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CarComplaints.com Notes: Ford significantly updated the Fusion for the 2010 model year. We wish they hadn't

Throttle body issues have led to a ton of reports about a sudden deceleration and loss of power while driving. Ford issued a “customer satisfaction program” in March 2014 that, unsurprisingly, has left very few customers satisfied.

2010 is also the year we started seeing complaints about the power steering failing. Throttle and steering failure? Yeah, that’s why this is a clunker.

9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,800
Average Mileage:
95,600 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace rack and pinion (8 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
2010 Ford Fusion steering problems

steering problem

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2010 Ford Fusion Owner Comments

problem #9

Nov 092019

Fusion ES 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

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

Steering quit all of a sudden. Did not if were going to get home. Steering was difficult. Now I have found out Ford will not recall this problem. They have on all the 2011,2012 and 2013. So they need to recall the 2010 also. An expense cost that I can not afford.

I will be telling all my friends NOT to buy a Ford Fusion, if Ford does not recall this problem ASAP.

- Anna Bell P., Gruetli Laager, US

problem #8

Jul 012019

Fusion SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Started my car one morning and had "service power steering now" and "service advanctrac" displayed. The power steering did not work and I took it to a Ford dealer. They said I needed a new rack and pinion and it would cost $1900. I did not have them replace it because I could not afford it. Now I am driving my car around with no power steering and it is a bitch. Why isn't 2010 a part of the recall if it has the same symptoms as the 2011-2013??? really disappointed

- Ian B., Durham, NH, US

problem #7

Jun 132019

Fusion 4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Power steering went out. Took to mechanic- diagnostic said rack and pinion needed to be replaced. Replaced R&P two days later power steering went out again! Mechanic is replacing the part (free of charge) but was advised by his parts dealer that the problem may occur again, and that this is a problem the 2010 Fusion has been having. He explained that he checked for a recall about this problem but found none and was surprised by that. Are they waiting for a certain number of people to be maimed or killed before they recall???

- Eileen L., Cleveland, US

problem #6

Sep 202018

Fusion SEL 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

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

Very unhappy after doing research to find out Ford is covering the 2011-2012 Fusion models under a recall for power steering failure. They are NOT covering the 2010 model year even though it is the same vehicle! Doesn't make any sense. Went to start it recently and a power steering fault failure light was on. No power steering, almost impossible to turn the wheel. Ford says it's not covered and needed to pay $1800 to fix this problem even though it's obvious that a large amount of people are having exactly the same issue. This isn't right, the 2010 model should be included in this recall also. I will not buy a Ford vehicle again, we have always had good luck with Honda and Toyota vehicles.

- Tim C., Chisago City, MN, US

problem #5

Aug 012017

Fusion SEL 2.5L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

Problems began near 75k mile mark. Only when starting the vehicle. Power Steering Assist Fault and Advancetrac failure warnings appeared along with no power steering. Restarting the vehicle often fixed it. At 125k miles, after getting front ball joints replaced, the power steering failed completely. Likely failed after service due to the shop not de-powering the system before hammering on the front ball joints (as Ford recommends). Private shop quoted $2700 to replace. Steering angle sensor failure turned out to be the cause, the whole rack needs to be replaced for this. Difficult job as the subframe needs to be lowered in order to gain access. We were lucky that is failed while the vehicle was parked. 2011/12 Fusion's were recalled for rack failure but 2010 was not, I could not recommend this vehicle to a friend because of that.

- William G., Northville, MI, US

problem #4

Sep 152016

Fusion 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,200 miles

This problem existed in these automobiles..the power steering just went out and it is the electrical type. I expect this problem to be fixed by Ford because this seems to be an on going problems with this car. Why would you not release the information for a recall?

- Shannon J., Pegram, US

problem #3

Aug 222015

Fusion SEL 2.5L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,726 miles

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

On 08/22/15 my sister and I were on a road trip. Without any previous warning a message appeared that read "Power Steering Assist Fault" just as soon as that message appeared my power steering disappeared. We were over 127 miles from home, in the country, after dark. We ended up waiting until morning to have the car towed back home. I had it towed to the local Ford Dealership.

I want to say right off the bat, I was very disappointed in their service. The service tech told me it was the Rack & Pinion and it would cost $1700.00. I feel they tried to pressure me into taking action right away by telling me there was only one Rack & Pinion in stock and if they were unable to get that one I would have to wait two to three weeks because they were on back order. I said I would get back to them.

After I did a little research I called back and mentioned that I saw there was a class action law suite over the power steering issues. And based on what I read, I asked if they had checked for corrosion. They assured me that they had checked and found none. I told them that I would like to pick my car up as is and take it elsewhere. A half hour later the tech called back to inform me that they decided to take another look and this time they found faulty wiring which they missed before. They felt this might be the problem and with my permission would like the replace the wiring ($211.00). I decided to let them (that was a mistake). After replacing the wiring the power steering still did not work. Again I told them I wanted to pick my car up as is and I would like the old parts. When the service adviser handed over the old wiring, he said they could only salvage these 4 wires (Approx. 2" long) that the rest had disintegrated. I was told by the tech that rodents had destroyed the wires which then in turn fried the Rack & Pinion.

I dropped my car off at a local garage that I normally go to. Once they had a chance to look it over they said that the wiring job Ford did was substandard. The wires literally fell apart in their hands. They also said that the damage to the wires were not caused by rodents but due to the fact my car did not have a EPAS gear heat shield. The mechanic gave me a copy of a mechanic's bulletin that shows that Ford was aware of this issue and started to put the EPAS gear heat shields on Fusions built after 04/12/10. My car was built 04/07/2010. I am now out $1800.00 because there was no heat shield on the Rack & Pinion to protect the wiring and Ford did not bother to issue a recall. I feel to lose your power steering without any ample warning is a safety issue and warrants a recall.

My car is only 5yrs old with 74,726 miles and is well maintained by me. I think this is inexcusable. In the past 5yrs I have now had 3 potentially dangerous car malfunctions. 1. Engine was shaking. not safe to drive. 2. Throttle Body Failure. and now 3. Power Steering Assist Fault

- Jan W., Brunswick, OH, US

problem #2

Jul 172015

Fusion SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,154 miles

I had just finished getting my tires aligned and rotated rotated and oil change, you know the regular stuff, after having to replace the inner tie rods. Then I was driving and heard a strange noise, then I went to turn and next thing I knew all these strange lights started going on, saying check power steering/advanced traction control etc.....I had taken to a couple different places, which has I had to have it towed, didn't want to create additional problems by continuing to try and drive it.

I had to end up taking it to the Ford Dealership to get it fixed, first they told me it would be Friday(this was on Monday I believe) before they could get to it, but then next thing I knew they called me and told me what was wrong and would have it fixed Tuesday, but when they told me how much it was going to be to fixed, of course I moved to the front of the line since it was $1732, funny how that works!

- Brandon N., Excelsior Springs, MO, US

problem #1

Jul 102015

Fusion SE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,945 miles

Ford is saying that the car needs a new rack and pinion, A $1600 repair. Now I have done a lot of research on the steering for a 2010 Ford Fusion and there are a TON of complaints, WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS PART???? Are they waiting for some body to be killed??? So we will get this replaced and it will go out again, as I have seen numerous times on line. It's a racket to get consumers to pay for a repair that is probably not needs and is apart of the damn computer system. We have only had this car for 14 months, the default steering light has been coming on for the last 6 months. HMMMM but Ford isn't responsible for it. I will never own another FORD CAR EVER!!!!!!

- Brian G., Hendersonville, NC, US

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