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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:
42 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
21 / 1
Average Mileage:
80,373 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 12 of 64)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1048

Jan 302021

Fusion

  • 58,000 miles

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

Twice in the past year, I had a power steering assist fail when it was parked at a store. The first time, it was okay after I let it sit for 1/2 hour. Last week, when I got in my car, it failed again. I was able to drive it 8 miles and parked it at the dealer. They couldn't scedule it til March. I had to go home 20 miles away. When I got back in, it was okay. Has there been a recall" or should I have my mechanic look at it"

- Falls, PA, USA

problem #1047

Feb 012021

Fusion

  • 131,000 miles
I was driving on my way home and all of a sudden my power steering went out. Because of this I hit a curb and popped a tire but luckily no one was harmed. I looked into the issue and saw many others have had similar problems and I discovered that there was a recall for that same part (recall #15S18). I contacted my local Ford dealership and the service manager laughed at me saying it was my fault for hitting the curb after telling him I hit the curb because the steering went out. After more discussion they refused to grant the recall because I was one month past the warranty date and it would cost over $2000 to fix. If this were to have happened to me on the highway I could have been killed. Luckily it was on a street close to my home. Although I wasn't injured, someone else may have been or may be in the future.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #1046

Jan 232021

Fusion

  • 124,000 miles
While driving with my three children the power steering went out on the car. I was able to get the car home without an accident. I could not park on the street as the lack of power steering made it impossible. Once parked we turned the car off and started to look into possible problems.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #1045

Jan 242021

Fusion

  • 5 miles

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

2011 Ford Fusion. Power steering assist fault appeared many times when started the vehicle. The message tends to disappear by turning off/on the vehicle. One time steering lost power while driving at 30mph. Turned the vehicle off/on on middle of the road and then the issue disappeared. Have no confidence now in driving this vehicle. Own this vehicle for one year and 173100 mile on it.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #1044

Jan 202021

Fusion

  • 111,800 miles
Power steering assist fault began to appear randomly, same as described for the other recent complaints. Usually can be cleared by turning off/on, but a definite safety issue if it occurs while driving.

- Hinckley, IL, USA

problem #1043

Jan 172020

Fusion

  • 157,000 miles
Loss of power steering and continued intermittent power steering assist fault after reprogramming. Ford and local dealership art hill Ford refuse to acknowledge issue as an active recall after performing programming instead of gear replacement back on 02/17/18

- Merrillville, IN, USA

problem #1042

Dec 102020

Fusion

  • 140,000 miles

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

When the vehicle is first started, there is power steering. Then after driving for 5 minutes or so, it losses power steering and goes into manual steering mode. This happened 3 or 4 times and now there is no power steering at all. There was a recall dealing with this issue in 2015 but I did not own this vehicle at this time and am unsure if the recall was repaired. The car only has 140,000 miles.

- Mansura, LA, USA

problem #1041

Dec 302020

Fusion

  • 123,000 miles
When I brought the 2011 Ford Fusion the power steering fault came on and went on and off and had car looked at they did not detect a problem this was like 11/2018 and then later on in fact years later the power steering fault came on and off and finally stayed on without going off. It was difficult to steer car. Was on the road had to be very careful driving home. I had the car looked at and found out that there was a recall but it has since expired for a rack and pinion and that I would be liable for the cost to repair. The first part of the recall was to try to reset it but in my case it did not work so I was out of 160 and had to pay for further repair a rack and pinion, which was in upwards of 1500. Had I known about the recall I would've got it repaired before I brought the car. They told me the recall had expired in 2019 they could not repair it. I am very disappointed in they way they handled it I think they should have at least covered the parts.

- Paoli, PA, USA

problem #1040

Jan 102021

Fusion

  • 80,000 miles
While in motion, the vehicles powered steering gave out - with the failure of 'service advanced track'. turning the wheel becomes nearly impossible - it's extremely dangerous. Often, before the 'service advance track' failure, when starting up the car, if I started turning it would flash a warning related to the steering - I have to wait about 5 seconds before turning. I've told various mechanic shops about this issue (when intermittent) and they were been unable to diagnose it. Since I purchased the vehicle years ago, I noticed that the steering leans slightly to the right. The 'service advance track' failure has occurred once in the past and the resolution was quite expensive / unwieldy ($2K) - it involved replacing the axle, amongst other components, that were damaged because of the steering issues. This occurring twice, in both cases while driving the vehicle (possibly under highway conditions), has been exceedingly worrisome & stressful. In an instant, turning requires a tremendous amount of effort - I am certain, in some situations, this sudden steering failure would have resulted in horrendous accidents. The first time the 'service advanced track' failure occurred: Restarting the vehicle allowed it to become drivable - enough that I could bring it to various mechanics. I believe I was told I could replace basically the entire steering system, for an exorbitant price, but, the mechanics could not even guarantee it would fix anything. This time, it was wholly undrivable.. now that this has occurred a second time, I have absolutely no confidence that the electric steering in this vehicle is safe - it genuinely worries me that this vehicle is on the road. Unless Ford can wholly diagnose, recall and fix this issue, I will be selling the vehicle and buying a new one - for my safety, my passengers safety & the safety of other drivers on the road.

- Austin Tx, TX, USA

problem #1039

Jan 092021

Fusion

  • 145 miles
Power steering assist fault - no power steering in car

- Williamsport, MD, USA

problem #1038

Dec 272020

Fusion

  • 104,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at low speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering). The failure mileage was 104,000.

- Corman, NY, USA

problem #1037

Dec 242020

Fusion

  • 85,603 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to drive the vehicle, the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult. The vehicle was taken classic Ford of smithfield (1324 N brightleaf blvd, smithfield, nc 27577) but was not diagnosed or repaired, due to the diagnostic and the repair fees. The vehicle was later taken to Firestone and was diagnosed that the steering rod and rack & pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,603.

- Smithfield, NC, USA

problem #1036

Dec 312020

Fusion

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the power steering malfunctioned. The contact regained control after the vehicle swerved and pulled over. The tract steering light and the service power steering light was flashing. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back home. The contact took the vehicle to davidson Ford of clay (3690 state route 31, liverpool, NY 13090, (877) 810-7456) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer stated that the manufacturer would be contacted to see if any assistance would be provided. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

problem #1035

Dec 302020

Fusion

  • 100,000 miles
My power steering assist fault light came on my car. I turned it off and back on and it went off and everything seemed fine. This morning I get in my car to come work and the power steering assist fault light came on. I turned off the vehicle and then turned it back on, this time it did not go off and the power steering was no driveable at all. I had to have my car towed to the Ford dealership because it wasn't driveable and then was told that they had no vehicles to loan to us to drive. Unacceptable in our book!

- Millers Creek, NC, USA

problem #1034

Dec 302020

Fusion

  • 140,000 miles
Driving about 40 mph and the "power steering failure" light appeared and the steering felt heavier. I pulled off the road and turned off the car for about 5 minutes. When the car was turned back on the message did not reappear. Vehicle mileage is about 140K.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #1033

Dec 292020

Fusion

  • 173,000 miles
A safety recall work on the power steering occurred June 2019. The power steering failed at 60mph on 12/29/2020. Was told by dealership, you now have to pay for the repairs. I never believed the repairs were completed because the same groaning noise continued afterwards. Ford needs to do what is right.

- Liverpool, TX, USA

problem #1032

Nov 182020

Fusion 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering ceased without warning. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. He contact contacted imperial Ford (8 uxbridge rd, mendon, MA 01756; (508) 473-2800) who informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering) and was therefore not covered under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not included. The contact was directed to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Woonsocket, RI, USA

problem #1031

Dec 102020

Fusion

  • 72,500 miles
Power sterring stopped working, while in a turn and nearly crashed. I pulled over, and turned off the car and then restarted, and the power sterring started working again.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #1030

Dec 012020

Fusion

  • 165,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the power assist fault message was displayed prior to the steering wheel becoming very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer toliver Ford located at 1311 S pacific St, mineola, tx 75773 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,000.

- Tyler, TX, USA

problem #1029

Nov 232020

Fusion

  • 145,000 miles
This is a recall on the non 3.5L already but mine is the 3.5L. Sometimes when I would turn the car on the "power steering assist fault" alert would come on on the dash control panel. I would not have power steering. I could turn my car off then back on and it would be gone and I would have power steering again. Well this past time I tried turning the car off and back on and the alert did not go away this time. I have no power steering.

- Milton, WV, USA

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