2020 Ford Fusion steering problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2020 Fusion has widespread steering system failures—power steering loss, serpentine belt breakage, and control arm snapping—that occur unpredictably and can cause complete loss of vehicle control on the highway. These aren't isolated incidents; multiple owners report similar failures, and dealerships acknowledge the problem but want thousands in circuit board replacements.
Ten complaint narratives describe steering failures that fall into five distinct patterns. Most serious: power steering assist randomly drops out during highway and local driving, sometimes triggered by warning lights for adaptive cruise, lane assist, and advance trac. Owners report the steering wheel jerks hard, the car steers itself, and automatic brakes apply—sometimes restoring function after restart, but failures grow more frequent. One owner claims a dealership quoted $5,000 for a circuit board fix and told them this is a known issue why Fusions were discontinued.
Two owners reported front lower control arms snapping clean during routine turns at low speed, forcing the vehicle into a sharp left turn and crashing into poles. No warning lights preceded either failure.
One owner's serpentine compressor failed twice in 38,000 miles, with the second failure causing complete loss of steering, braking, and acceleration on the highway—the belt disintegrated into tiny pieces.
A fourth failure mode: wrong bushing material (steel instead of aluminum) causing right-side pull and difficult steering.
Finally, some owners report steering wheel alignment issues and traction control malfunctions that reduce speed unpredictably during turns, causing loss of control and collision.
Same Ford Fusion steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Assist Loss / Sensor Fault
Steering assist warning light illuminates while driving; power steering assist becomes unavailable, often triggered by warning lights for adaptive cruise, lane assist, advance trac. Multiple owners report random, recurrent failures that sometimes resolve after restart but become more frequent. One owner reports a steering assist sensor fault diagnosis; another had a steering control module malfunction causing inappropriate steering commands.
When: 35 MPH and above; occurs randomly during normal highway and local driving, increasing in frequency over time
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist warning light illumination; Complete loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel jerks hard out of driver's hands; Vehicle steers independently or turns unexpectedly; SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, LANE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE warning messages; Automatic brake application coinciding with steering loss; Steering control module providing conflicting commands to steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Steering assist sensor fault diagnosis at independent mechanic; steering control module replacement quoted at ~$5,000. One vehicle repaired and failure persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA; dealership recommended $5K circuit board replacement; one owner was shown on Ford data link that problem occurred long before purchase
Serpentine Compressor / Belt Failure
Serpentine compressor or belt failure causes loss of vehicle control on highway. Owner reports factory compressor failed, replacement compressor failed again, third compressor needed within 3 years / 38,000 miles. Belt disintegrated into small pieces; loss of power steering, brakes, and acceleration control occurred.
When: First failure at delivery from factory; second failure at 38,000 miles total (3 years in service)
Symptoms owners cite: Compressor ceased up while on highway; Severe loss of vehicle control (steering, braking, acceleration); Burning smell and excessive heat buildup; Belt broke apart into small fragments; Loss of power steering assist and brake power
Repairs/costs cited: First compressor replaced; second compressor failed and required replacement; third compressor pending. Belt fragmented completely.
Front Lower Control Arm Breakage
Lower control arm snapped or broke in half with no warning during routine driving maneuvers (turning a corner or into a parking lot). Failure caused forced sharp left turn and vehicle collision with utility pole or telephone pole. Two separate complaints describe identical failures on front lower control arm.
When: No mileage reported for either incident; both occurred during low-speed turning maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Front lower control arm snapped or broke completely; Vehicle forced into sharp left turn following arm failure; Loss of steering control; Vehicle collision with utility pole or telephone pole; No warning lights or messages before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Both repairs made through insurance. No manufacturer repairs mentioned.
Lower Control Arm Bushing Material Defect
Manufacturer installed steel bushings instead of aluminum bushings specified in documentation on lower control arms. Steel bushing bulging on right side; same issue previously occurred on left side. Causes vehicle pulling to the right and difficult steering.
When: Apparent at inspection; owner notes left side had same problem previously
Symptoms owners cite: Right-side lower control bushing bulging outward; Vehicle pulls to the right; Steering difficult; Same issue occurred on left side previously
Repairs/costs cited: Steel bushing bulging; owner requests replacement with correct aluminum bushing
Steering Alignment / Control Module Issues
Steering wheel alignment significantly off; owner suspects PCM issue. Occurred after multiple dealer service visits for unresolved powertrain issues. Traction control warning light displayed during turns with independent speed reduction, resulting in loss of vehicle control and minor collision.
When: Started at approximately 60,000 miles on one vehicle; traction control event at 81,000 miles on another
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel alignment significantly misaligned; Traction control warning light during turns; Independent speed reduction during turning maneuvers; Loss of vehicle control; Vehicle collision into mailbox
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; dealership progress described as nonexistent
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2020 Ford Fusion?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 78,327 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.