The car lost power steering while merging with traffic on the freeway. A "power steering assist fault" & "service advancetrac" error showed up on the dashboard. Very dangerous situation losing power steering in traffic. Took to dealer and was informed they needed to replace the entire electric power steering rack for $1,813. Did some research online and it seem this is a common problem with this vehicle. Several other models were recalled for this same problem but not the Fusion. Seems like this is a major problem that should be the manufacturer's responsibility.

- Jordan, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000 and the current mileage was 61,000.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

Driving on freeway at 65mph and suddenly power steering warning light came on with message saying service required. Drove home safely, but after stopping and restarting, power steering did not work at all. Took it into mechanic and was told power steering gear needs to be replaced. Had the same work done last year as well as replacing control arms for the same issue. Car nearly impossible to drive when power steering shuts down.

- Kaysville, UT, USA

I purchased my 2012 Ford Fusion about 4 months ago from a family member who had no problems with the car since owning it new. Since that time I have had an alert come on when I am driving that reads "power steering failure" and the steering wheel becomes really hard to turn. It has happened to me twice and my wife once. When I stop the car and turn the ignition switch off and then start the car back up the system is reset and the warning is not displayed any longer and the power steering works once again. This is very dangerous as my wife had a very hard time turning the wheel to get the car off the interstate when it happened to her. I took the car into my regular mechanic who could not diagnose the problem (he drove it around a long time) and he recommended that I take it in to the Ford dealer. The Ford dealer told me that it was a problem with the rack and pinion and that it would cost $1700 to get it replaced. I refused the repair because I read on this board that this has been a problem with the 2012 Fusion and that others that have taken their car in to get this problem fixed, paid the money for the repair, but still had the same alert come on after the "repair." It sounds like an electrical problem to me that is reset when the car is turned back on. I expect there to be a recall on this problem as this could be very dangerous. My car only has 81,000 miles on it.

- Jefferson, GA, USA

When I was driving my 2012 Ford Fusion, I lost control of the steering wheel suddenly. A message showing "power steering assist fault" popped up on the dashboard. The wheel became stiff and unable to turn. I had to stop my car and restarted it. The message was gone and I was able to drove it back home. Luckily it happened when there was no other cars. I probably would have been killed if it had happened on an expressway. It is definitely a major safety issue and requires a recall!

- Arlington, MA, USA

Well I bought this car in April of 2014 and the power steering will shut off while you are driving it happened on the interstate while I was driving at 65 mph and it is hard to control.it has happened 4 times since then once when my wife was driving and she was turning into a parking lot and she is a small woman and she was scared to death to drive it anymore. I bought this car for my 17 year old daughter but I have not let her drive it yet due to this I have looked at some forums with complaint's and there are hundreds of them I think this is a safety issue at least for me it is I don't want my daughter in a crash for it please help us. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Disputanta, VA, USA

I was approaching a red light, when I heard a "pop" and suddenly I could not steer my car anymore. I was able to stop the car, but I was stranded in the middle of the road blocking traffic. The car could only be moved by a tow truck. After accessing the situation, it turned out to be my power steering unit had just snapped into. The good lord was with me!!!! had I been on the interstate where I would have been moving at a higher rate of speed, my wife and son might possibly be attending my funeral right now!!!!

- Valley, AL, USA

I was driving on the highway and my power steering went out. I drove with no power steering for about 8 miles and then turned the car off and back on and the steering came back.

- Norristown, PA, USA

Was driving the wheel sudden went stiff out of no where had to shut the car off and start again. That was the first incident. A couple days later the car did the same thing and it says power steering assault failed and I cant drive the car at all it says that as soon as I start it.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

I purchased a new 2012 Ford Fusion sel car in August 2011. I now have 55K miles, mostly highway miles, so the standard warranty does not apply, even though I have not exceeded the 3 years. I did not buy the extended warranty due to advice that Ford Fusion are highly reliable. While under warranty, the advancetrac indicator light on the dash and advancetrac service message has happened multiple times. I was even leaving the Ford service when the service advancetrac indicator lit up and message occurred. I immediately returned and showed it to the service person. They checked it out and said it can occur if one tire turns more than another so it was not a problem. Recently, my wife was driving 25 mph when the steering suddenly became difficult and power steering failure messages and advancetrac popped up. She said she almost hit a parked vehicle on the side of the road. I took it to the dealer and they indicated the rack needed to be replaced. That is a $1,375 repair plus the $225 they charged me alignment. The Ford service department indicated that there are no recalls for this problem on the Ford Fusion. I believe this is a safety issue and have found many posting of recalls on multiple models of Ford for the same issue.

- Seminole, FL, USA

I got off the highway and when coming off the ramp I got an error message stating advancetrac power steering failure. There was also a chime and the dashboard light came on. I read that turning off your engine will reset it and it did but I am afraid to drive the car.

- Reisterstown , MD, USA

Tried to drive the car by backing out of a parking space and there was no power steering. Car information system indicated power steering sensor problem and told to check it. Got out checked the fluid levels and they were full. Got out to the major street to go to the nearby dealership for information and evaluation and turned off the car upon arrival. Car was again started and then the power steering was restored.

- Southfield, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact mentioned that the power steering and low tire pressure warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 56,000.

- Ranch Cucamonga, CA, USA

Driving down the road and all the sudden the power steering failed. Car is extremely difficult to turn. Car alarms "power steering assist failure" and "advancetrac maintenance needed". was able to pull off side of road, cut the car off and restarted it--power steering returned. Has happened twice now. Took car to Ford dealership, they scanned it and found no service codes. Have been told it is most likely in need of a new steering motor but without the "code" they can't replace it under my warranty"?!?!?? so far this has occurred on straight roads--if it were to occur while navigating a curve the results could be deadly/catastrophic! there is no warning, no nothing--you just can't steer the car all the sudden. This is extremely dangerous and apparently a common problem with this year model car--why is there no recall yet?!?!!?? do I have to wreck my car or potentially hurt myself or others before this is addressed"!!!

- Toccoa, GA, USA

I was driving down the road at approximately 45 miles an hour when the alert came on my car dash to service power steering now. After the alarm sounded I was no longer able to turn my steering wheel. I tried turning the car off and restarted it and still not able to turn the wheel. I have read that numerous people have had this same issue over the past few years. I called the Ford dealership to see if there has been a recall and they stated that no there hasn't been a recall and that my car is out of warranty.

- Las Vegas , NV, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the power steering light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.

- Warrensburg, MO, USA

I was driving down the high way in rush hour traffic as I started to slow down due to traffic all the sudden my power steering went out the warning lights and messages appeared power steering assist fault and service advancetrac messages appeared.

- Shawnee, KS, USA

The power steering failed while I was turning in a 270 degree cloverleaf doing about 40 mph. The steering wheel was difficult to turn and I could not maintain the required turn to stay on the cloverleaf. I had to apply the brakes and stopped halfway off the road and on the grass shoulder. The dashboard message read "power steering assist failure". the problem went away after I put the car in reverse and then back in drive.

- Inver Grove Heights, MN, USA

I was driving down a busy street at 35mph. All of a sudden out of nowhere I lost my power steering and a message came across my dash that said "power steering assist default, service required" I shut my car off and started it back up again. A few days later same thing happened. Dealer told me there was nothin they could do, and to just drive my car until it happens again. It is extremely dangerous.

- Weymouth, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the steering default warning light illuminated while starting the vehicle. After the warning light illuminated the steering wheel became hard to turn. The dealer performed a diagnostic which located a failure code within the electronic power assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. The current mileage was 101,000.

- Branford, CT, USA