NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Ford Fusion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
the power steering failed and makes very hard to try to turn it is available for inspection. My safety and safety of others was put at risk because it so hard to turn steering wheel Yes it has be confirmed by the dealer it was inspected by ford dealer There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure they first appeared when the incident occurred
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact was able to drive to the residence by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence, the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Car was working great and is serviced regularly. Brake system completely went out- throwing tons of codes. There was a recall for the same issue on models 2010 and earlier but not on the 2011 or later! Many people have had the same issue (brakes going out while driving, ABS module/pump failure, etc.). The parts to fix it are also currently discontinued!! I have no idea what to do because nobody is helping.
The power steering frequently stops working while driving the car, making the car very difficult to steer. This definitely puts the driver and others on the road at risk since it is unpredictable when the electric power steering will stop working and making emergency steering maneuvers is impossible when this condition occurs. The vehicle displays the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" when this condition occurs. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone else.
While drive I experienced a complete power steering failure. The steering wheel barely moved while traveling around 40mph surrounding by traffic. The steering wheel basically locked with little to no movement. I immediately put on my hazard lights and pulled to the far right lane where I hit a curb. I heard a chime noise and I looked on the dashboard where it displayed POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. This same warning message has popped up over the years from time to time when initially starting the vehicle but never while driving. There is a recall on for this issue from Ford # (15S18) for the same year, make and model but just not my exact vehicle Ford had told me. While having my vehicle serviced over the years from Ford I've informed them since 2015. While having an airbag recall fixed by Ford a few years back I informed them about the issue once again and was told I'd have to wait for a recall and not to worry about it. I've never been more afraid in my life of being in a car accident. Upon calling Ford today I was told they know about the problem and I'd have to wait to see if I receive a recall for my vehicle that's unsafe to operate and that I could've been seriously injured in or worse.
The power steering in my car stopped working and I received a Power Steering Assist Fault error on my dashboard. I only have 60,000 miles on my car. I took it to a local Ford Dealer, who advised the steering rack needs to be replaced, which would cost $2,400.00 to fix. I googled the problem and found recall# 15S18 for the same make and model, but my VIN# was not included. I called Ford about it and they said that recall has been closed out in August 2015 and the issue is not covered under another recall. Why did the recall only cover certain 2011 Ford Fusions and not all of them? I see other people have filed complaints regarding the same issues, as their car was not covered under the recall either.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after the vehicle had been parked for a while, the vehicle was restarted but the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was no longer operable and was towed to the residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 188,279.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was started, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering control module and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.
This is in regard to programs 15S18/14S06 and 15N01 for power steering failures. Ford was addressing the recall by reprogramming the module instead of repairing the failing part. Customers (such as myself) who addressed the recall via this method were left bearing the cost of repairs when the part failed. Customers who did not address the recall by having the module reprogrammed are getting their steering gears replaced by Ford at no cost. I've had multiple Ford dealerships tell me that they don't feel it's right, but they are handcuffed by what Ford is instructing them to do in these situations. My vehicle has now been inspected and diagnosed by a Ford dealership, and I've paid to have the steering gear replaced. This is a very expensive repair. The dealership quoted $3200. My request is for the NHTSA to reassess this situation and recommend that Ford do the right thing and make sure to replace the steering gear or extend coverage for those owners who no longer have 15S18 open (those who have addressed the recall via reprogramming of the module).
Started the car and a "Power Steering Assist Fault" immediately appeared on the dash, making the steering impossible to use at a stop or low speed. I believe this could be part of NHTSA campaign 15V340000, but it doesn't come up on my VIN. On the Ford website my VIN shows it as campaign 15N01, described as "Epas steering efforts".
through due diligence it was found this complaint is related to NHSTA campaign # 15V340000 “Failure of Electric Power Steering Assist”. The "Power steering assist fault" messaged appeared while the Owner being [XXX] lost control of the vehicle. Thankfully she works close to home and was able to get the car to her driveway with help. A Dealership diagnosis was Hard steering/lack of assist. and needing rack replacement and alignment. We found that this defect was determined to exist and recall 15s18 was 'performed'. This was only a software update, and hasn't to this day been remedied.. the Gear replacement was never done. Only a software update was done back in Aug 26, 2019 apparently. The Dealership and Manufacturer has been contacted and have denied any actual remedy. According to Federal law The Manufacturer of the vehicle shall remedy the defect in any of the following ways. A. by repairing the vehicle; B. by replacing the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle; or C. by refunding the purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. a software update was not a repair. We have the repair estimate which is directly relating to this defect that was foreseen which we didn't get notification of until Oct 17, 2023 and this defect is related to the existing recall afore mentioned. This safety defect has caused a substantial and total loss of the use of the car and is unsafe to drive in possession of the dealership. We seek equity, "Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy" [XXX] just wants the use of her car (well cared for and only 104k miles) and have the trust with Ford Motor Company to be restored. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the EPS was not functioning as needed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- The power steering does not work. - The car is very difficult to steer especially at slower speeds, which increases the risk of an accident. - The car has been taken in for service and verified by the dealership "Walt Sweeney Ford" in Cincinnati, Ohio - The warning light in the vehicle says "Power Steering Assist Fault" - I think this should be covered under "Safety Recall - 15S18 - the car was manufactured in - Hermosillo - which is one of the Assembly Plants mentioned in the recall and during the time mentioned in the recall - - The manufacturer says it is not covered - The contact stated that the CSP 15N01 is applicable to their vehicle according to the CarFax despite the dealership not honoring that.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced unintended high-speed acceleration and struck a parked vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The vehicle then crashed into a residence. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries to her face, back of the head, and neck; however, medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the body shop but was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer twice before the crash; however, the cause of failure was not found and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
As I drive the power steering is locking up and my steering assist vault keeps coming on. I have taken my vehicle to Clinton , Indiana Ford dealer & currently taking it back 11/28 for the same issue. Please help. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. The contact stated that when the vehicle came to a complete stop, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Failure" was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module (PSCM) had experienced an internal failure, and the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Power Steering Assist Failure/EPAS Failure
I got a electrical power steering failure notification, which made my steering wheel very hard to turn. I’m glad I was going straight and not turning at that moment because I believe I would’ve crashed.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering was inoperable. The "Steering Advance Trac" warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence of a relative. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Loss of power steering.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel became firm. The vehicle was steered to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic test result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,759.
I was driving my vehicle (Ford Fusion 2011) home and while on a busy street, my vehicle began to shake and displayed the following warning on my dashboard - SERVICE POWER STEERING. I luckily made it home without incident. I haven't driven it since. -My safety was in jeopardy as well as others on the road. -The vehicle has NOT been inspected by Ford, or any others. As it would need to be towed. -The warning came on AS the problem began. -I've reached out to a few Ford dealerships in the Dallas Metro, whom have CONFIRMED it has a recall - however are demanding I pay for repairs, which to my knowledge is illegal if it is a recall.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the fuel tank was cracked and leaking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V793000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while making a U-turn in his driveway, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the electric steering fault and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Power steering assist failure.
I was driving on the highway and my power steering suddenly went out on me in the middle of traffic. My 2011 Ford Fusion SE had a "Power Steering Assist Fault" on my dash and it stopped working, it only had 117k miles on it. I then took it to the dealership to get it diagnosed and they said it was the Rack and Pinion that needed to be replaced. They told me that its a known problem, and for this generation of Fusion there was an extended warranty for this problem, but only 10 year/150k miles, whichever comes first and my car(12 years old) is now too old to get it replaced at no charge. Said that Ford around 2011 was introducing electric power steering for the first time. The Ford Dealership then wanted me to pay out something like $2300 to have them replace the parts needed. This was so incredibly dangerous to have this suddenly happen, I almost wrecked trying to get off the highway during rush hour. I have no clue why Ford would make a car and not make it a mandatory recall to replace parts for the electronic steering. After Googling my issue, I found many others having this same problem and getting screwed over by Ford. Please don't keep letting them get away with this. I just want to feel safe on the road in my car.
When driving the car, the "stability control" light came on, and the power steering no longer works. The contact stated there was an extended warranty added for the power steering issues that was issued in Oct 2015 - that warranty extended those parts for 10 years or 150,000, whichever came first. She said that since the vehicle now has 170,000 miles on it, the extended warranty was no longer in effect.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a loud grinding sound coming from the steering column. The contact stated that the grinding sound could be heard inside and outside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 134,000.
The electronic power steering goes in and out very dangerous
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "check power steering" warning light illuminated advertently the steering column became inoperable. The contact was able to drive the vehicle very slowly to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 265,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled over into a nearby parking area, where he became aware that the vehicle had lost electric power steering assist. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The master cylinder has gone out 3 times within 6mo of repair and warranty repair. Yes, it was confirmed and repaired by Goodyear Auto Service Center both previous times. I have the receipt to the warranty repair. The third time just happened last night. The vehicle has a current state inspection sticker. No warning light or symptoms at all. When driving without warning the brakes go to the floor and it’s harder to stop when driving. Yes the vehicle can be inspected upon request. Last night I was approving the corner of an intersection. My destination was a store on the corner. My speed was approximately 40-45 and I began to slow down by not accelerating. As I became closer to the driveway I began braking at which point almost immediately I felt what I can best describe as a disconnect, almost a pop of release like. At this point the brakes immediately went to the floor and I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to stop. I pumped the brakes and was able to slow the car down and turn in.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to merge into traffic, the steering wheel became firm and difficult to maneuver. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway. The contact was able to slowly maneuver the vehicle to the dealer where the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed. The contact was informed by the technician that the VIN was previously included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.
Electric steering assist stops working randomly
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while turning into a parking lot, while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a parking space, where the vehicle was stopped by the curb. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 193,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel stiffened without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer. The contact stated that the power steering assist returned after depressing the brake pedal. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 147,000.
"Power steering assist fault" was illuminated in message center. Complete loss of power steering making the vehicle undrivable. Vehicle not covered in recall even though this is a widely know issue in this year's make and model.
My steering is hard to turn I've had this problem before
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that the steering wheel became stiff and seized. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V34000 (Steering) however, the dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unavailable.
I bought a used 2011 Ford Fusion 1 year ago with 91,000 miles on it. When I took it for a test drive, the brakes were fine. After I bought it and drove it for a few days, I noticed that when I was in stop and go traffic, the brakes weren't engaging as soon - and the brake pedal would have to be pressed much further down towards the floor before engaging. It only happened once in a while, but as the year went on, it was happening more and more often to the point that we are afraid to drive it. We brought it in to our mechanic who is very knowledgeable. He said that the issue is with the hydraulic control unit (ABS part), and he said that it looks to be like the exact issue covered in the current recall for 2006-2010 models. The mechanic has had it in his shop for two months as we wait for the parts to become available as they are on a national back order. The fact that these parts are on a national back order with lots of people waiting in line to purchase them tells me that my car is not the only one out there having this problem. I have researched on several forums online and am seeing multiple people reporting the same problem on their 2011 Fusions. This is an extremely scary situation because the brakes can just go out on you completely without any warning at all, working fine one minute and then completely gone the next. I refuse to put my life in danger to continue driving this car due to the safety concern, and am not sure how to handle this financially since I am making payments on a car that I can't drive and also paying for insurance for it to be sitting in the shop. I am hopeful that the NHTSA will investigate this complaint, as I am certain my situation is NOT unique.
Went to start the car and got a message that says "power steering assist fault" after researching online this is a huge problem for Ford vehicles especially 2011 Ford fusion. Once the message came up the power steering no longer worked.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the contact was informed that the power steering was defective however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the “Power Steering Failure” warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver before the steering wheel seized and the vehicle was coasted off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering assist had failed and reset the power steering module. The contact stated that approximately one year later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Door handle mechanism made of plastic and breaks, preventing the locking and opening of door from the inside. The inability to leave your car without opening the door from the outside poses a serious safety risk to the driver and passenger in the need to exit a car quickly during emergency situations. This is a common occurrence from the self-repair videos I found online, and the method of failure and the symptoms of failure seem to be the same. My failure occurred when trying to pull the handle quickly breaks the plastic latch inside the mechanism and prevents the door from opening upon pulling the handle.
My power steering has stopped working no longer driveable
I get error (check power steering now) I've replaced tie rods sway bars steering column and I still have message steering is locked
In June 2023 I experienced sudden steering failure with my Fusion. Upon checking parts costs at my local dealer (North Star Ford) I was advised that there may be an extended recall. I checked with the service department who reportedly checked with Ford and advised me that the recall was still in effect if certain codes were met despite its 186,000 miles. I had to have the vehicle towed to North Start and they verified the proper codes. When they sent the claim to Ford it was denied. North Star was un-able to get an explanation as to why they were told it was covered or why it was denied. I was given a Ford customer service #. I had to have the vehicle towed again. Upon calling Case #CAS44009218 was assigned but was given no assistance. To date I haven't heard from either North Star or Ford. I have owned the Fusion since 2012 and have never received a recall notice. I would like to know what year or at what milleage this condition stopped being a dangerous hazzard.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power of steering assist. Additionally, the power steering default warning light and advancetrac warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Power steering went out