My 2011 Ford Fusion started making a grinding noise from the "electronic" power steering rack in May of 2018. It's been getting progressively worse and the steering is now starting to stick. Very dangerous on the highway when making those slight turns, since you have to jerk the wheel to unstick it..... I took the car to Ford to spend my $150 for their "diagnostic" test to see if what I knew was right and to see if I could get the steering gear replaced. The service writer was more concerned about my brake pads and tranny fluid then explaining anything about the power steering. I asked about error codes, he kept dodging the question. He pretty much said "yeah your steering rack is bad.. that'll be $150, oh and would you like us to change your rear brake pads?"

I had to do the research myself since he was so unhelpful, it actually made me sick... for anyone else with a ford fusion there is a recall 15N01 for 10 years or 150k miles, for qualifying vin#, I'm lucky that mine falls in the range of accepted vins… The only reason I know that is because I have a copy of my receipt from the original power steering recall which said that 15N01 is still "open" for my car. I would never have known that, since the service writer didn't really care to explain anything or possibly was being told not to explain. I have to wait for the steering to fail completely, produce an error code and then bring it in from what I have read... as soon as this happens and it's fixed I'm going to trade in the car.

I've read that people who have gotten their steering gear replaced had it fail again and had to pay $2000 to replace it. It would actually break my heart to put $2000 into a car worth only 5 grand. I've called Ford, talked to service writers and they all have been so unhelpful that it is disgusting. The only help I've gotten was off of this website and forums... I was turned away from an inspection yesterday at the normal place I go to, Mavis, because the mechanic didn't want to ok the car with this horrid noise coming from the rack. I don't blame him, what happens if I get killed in this thing and the government starts knocking on his door asking why he passed the car... he told me to take it to ford to do the inspection.

So I went to Ford this morning to get it inspected and the mechanic seemed to think that my "choppy" windshield wipers were more of a safety concern than a sticking steering wheel. That's why I stick to the guy I know at Mavis because he wouldn't screw me over on such ridiculous bull crap. Will never go back after this, it actually makes me sick that I gave these people my money. There is a reason why Ford is going to stop making cars and stick only to trucks; fix your cars, trade them in or sell them.

My stomach actually turns driving this car at the moment. What if driving this thing around, advertising the ford name, gives someone the idea to make the same horrible decision that I did. At least Ford is taking some responsibility here and admitting that they suck at making cars..... just look up the problems with Focus RS. Will probably never buy an American car again after this. Also had a horrible experience with a Chevy suburban, having cheap exhaust manifold bolts snapping.

Bought car 4 years old with 20k miles. Occasional steering noise, gradually got to annoying stage and finally took it in to the dealer for recall check. Dealer has done 15S18, 15N01X. PCM had a U300 code, so dealer replaced steering gear. Steering noise returned and draws attention when turning. Sounds like a 3 Stooges rerun. Some days the car operates fine, but most days, it sounds terrible. Dealer has offered no other suggestions or help. Car has 87k miles on it now.

Ford may choose to ignore this, but I've left Chrysler for Ford and now have started buying Hondas (3) with no issues and very minimal maintenance on them with more miles. I'll drive this 2011 until it dies, because nobody will buy it with this steering noise - but my next car will probably be a Honda Accord.

Purchased my 2011 Fusion 3 months ago with 58k test drive went fine, so I jumped on it. A couple days later I started noticing noise a grinding/popping sound coming from the front end sounded to me like a cv axle or control arm going out. I could feel the vibrations through the steering wheel, so I took it to the dealership that week. They had a look at it and said it appeared to be a control arm, replaced it picked the car up. After about 20 min of driving the sound came back in full swing. Seems the slower I go and the more turns I make the louder it gets. It sounds like something is going to snap.

So I take it back to the dealership. They have it for a week, call me and tell me it's ready to pick up.. I arrived asking what they had to fix this time.. they said nothing.. that they had 3 guys look at it and there was absolutely nothing wrong that they could find. So same crap about 20 min from the house on my way back same noise..

Finally I get some money saved and figured I will take it to my mechanic and had him look at it.. he at least acknowledged the noise is in fact there (I'm not crazy*) and that he can't pinpoint for sure where it's coming from but from the research we have both done we believe it's coming from the faulty electric steering issue.. he says he could do $1600 worth of work done and not be able to guarantee it to be fixed.. told me to take it to the Ford dealership.

This is the worst car I have ever owned and by far the newest it's really sad ford used to be more reliable. I have a girlfriend with cancer and purchased it for a new job and to be able to get my girlfriend back and forth from Colorado to Texas for appointments now I am afraid to take it to the store.. thanks to a shiesty dealership and a super dependable company (FORD) I am stuck with a $360 a month car note on a vehicle I can't afford to fix or even pinpoint the issue..

I have purchased Hondas for a 1000 dollars that had over 200000 miles on them be more reliable than a practically new Ford... with quality like they are putting out they would be better off just shutting the doors on the whole operation land pull a Pontiac. I seriously think I am going to just eat the $5600 I have invested and let the bank just have the car back that is how frustrated Ford has me about the whole situation.. I would be better off taking my next couple payments and buying a 1992 Civic