Some 2010-2012 Fusion/Milan and 2011-2012 MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.5L or 3.0L engine and electronic power assist steering (EPAS), a remanufactured replacement steering gear (MU2Z-3V504-ARM) is available which is significantly less expensive than a new replacement gear. When conducting repairs that are customer pay, offer the customer a remanufactured gear when possible. This would include vehicles not included in field service action (FSA) 15N01 (built on or before 7-Sep-2010) or vehicles included in FSA 15N01 that have exceeded the 10 year/150,000 mile terms of the program.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford Fusion steering problems
critical Owners of the 2011 Ford Fusion have filed 1,422 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 90,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
1,422
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Fusion | 21 |
| 2008 Fusion | 11 |
| 2009 Fusion | 16 |
| 2010 Fusion | 1,657 |
| 2011 Fusion (this page) | 1,422 |
| 2012 Fusion | 1,502 |
| 2013 Fusion | 417 |
| 2014 Fusion | 342 |
| 2015 Fusion | 177 |
42crashes
21injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 1,422 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Fusion, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 12 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2011 Ford Fusion by each odometer reading. Median failure: 102,000 mi.
10% have failed by68,000 mi
Half the fleet by102,000 mi
90% have failed by142,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 51% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 1,422 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LINCOLN/FORD: STEERING SYSTEM SENSES, HALF FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS/REARWARD IS EXPERIENCING A HIGHER FRICTION CONDITION AND CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STABILITY/TRACTION TO ILLUMINATE. MODEL 2011-2012 FUSION, MKZ.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: THERE MAY BE A STEERING DRIFT WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. 2010-2011 FUSION/MILAN/MKZ. THIS COULD BE NORMAL.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Ford Fusion's electric power-assist steering (EPAS) system fails without warning, leaving drivers unable to turn the wheel. Owners describe the steering wheel becoming rock-hard or locked solid—some say they "barely could move it." A warning message appears: "Power Steering Assist Fault" or "Service Power Steering Now," often with the AdvanceTrac light lit and chiming. This happens both at startup and while driving, sometimes at highway speeds. Restarting the engine temporarily fixes it, but the failure recurs at unpredictable intervals.
The real problem: when owners bring the vehicle to dealers to fix it, the fault code clears as soon as the engine shuts off. Dealers then claim they cannot diagnose or repair it without an active code present. Some dealerships refuse to touch it. When repairs finally happen—after waiting days for the failure to recur during business hours—the steering gear gets replaced for $1,500 to $3,900. Yet multiple owners report the same failure happening again months later, even after replacement.
Ford issued an extended warranty program (15N01, later 15S18 recall) covering steering gear replacement up to 10 years or 150,000 miles from the original purchase date. But owners frequently discover this coverage after the deadline has passed, or their VIN is inexplicably excluded despite identical symptoms. Used-car buyers especially get caught—they inherit the defect with no notification of the recall or its time limits. Two owners report crashes and serious injuries resulting from complete steering loss while driving. Ford refuses coverage for vehicles outside the warranty window, even when previous repairs failed or the defect was not disclosed at sale.
Same Ford Fusion steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power-Assist Steering (EPAS) System Failure — Complete Loss of Assist
The EPAS unit suddenly loses power-steering assist, forcing the driver to steer manually with substantially increased effort. The failure occurs either intermittently (resolves after restart) or permanently. Owners report the steering wheel becoming extremely stiff or completely locked, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to control, especially at low speeds or during emergency maneuvers.
When: Ranges from low mileage (under 10,000 miles) to 86,700+ miles; failures occur both at startup and while driving at speeds from 20 to 75 mph; some occur during cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff or locks up; Warning messages: 'Power Steering Assist Fault,' 'Service Power Steering Now,' 'Service AdvanceTrac'; AdvanceTrac light illuminates on dash; Chiming/warning sounds from vehicle; In some cases, temporary resolution by turning engine off and restarting; Vehicle pulling sharply to one side; Loss of control or near-loss of control on roadways
Codes mentioned: U0100-20, C1963-20, C200D, C1277-20, CTC C200C
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships and owners cite steering gear replacement (rack-and-pinion assembly with integrated EPAS unit), Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) replacement, and programming updates. Costs reported between $1,500 and $3,900 for complete replacement; some cases only received software reprogramming rather than hardware replacement. Part is proprietary to Ford and expensive; TRW Gen I EPAS units noted as manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01 (later recalled as 15S18 safety recall) offering extended warranty coverage up to 10 years or 150,000 miles from original purchase date for power steering gear defects. However, coverage is limited by mileage and date thresholds; many owners discovered the recall too late or found their VIN excluded despite identical symptoms. Field Service Action performed in some cases involves software updates only, leaving faulty hardware in place. Ford also issued recall 14S06 for certain model years. Initial communications from dealers often claimed inability to diagnose the problem if no fault code was present at time of service; some dealerships refused to honor recalls citing VIN exclusions or warranty expiration.
Intermittent Power Steering Loss with Fault Code Diagnostics Challenge
The steering system intermittently loses power assist, generating fault codes that clear after the engine is restarted. When owners bring the vehicle to dealerships, mechanics are unable to retrieve the stored codes because they disappear once the engine cycles off. This creates a diagnostic catch-22: dealers claim they cannot repair the vehicle without an active fault code, but the fault clears before repair can be attempted.
When: Failures occur sporadically, sometimes multiple times within days (6 failures in 3 days reported in one case); mileage varies from 30,000 to 100,000 miles; frequency increases over time in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent 'Power Steering Assist Fault' warning; Warning messages clear after engine restart; Fault codes stored in PSCM but clear when engine is turned off; Unpredictable timing of failures (can occur at startup or while driving); Extreme difficulty steering after fault occurs until restart; Owners must avoid turning off vehicle at time of failure to preserve code for dealer diagnosis
Codes mentioned: C200D, C200C (Rotation Angle Sensor Circuit Malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships typically insist vehicle must be brought in with active fault code present; however, owners report codes clear within seconds of engine shutdown, making this technically infeasible during normal business hours. Some dealers eventually performed steering gear replacement or PSCM reprogramming after extended service periods. Repair costs when performed: $1,500–$2,000+ for steering gear or PSCM replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford acknowledged the issue internally and created 'Step 1' and 'Step 2' troubleshooting procedures: Step 1 involves pinpoint testing when vehicle is brought in; Step 2 (if problem recurs) involves installing a 'new gear' inside the rack-and-pinion. However, dealers and Ford indicated uncertainty about whether gear replacement would actually resolve the underlying EPAS module defect. Ford's approach of software reprogramming in some cases did not resolve recurring failures in multiple owner reports. Recall letters and extended warranty coverage (15N01/15S18) offered, but owners often missed notification windows or VINs were excluded.
AdvanceTrac System Concurrent Failure with Power Steering Loss
Power steering failures are frequently accompanied by illumination of the AdvanceTrac warning light and 'Service AdvanceTrac' message on the dash. The AdvanceTrac system (electronic stability control) fails concurrently with or immediately after steering assist loss, suggesting a common root cause or shared electrical/module fault.
When: Concurrent failures reported across all mileage ranges and model years in this cluster (2010–2011 Ford Fusion); failures occur during both cold-weather startups and while driving
Symptoms owners cite: AdvanceTrac light illuminates on instrument panel; Message: 'Service AdvanceTrac'; Occurs simultaneously with or immediately after power steering assist loss; Warning chimes accompany both warnings; Both systems may intermittently fail together and resolve together after restart
Codes mentioned: U0100-20 (lost communication), C1963-20 (ABS/AdvanceTrac communication loss), C200D
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer note documented: 'CAN LOST COMMUNICATION WITH' during diagnostic testing. Repairs typically addressed the Power Steering Control Module and steering gear, though some cases also noted need for ABS module or sensor replacement. Costs not separately itemized from power steering repairs, but total bills often reflected multiple component failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford's technical bulletins and dealer notes indicate awareness of the concurrent failures. Some dealers identified the root cause as lost CAN bus communication between the power steering control module and other vehicle systems (ABS, AdvanceTrac). Extended warranty program 15N01 addressed both power steering and related electronic steering-assist system defects.
Steering Gear Premature Wear and Mechanical Failure
The steering rack and pinion gear assembly fails prematurely due to internal mechanical defects—chipped, cracked, or broken internal gears. These failures occur at relatively low mileages and render manual steering nearly impossible without significant force. Internal gear degradation appears to be a latent manufacturing defect in the steering gear assembly itself.
When: Reported failures between 30,000 and 100,000 miles; some within first 35,000 miles of purchase; multiple failures in same vehicle within 6–12 months (e.g., replacements in July 2013, October 2013, then recurrence in 2015)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn or locks up completely; Loss of power steering assist or severely reduced assist; Vehicle pulling sharply to one side; Hard-to-turn steering in certain conditions (cold weather, during parking maneuvers); Creaking or grinding noises from steering system; Clunking/banging noises in front suspension/steering area
Codes mentioned: C200D, Various EPAS fault codes related to sensor or motor position
Repairs/costs cited: Complete steering rack and pinion assembly replacement required. Owners cite replacement costs of $1,500–$3,900+; one owner reported internal gears 'chipped, cracked and broken' upon disassembly. Entire assembly must be replaced; gear repair is not possible. Some cases involved replacement performed twice or three times within 24 months without permanent resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford's initial response in some cases was to reprogram the PSCM without replacing the faulty steering gear, leaving the defective hardware in the vehicle. Recall 15S18 (extended version of 15N01) eventually addressed steering gear replacement for vehicles within the 10-year/150,000-mile window. However, many owners found their replacements failed again after the recall work, or the vehicle exceeded the warranty window before the defect became apparent. Ford refused coverage for out-of-window vehicles and some attempted to apply a '10% discount' on repair costs for customers beyond warranty.
Crash and Injury Incidents Related to Steering Failure
Two documented crash incidents in the complaint narratives directly resulted from sudden power steering failure while driving. In both cases (narratives #12 and #13, same incident), the driver lost control of the vehicle when power steering failed on a curve, resulting in vehicle striking fixed objects and driver suffering serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, nerve damage, and permanent scarring.
When: August 1, 2015; vehicle had approximately 130,000 miles; power steering had been previously replaced twice (July 2013, October 2013) before final catastrophic failure
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of steering control on highway curve (left turn attempted); Vehicle proceeded straight into roadside objects (tree and power line); No warning light or message reported at time of loss of control; Steering did not respond to driver input; Brake pedal engagement resulted in unexpected acceleration instead of braking (unrelated to steering complaint but part of same incident)
Codes mentioned: None retrieved; vehicle totaled
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was totaled; not repaired. Police report, medical documentation, and vehicle diagnostics all documented. This vehicle had prior recalls on file (power steering replacement in 2013, full throttle body recall) that were not communicated to the buyer at point of sale.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford had issued recalls for power steering and throttle body issues on this vehicle (documented via recall history), but the dealership that sold the vehicle to the owner did not inform the buyer of the recalls or their status. The power steering assembly had been replaced twice already without achieving permanent resolution, suggesting the root defect persisted despite prior service actions. No manufacturer response to the crash/injury incident documented in these narratives.
Synthesized from 1,422 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
While driving, the advance trac light came on. Then an error message telling me to service power steering. The wheel suddenly became hard to turn while driving. There was no advanced warning. As soon as the light came on, the car became difficult to steer. *js
Steering failure assist light came on first thing this morning at 6:30am. Was wondering if this has ever been a recalled part for the 2011 Ford fusion. *js
I drove to wal-mart it was fine but when I left wal-mart I drove.back home the service power steering and advantrec light came on I had to struggle turning.the wheel the fastest I was going was 35. *js
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality while the contact was attempting to steer the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact stated that the "Power Steering – Service Now" message was displayed. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the…
A safety recall work on the power steering occurred june 2019. The power steering failed at 60mph on 12/29/2020. Was told by dealership, you now have to pay for the repairs. I never believed the repairs were completed because the same groaning noise continued afterwards. Ford needs to do what is right.
Driving about 40 MPH and the "power steering failure" light appeared and the steering felt heavier. I pulled off the road and turned off the car for about 5 minutes. When the car was turned back on the message did not reappear. Vehicle mileage is about 140k.
My power steering assist fault light came on my car. I turned it off and back on and it went off and everything seemed fine. This morning I get in my car to come work and the power steering assist fault light came on. I turned off the vehicle and then turned it back on, this time it did not go off and the power steering was no driveable at all. I had to have my car towed to the Ford dealership…
I was driving into a left turn at a green light and the power steering went out, luckily I was going slow enough to fight with the steering wheel to make the turn. It could have easily been an accident if I was not aware of cars and how they function. That was about a week ago and now today the same thing happened except I was making a right turn and I was not able to stay on my side of the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford fusion. The contact was driving 20 MPH when the power steering warning light illuminated simultaneously as the power steering failed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for inspection. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver with the “steering assist fault” warning displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that she pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that he called the Ford dealer who informed him to turn the vehicle off and restart. The…
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Ford Fusion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2011 Ford Fusion?
It's a serious issue. 1422 complaints have been filed, including 42 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 1113 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 61,275 and 128,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 61,275; a quarter make it past 128,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Fusion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.