The Ford Fusion is a nice and affordable daily commuter. This has put it in the hands of millions of users over the years. Despite its popularity, it has known problems. One of the most prominent issues is the power steering system.
The Power Steering Assist fault message is a common issue for Ford Fusions and has led to multiple recalls.
What Happens if the Power Assist in Your Steering Fails?
Since power steering assist is a system that uses hydraulic or electric power to add torque to the steering rack when you turn the wheel, it makes it easier to steer, especially at low speeds.
It is why modern vehicle steering feels so light, and you can easily turn it with a single hand – or even a finger.
When the system fails, you remain with just the physical linkage to the steering rack. You must use your arm strength to move the wheels without the extra boost.
The vehicle’s weight and friction between the wheels and the surface make it very hard to turn the wheel. You will need both hands and some grunt, especially when turning at low speed.
The top things you will not when there’s power-assisted steering failure include:
- It will be harder to turn the wheel when doing parking maneuvres
- The steering wheel will feel more weighted and less vague when driving at a reasonable speed
- A groaning or creaking sound every time you turn the wheel
What Causes Steering Assist Fault in a Ford Fusion?
Before digging deep into Ford Fusion problems, we will look into common power steering system faults that also apply to the Ford. This will vary depending on whether your Ford Fusion uses electric or hydraulic power steering.
Electrical Failures
Both electric and hydraulic power steering systems have some electronics controlling the overall operation of the system.
Any failure in the wiring, actuators, sensors and even blown fuses could grind the power assist to a halt.
- A failed electric power steering motor won’t turn. Hence there will be no assistive torque to inject into the system
- In some hydraulic systems, an electrical pump might fail to lead to insufficient pressure in the power steering assist fluid
Luckily, electrical failures always trigger an error code. They will always trigger the power steering assist fault warning and an accompanying OBDII error code.
You Are Running Low on Fluids
Hydraulic power steering systems or hybrid systems need some fluid to work. Low fluid levels will leave the system with less medium to transmit, leading to a slightly or significantly harder wheel to turn.
Luckily, checking your power steering fluid levels is easy as it sits in a labeled clear reservoir under the hood. Note that some vehicles with a hybrid system share hydraulic fluid between the brake system and the power steering system.
If the levels drop significantly, chances are there’s a leak somewhere. Inspect your vehicle’s undercarriage and where you park for leaks.
Normally, your power steering fluid levels shouldn’t drop significantly overnight. Have a professional look into the system if this happens as soon as you top up or notice a puddle of red or pink fluid under the vehicle.
A Snapped or Slipped Belt
If your Ford Fusion has a mechanical pump driven by a belt from an engine pulley, it will lose all power the moment that belt goes missing.
Inspect your engine bay, looking for any belt that seems to have slipped or is missing. You could also look for slipping belts. In most cases, a slipping belt will make a screeching or squealing noise as it slips over the pulleys.
Ford Specific Power Steering System Failures
The Ford Fusion has, over the years, had quirky failures in its power steering system. These are errors specific to its design, and most have seen the company issue a recall to remedy the situation and stay compliant.
Faulty Steering Motor Sensor
Ford Fusions, in the model year 2012, had a potentially faulty steering motor sensor that could send wrong readings to the controller leading to a shut down of the entire power steering assist.
The problem could be detected by polling the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for diagnostic trouble codes. Any errors will have the entire steering gear and sensor replaced and software updated. You will still get a software update if your sensor wasn’t faulty and there were no error codes.
Rusty Power Steering Assist Fault
The 2013 to 2016 Ford Fusions had the power assist motor attached to its housing with bolts that didn’t have a proper rust protection coating.
Over time, the bolts corrode and detach, leaving the motor loose or detached from the housing. The problem was especially common in snowy places with road salt application or in towns next to the sea.
In the US, the recall applied to vehicles made at the Salk Lake, Oakville, and Hermosillo assembly plants.
General Electronic Power Assisted Steering Failure
Apart from the sensor failure, the third-generation units’ EPAS (electronic power-assisted steering) system is known to have multiple malfunctions. Even though Ford hasn’t issued a recall for these, consumer reports show multiple complaints on various parts of the system.
The unit is designed with a reasonable failure procedure, meaning it is hard to lose control when driving at speed. It mostly fails noticeably when driving under 20 MPH.
How to Fix the Power Steering Fault Code
The fixes will always vary depending on your Ford Fusion’s model and what type of power steering system it has. Here are some troubleshooting and fixing steps you can take to sort out the problem
- Check the fuse box and confirm that none of the fuses related to power steering are missing or blown. Replace any blown fuses and monitor the system. If it blows a fuse again, you need to have the electrical system troubleshot
- Confirm if your Ford Fusion is part of a recall. If yes, confirm if it was taken for a fix. If it wasn’t, the recall problems have come home to roost. Please take it to a dealership or a credited mechanic for a fix
- If your steering assist is hydraulic, confirm that you have enough power steering fluid and that the power steering pump has a working belt connecting it to the crankshaft
- Check or have someone check the different control modules and ECU for power steering-specific error codes that give you an idea of what you should fix
If you are lucky, the warning light will be due to low fluid or a blown fuse. Otherwise, you will need detailed troubleshooting to isolate and fix the problem once and for all.
How to Reset the Power Steering Fault Code
You can use a diagnostic tool to erase the codes via the OBDII port or rest the system by following these steps:
- Switch the car on and then off to initiate a startup system scan
- Repeat the process up to four times to get rid of the code
Note that these two steps will only work if you have fixed the problem or the issue is intermittent, and the system runs a check on startup and finds no faults.
Warning: You shouldn’t just reset or erase the fault code without diagnosing and fixing the problem. Your Ford Fusion will still have the steering fault, and the error code will pop up again.
Can You Keep Driving With the Power Steering Fault Error Message On?
While you can still keep driving with the manual steering power steering, it is a bit more dangerous if you are used to power steering.
You will need more effort to change the vehicle’s direction, and parking will be a nightmare. However, if you consciously anticipate this, you can still manually control a small vehicle like the Ford Fusion.
Note that active safety systems like lane-keeping, collision avoidance, and automated parking that need the computer to issue steering commands will not work if you have faulty power steering.