9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,800
Average Mileage:
104,500 miles
Total Complaints:
26 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace rack and pinion (19 reports)
  2. not sure (7 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #6

Dec 092014

Fusion LE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,351 miles

Amazing: I drove a 1970 Renault 5 (in 1980!!) for 5 years and it never died. Drove a Pontiac Acadian around the Gaspé Penninsula without any oil (i didn't know...the mechanic freaked out !!), never gave out. Kicked the hell out of a jacked Nissan King-Kab in the woods, never, ever gave out.

All this to say, how can a car company shirk it's responsibility when it comes to the basics of driving a car, and that is, the bloody STEERING !!!! I thought I was buying a solid and decent car (I haven't bought American in years, so, I thought I'd take a chance.....WRONG !). Loved the fit and finish. Well optioned out. Comfortable as all get-out! But, and it's a big but, when you going down an auto-route (interstate) at 120kmh and a goddam POWER STEERING FAILURE message goes on while an 18 wheeler is cutting in front of you, you Ford pencil pushers better be ready to live with, one day seeing carnage on your beautiful 60'' plasma tv screens, which you were able to purchase thru the savings earned by NOT recalling your FAULTY STEERING MODULE HARNESS. From what I can see, the wire gauge seems a little small....

Thank-you, I know nothing will be done, but, at least I've vented...

Update from Dec 17, 2014: Here's a follow-up: I have a REALLY good local mechanic, so I went to him and explained the whole mess. He has one of those fancy high level code readers, so he was able to dig deeper than I ( I had an OBD II computer-based reader. Could'nt get very far...). Tried resetting the codes I had, but always fell into error state. At one point, we went into real-time mode, reading from the ''wheel angle sensor'' we noticed that the value was frozen. Bingo, or so we thought.... He has a good friend at the local Ford dealer and, you guessed it, the wheel angle sensor is not a ''part sold seperately'' from the steering rack. In other words, it's the same $1500 parts and labour answer ! Undeterred, my mechanical friend lifted the car and proceded to follow the wiring, and lo and behold, the sensor is held by 2 bolts AND it can be unclipped from the main harness !!!!! So, my next step is to find a scrapped Fusion and just remove that tiny, little sensor. To be continued.......

- Mike L., Two-Mountains, Quebec, Canada

problem #5

Nov 232014

Fusion SE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,351 miles

Only 22 days and about 1000km after I spent $425 to fix the same “power assist steering” failure problem with my Fusion, it went out again.

This time my wife was driving, and when the “power assist steering” failed, she struggled to keep the car in her own lane. By pure luck, she was driving on the straight portion of roadway. This was an extremely dangerous situation, and it could have been fatal. I brought the car back to the Ford dealership, and this time they tell me the rack needs to be replaced. A $1700 part, put 5 hours of labour at $119.95/hour, plus wheel alignment and who knows what else!! Still waiting on the final cost, since I do not have my car back yet.

This problem has to be addressed by Ford. It is much too dangerous of a problem to be ignored. There have been 2 recalls for power assist failures for other Ford vehicles which has prompted an investigation by Transport Canada. If it is also happening in Fusions (you can read several forums stating very similar problems) why is Ford not doing anything about it? The US Department of Transportation NHTSA are looking into this problem with Fusions in the states as of 02-Oct-2014.

Update from Dec 17, 2014: I got the car back from the Ford dealer. I drove the car 16 km and the same "power assist steering" failure happened again. All the same dash warning lights came on again and the steering was very stiff. I drove the car back to Ford....again (3rd time for the same problem and $2700 poorer). This time I was told my tires were the problem, due to the extreme wear on them. Please note that the tires were less than 2 years old and are only used during the 7-8 months when we have no snow or ice. I told Ford that they tires were less than 21 years old and had less than 40000km on them. The dealers opinion was that since the rack was failing, it cause the tires to wear prematurely.

I think the 1st trip costing $425 for changing the tire sensors was a complete was of time and money.

- Ray H., North River, NL, Canada

problem #4

Jun 182014

Fusion SEL 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

The steering issue on the car happened only two weeks after I purchased the vehicle. Car became very difficult to steer, thought perhaps for some reason there was no fluid in it. Came to learn that this car does not use a power steering pump, rather it has an electric motor that assists the steering. After doing some searches, I found out that several people have had this issue. Contacted the dealer and was told to bring it in to have it checked out, came to learn that the power steering rack had to be replaced to the cost of $1500.00... I am beside myself as I just bought the car!!!

This is a recall item, based on all the reports of people having this same issue, Ford needs to step up to the plate here and realize they have a problem and bad design to get these components replaced out on these cars before someone seriously gets injured. The car is almost impossible to steer when this goes out and if someone like an older person or younger inexperienced driver runs into this situation the problem is going to cause serious injury... The failure happens without any indications. FORD recall the part and fix these cars!!!

- taormg, Geneva, IL, US

problem #3

May 232014

Fusion V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

My daughter has a 2010 Ford Fusion. A week ago we were driving back to town, car starts going all over the road so I slow down, thought we were blowing a tire. Daughter blew it off till last night, gets out of class and starts car, puts it in reverse, lights come on, steering shuts down, lights say power steering assist at fault.

Now car at dealer and they say nothing wrong with this car. Well they are going to eat this car, it's a piece of SH*T, dangerous as hell and anyone who buys a Ford Fusion better give their ASSES to god, they are not safe!!!!!

SHAME ON FORD COMPANY FOR SELLING THESE CARS AND NOT MAKING SAFE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET THIS, MECHANIC SAYS IT'S IN DAUGHTER'S HEAD, NOTHING WRONG. WELL, HE HAS NOT MET ME YET HAS HE, DUMB ASS FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS DON'T LIKE MY LANGUAGE DON'T READ MY POST THEN!!!!!!!!

- Deana B., Brownfield, TX, US

problem #2

Jul 072013

Fusion S 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

It was raining that night as I left my mother's home. As I pulled out the advance trac comes on saying service power steering now. The brakes starting moving and the steering became hard to turn. That was the only warning I received. I took it to the dealership and they told me the rack and pinion needed to be replaced, which cost $1050! Then, they informed me that my warranty was over because my miles were over the warranty limit. I've owed this car one year! I called the Ford company and hey told me not enough complaints have been made for a recall. Now I'm stump trying to come up with the money to fix my car!

- hardengeorgia, Eatonton, GA, US

problem #1

Mar 222013

Fusion SE 3.2L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Received a message on my dashboard that said Power Steering Assist Failure, Service Advance Trac Warning. It was extremely difficult to turn my steering wheel. I had the car towed to a repair shop and was told the terrible news that it was the steering rack and it would cost $1400.00 to fix. I am very upset due to the fact that this is the second major repair that I have had to make on this car. First the Throttle Body now the Steering Rack. I have only had the car for 16 months. I am currently disputing this with Ford. I don't think it's fair that I should have to pay for defective parts on this car. After all the whole reason why I got newer car was to hopefully eliminate having to do a lot of repairs. I am not a happy customer and I do not wish to purchase another Ford vehicle.

- Nikki L., Saint Louis, MO, US