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
2011 Ford Fusion steering problems
critical 1,420 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
1,420
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
42crashes
21injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 1,420 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 1,420 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.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
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. 1420 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.