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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Fusion builds off the 2010's reputation. That's not a good thing.

The first thing that jumps out is the ridiculous amount of power steering complaints. It grinds, it squeals, and it eventually just fails.

And if losing power steering isn’t enough for you, how about a sudden loss of engine power? That combination is enough to achieve clunker status.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
26 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 1
Average Mileage:
71,586 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Ford Fusion steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Ford Fusion Owner Comments (Page 2 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #725

Jun 302018

Fusion

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the highway when the power steering went out. Alarm sounds went off and power steering default appeared on the info system. Had a hard time pulling off the highway. When I realized it was electrical steering I went online to find a way to fix the problem. I checked the fuses. Fuses were ok. Since I could hardly move the steering wheel trying to get off the highway I wasn't going to risk my life again or my fellow drivers on the highway by driving it back home. I waited for my car to be towed back home. You would think a car doing 70 mph would still be somewhat easy to steer right to get on the shoulder of the highway. It was not and took a good deal of muscle to turn the steering wheel right. If I was a older person or someone weaker this could have been bad.

- Sugar Grove, IL, USA

problem #724

Jun 292018

Fusion

  • 144,000 miles
My 2011 Ford Fusion's steering wheel completely gave out on me while driving on a highway in July of 2015. Extremely dangerous situation. Dealership informed me of an open recall and replaced the whole steering rack pursuant to Ford recall number 15S18. Fast forward three years later -- last Friday, also while driving, my steering wheel failed and almost caused a crash. Exact same errors. Contacted two different dealerships, as well as Ford, and all said they can't do anything about it -- that I would have to pay $2300+ to get it replaced. How can the steering rack fail me twice in three years" how does Ford get away with making this a one time recall and doing nothing when the same thing happens again" it's absolutely absurd and horrifying. No car - especially not one that is a relatively newer model - just randomly has a steering rack failure in the middle of a highway. If I had crashed, I am guessing Ford would have paid for the replacement.

- Osceola, WI, USA

problem #723

Jul 062018

Fusion

  • 72,571 miles
I was driving on a city street turning left. On my way to pick up my son when my power steering went out and a prompt showed on my dashboard saying power steering assist fault.

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #722

Jun 232018

Fusion

  • 10,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Intermittent power steering failure. When backing out of my driveway, power steering locked up then was drivable. Locked up again 66 miles later while backing up in driveway.. took it to team Ford, $2199 to repair. Over 400;00 was recalled in 2015; for same problem. Why not mine?

- Steubenville, OH, USA

problem #721

Jan 092017

Fusion

  • miles
1. takata recall- air bag: Air bag sensor or light goes blinking for 30 mins or more than it switches to the panel light and stays there lit up.. 2. steering column-stiff and grinding noise: When it drives backward reverse it makes that noise and when on the road it begins to make loud noise, then the steering gets hard to steer. 3. ac coolant does not blow cold air: Does not get cold and blows out warm air only.

- Crownpoint, NM, USA

problem #720

Jun 212018

Fusion

  • 97,850 miles
I purchased this 2011 Fusion sel 6 months ago, the carfax report listed everything as being checked out but no report about epas as having recall issues, no problems until last week when the outside temperature reached the 90's, when exiting the freeway and coming to a stop the steering and brakes started loud growling noise at low speeds, continued throughout city street driving as well with it remaining constant until the temp cooled off overnight as it didn't have problems when temp was back down in the 60's but has repeated the growling noise again several times once the temp's return in hot weather. Went to the Ford dealer and said the recall 15S18 has been closed and that my VIN never was part of the recall notice, very frustrating that the 393,623 units effected that listed 2011-12 Fusion's never included all vehicles as viewing all the complaints numerous other vehicles that wasn't included in the recall are having the same issues as those that were. Received recall notice for the takata airbag possibly available in the 3 qtr and Ford is allowing owners a rental unit up to $30 a day until the takata airbag parts are available for replacement.

- Willard, UT, USA

problem #719

Jun 202018

Fusion

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering would go out, but reset itself after turning car off and then back on. Power steering finally went out completely while going down subdivision road. Some 2011 Fusion were recalled for the same exact problem and fix. Good thing no worries accident happened and the takata airbag was not deployed since that recall has not been fixed yet.... many other cars just like this one on carcomplaints.com. Had issue fixed at barber Ford Inc in holland, mi 49423.

- Zeeland, MI, USA

problem #718

Jun 102018

Fusion

  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. When the vehicle was started, the steering wheel lost power without warning. The vehicle was taken to ray skillman hoosier Ford (333 robert curry dr., martinsville, in 46151, (765-342-3673) where it was determined that there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

- Martinsville, IN, USA

problem #717

Jun 122018

Fusion

  • 96,571 miles
Driving 8 hours, 70 mph, on 92 outside temp day the car started making a thumping sound when breaking/steering simultaneously. Steering became somewhat stiffer. The sound got louder as time went on, possibly due to extreme heat. Wife was with me and we both became very worried because we were in atlanta 5 pm traffic. We made it home and I began an information search. I found that our 2011 Ford Fusion was included in a field service action 15N01. I spoke with the local Ford service manager and was told that did not apply to the symptoms I described because there is no advance indication that the electric controlled steering is going out - it just goes out. Ford's own report mentions this being possibly dangerous but downplays the concern by saying steering is still possible, just more difficult. I called Ford customer service for some support but other than recommending a diagnoses and saying she is not a tech, offered no meaningful information. She did admit she would not want to drive a car with this condition existing. Last, I tried to get information via live chat and when I sent the fsa number, I was actually blocked of my ability to question him and he ended the chat. Frankly, I would like to hear the response of a Ford management person to the question "would you allow your dearest family members ride in a vehicle that show frightening symptoms of a steering issue knowing the existence of the 'field service action' which is about the steering going out.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

problem #716

Jun 082018

Fusion

  • 77,300 miles
My power steering system failed making the car unable to drive. This happened at 77,298 miles on it. My specific VIN number was not included in the 2011 Ford Fusion recalls for the same problem for power steering failure.

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #715

Jun 072018

Fusion

  • 85,689 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Over 2 years ago, at start up, the power steering assist failure warning appeared. I couldn't drive the car. I took it to the dealer and was advised of a recall on Fusion, but not on my VIN. Very frustrating! they reset the electronics and it was okay for only a couple of months. Since then, I receive the warning several times a month... consistently. I found if I turn the car off and back on, it would reset and power steering would resume. However, on Thursday, 6/7/18, it would not reset. I had to have the car towed and was advised still no recall on my car, it is out of warranty now, and it can only be reset once; I have to pay $1600 to change the rack. This is extremely disconcerting. This is the same problem as original concern 2 years ago and my car is outside of the recall.

- Plainville, CT, USA

problem #714

Jan 092018

Fusion

  • miles
Power steering assist fault pops up when car starts and steering wheel does not move

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #713

May 312018

Fusion

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. While driving various speeds, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to frederick motor company (1 waverley dr., frederick, md 21702, (301) 663-6111) where it was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering); however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

- Federick, MD, USA

problem #712

May 282018

Fusion

  • 160,000 miles
My power sterring shut off while driving, warning issued on dash. Had limited manual steering ability, had towed to dealership. In motion.

- Hellertown, PA, USA

problem #711

May 162018

Fusion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. While driving 15 mph, the steering wheel seized. The contact turned off the vehicle, restarted it after 30 seconds, and the vehicle functioned normally. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #710

May 222018

Fusion

  • 94,000 miles
Driving at 45 mph I lost my power steering. Took it and the dealership and was told they would have to reprogram the computer. Picked it up on Thursday and Friday morning I lost power steering again this time I was driving about 55 to 60 mph.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #709

May 042018

Fusion

  • 100,000 miles
Power stearing would quit forcing car to manual steering. Also traction control would shut off when this happened.

- Allison Park, PA, USA

problem #708

Mar 062018

Fusion

  • 69,260 miles
The power assist steering light came on and the car lost power steering. This happened in the driveway while the car was in motion. The car was not steerable at this point. I turned the engine off and then restarted the car and the power steering was active so I took it to the dealership. The dealer diagnosed the issue and found steering rack internal damage (invoice and description attached). This is the same issue as in recalled Ford vehicles, however, because this VIN was not included in the original recall the work was not covered by Ford.

- Gold Canyon, AZ, USA

problem #707

May 162018

Fusion

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. While driving approximately 35 mph, the power steering seized and the steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to teague Ford Lincoln (1730 w hillsboro St, el dorado, ar 71730, 870-864-9400). The dealer stated that even though the VIN was included in the recall for NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering), the recall did not apply to salvage titled vehicles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the recall did not apply to salvage titled vehicles. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Stephens, AR, USA

problem #706

May 172018

Fusion

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the power steering module failed while driving various speeds. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. The contact took the vehicle to town and country Ford (101 anderson ln, madison, tn 37115) and was informed of NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering). The dealer stated that because the vehicle exceeded 150,000 miles, the power steering module would not be replaced free of charge. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

- Goodlettsville, TN, USA

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