again pulled the wheel in the opposite direction but the wheel felt locked, suddenly I felt that familiar popping feeling and the car darted off to the shoulder again. This same process was repeated until I could get the car stopped safely. Upon taking the car to the dealership I was informed that there was a short in the electric power steering and would need a new rack and pinion. I've never reported anything like this before but I felt it my civil duty since I'm certain a person of lesser strength, like my fiance' wouldn't have achieved the same outcome.
- White Lake, MI, USA
I was driving down the main highway in our town going around 45 mph when the car started beeping and an error message appeared on the dash saying that there was an error with the power assist. At that point, I attempted to move the steering wheel and verified that I had no power steering. I was able to finish driving home and left the car in the garage overnight. When we started the car the next day, the error message was gone and the steering wheel turned freely.
- Eau Claire, WI, USA
Power steering went out while driving. Took in to a Ford dealer for diagnostic test, and the steering gear had gone bad. Had to have it replaced.
- Harrodsburg, KY, USA
Will driving down interstate 64 in Kentucky I hit a rough expansion joint while crossing a bridge entering into West Virginia afterwards the dash warning lights lit up with traction control light on and also telling me to service power steering. I also noticed a loss of power and could not gain any pressing down on the accelerator pedal. I released the pedal and pressed down again and gained power but did not have any power steering. I exited at the fist exit and pulled into a fuel mart to check under the hood to see if I could find a problem to which I couldn't. then I had a friend who is a mechanic check it and he said Ford had a problem with power steering and it was a very costly repair but I could probably continue to drive it locally but with caution. My arms have increased in size due to the muscle needed to deal with the hard steering. Well the other day the steering went completely out upon inspecting it we found the tie rod end on the drivers side had came loose and was completely stripped of threads to which it attaches to the steering rod. We replaced it and also found the other side was loose to. We need help NHTSA this is a big safety problem and not just a local one, please order a recall! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Westwood, KY, USA
The vehicle is equipped with electric power-assisted steering (epas) that constantly fails while operating the vehicle at any speed. It is a safety concern due to the fact that when the power steering fails, it is hard to steer and control the vehicle. Several blogs are discussing this issue regarding the same type vehicle.
- New Castle, DE, USA
I was driving on a residential street and got a flat tire. At the same time I received an error about the power steering and to service the advancetrac system. I thought everything was related to the flat tire. I got the tire replaced and the tire pressure error cleared but I still have no power steering. Iwas told that the two issues were not related and that the power steering is completely separate. I see many many many complaints regarding this same problem with 2010-2011 Ford Fusion. There needs to be a recall asap. Nothing broke on my car and the fluids are fine so there is no reason for this error and for the power steering to stop working.
- Arlington, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the power steering failed twice and they were unable to turn the steering wheel. When the failure occurred the service light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed that they could not diagnose the failure. The contact stated that he decreased the speed of the vehicle whenever the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 36,000. The current mileage was 41,000.
- Wallbridge , OH, USA
This is my second report on the power steering rack failure. This last rack (number 3) was also a salvage part. Lasted six weeks, installed on April 26th, 2013. Failure sequence is the same: Service advance track, service power steering, shutoff car, service power steering now, no power steering. Please fix this [xxx]. it is not safe or reliable. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Batavia, OH, USA
After having steering rack replaced at a cost of $2000, I had driven a total of around about 350-400, approx. 3 days after having gotten the car back and I got the same warning service power steering, service advancetrac. I parked the car immediately. As soon as it was turned back on, the power steering was gone completely. Had to have it towed back to the dealership. I then had to rent a car for another week while another steering rack was put in. The service manager at my dealership said that an engineer at Ford told him that it was a faulty component in the steering rack for this model car. (still no recall?) I got my car back after another week and drove for about 250 miles in a total of 4 days when the warning light came back on. I had to have it towed again. All in all, I have over 3000 invested in this repair. Have had my car towed 3 times in 3 weeks. I am scared to put my toddler in this car.
- Stoneville, NC, USA
- Carthage, TX, USA