2011 Ford Fusion Power Steering Assist Fault Resetting and Fixing: A Complete Guides

It is one of the most alarming experiences a driver can have. You start your 2011 Ford Fusion, and as you begin to move, a sharp “beep” cuts through the cabin. The instrument cluster lights up with the ominous message: “POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT”. In that same instant, the steering wheel becomes incredibly stiff, as if it’s been set in concrete. It takes all your strength just to turn it.

You are likely here because you are searching for a “reset.” You have probably discovered that turning the car off, waiting a minute, and turning it back on sometimes fixes the problem… until the next time it happens.

This article will provide the temporary reset procedures you are looking for. More importantly, it will deliver a permanent solution. What you are experiencing is not a random glitch; it is one of the most common and well-documented failures on the 2010-2012 Ford Fusion. The “reset” is a temporary band-aid; the underlying wound is a defective Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system.

This is not just a random mechanical issue. It is a massive, documented safety defect that led to a formal investigation and recall. Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have a long, detailed history with this exact problem, which is logged under NHTSA Campaign ID 15V340. We will break down what this means for you, even many years after the initial warranties have expired.

What is the “Power Steering Assist Fault”? (Symptoms & Warnings)

Your 2011 Ford Fusion does not use an old-fashioned hydraulic power steering system with belts and fluids. It uses a modern Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system. This means a sophisticated computer, called the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), and a powerful electric motor are attached directly to the steering rack. They do all the work of helping you turn the wheels.

When this computer (the PSCM) detects a problem—whether it’s a bad sensor, a loss of communication, or an internal failure—it has one primary safety protocol: it shuts the entire system down. This protects the module from further damage but instantly reverts the car to a heavy, manual steering mode.

This fault rarely appears alone. Owners typically experience a cluster of these symptoms simultaneously:

• Primary Warning: The “POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT” message appears on the dash display.
• Secondary Warning: In many cases, a “SERVICE ADVANCETRAC” message will appear at the exact same time.⁸
• Audible Alarm: A repetitive chime or beeping sound accompanies the visual warnings.
• Physical Symptom: The steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn. This is most noticeable at low speeds, like in a parking lot or when reversing.
• Intermittent Nature: The fault is often intermittent at first. It may appear when you start the car but vanish after a restart. This can create a false sense of security, but the problem is guaranteed to return.
• Audible Noise: In severe cases, a grinding, whining, or slipping noise can be heard from the steering motor itself, indicating a critical mechanical failure within the steering rack assembly.

The “Service AdvanceTrac” Connection

Why does the traction control (AdvanceTrac) system fault at the same time as the power steering? This is a critical diagnostic clue. It is not two separate problems; it is one problem triggering a second.

Ford’s AdvanceTrac, which is its electronic stability control system, needs to know the precise angle of the steering wheel to function. If the car starts to skid, the system needs to know if you are steering into or away from the skid to correctly apply individual brakes.

This “Steering Angle Sensor” is not a separate part; it is built directly into the electronic steering rack assembly.

When the EPAS rack and its internal computer (the PSCM) fail, they stop broadcasting a valid steering angle signal over the car’s internal computer network (the HS-CAN bus). The AdvanceTrac module, now blind, panics. It has lost its most critical sensor, so it shuts itself down as a precaution and illuminates its own warning light.

Therefore, seeing both the “POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT” and “SERVICE ADVANCETRAC” warnings together is a near-certain confirmation that your failure is located within the EPAS steering rack assembly itself.

How to Temporarily Reset the Power Steering Fault

It is crucial to understand that these are temporary fixes. As confirmed by countless owners and even acknowledged by Ford dealership staff, the fault will return. The underlying hardware problem is not being solved. These resets are only intended to get you home or to a repair shop safely.

Method 1: The Ignition Cycle (Soft Reset)

This is the simplest method and the one most owners discover by accident.

1. Pull over to a safe location where you can stop the car.
2. Turn the car completely off.
3. If you have a physical key, remove it from the ignition. If you have a keyless start button, turn the car off, then open and close the driver’s door to ensure all electronic modules power down.
4. Wait for at least 1 to 5 minutes. This allows the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) to fully power down and clear its temporary fault memory.
5. Restart the car. In many cases, the system will re-initialize, the self-test will pass, and your steering assist will be restored.

Method 2: The Battery Disconnect (Hard Reset)

If the ignition cycle fails, this is the next step. This forces a hard reset of all the vehicle’s computer modules, including the PSCM.

1. Turn the car off and open the hood.
2. Using a 10mm wrench (or the appropriate size for your terminal), disconnect the negative (black) terminal of the 12-volt battery.
3. Secure the negative cable away from the battery post so it cannot make accidental contact.
4. Wait at least 15 to 30 minutes. This is the critical step. Many users report that a shorter time (like 5 minutes) is not enough to drain the residual power (volatile memory) from the modules.
5. After 15-30 minutes, reconnect the negative terminal and tighten it. You may see a small, normal spark.
6. Start the car. This forced “reboot” will clear the PSCM’s memory and will often restore steering.

Why This Reset Eventually Fails (And What It Tells You)

Many owners report that these resets work for a while, but eventually, they stop working entirely. This progression is a key diagnostic sign.

Initially, the fault is intermittent. A sensor sends a “bad” or “implausible” reading. The power cycle (reset) forces the PSCM to power on and re-read the sensor. On this new attempt, the sensor gives a “good” reading, the self-test passes, and steering assist is restored.

However, the underlying failure—a bad solder joint, a misaligned ribbon cable, or contamination inside the module —is a physical problem that gets worse over time with heat, vibration, and use.

Eventually, that intermittent fault becomes a “hard fault.” The sensor, ribbon cable, or computer chip is permanently broken. Now, when you perform a reset, the PSCM powers on, runs its self-test, and immediately detects the hard-failed component. It re-triggers the “FAULT” message before you have even put the car in gear.

If the battery disconnect method no longer works, you have your definitive answer: the failure is permanent, and no amount of “resetting” will fix it.

Why Your 2011 Fusion’s Power Steering Keeps Failing: The Real Causes

Before you condemn the steering rack, it is essential to follow a logical diagnostic order, starting with the cheapest and easiest potential fixes. Do not buy a $2,000 steering rack until you have verified #1 and #2.

Cause #1: Electrical & Voltage Issues (The “Check This First” Fix)

The EPAS system is the single largest electrical consumer in your entire car, aside from the starter motor. It is extremely sensitive to low or unstable voltage.

A weak, dying, or old 12-volt battery can cause the EPAS system to fault on startup. The starter motor draws hundreds of amps, causing the system voltage to dip, and the sensitive PSCM faults due to this “brown-out” condition. Similarly, a failing alternator can cause voltage sags while driving, triggering the fault.

A bad battery or corroded ground wire can also cause a “communication” breakdown on the CAN bus. One owner with a failing alternator reported their dash lit up with over a dozen “Lost Communication” codes (U0100, U0101, U0155, etc.). If your dash lights up “like a Christmas tree” with multiple unrelated faults, the root cause is almost certainly a power supply problem, not a dozen failed modules.

Your Action: Before doing anything else, take your car to any major auto parts store. Most offer a free battery and alternator load test. This is the single most important first step. Also, inspect the main battery terminals and the chassis ground straps for any corrosion or looseness. A Ford technician confirms that power supply issues are a very common cause of these faults.

Cause #2: Seized Suspension Components (The Hidden Mechanical Fault)

This is a non-obvious, expert-level diagnostic tip. The 2011 Fusion uses a complex dual-lower-control-arm front suspension. Technicians and owners have identified a specific issue where the rear lower control arms can seize up from rust and wear.

This creates a scenario that tricks the PSCM:

1. The control arm bearings seize, causing extremely “high friction” in the suspension.
2. You, the driver, must apply significantly more force to the steering wheel to overcome this mechanical resistance.
3. The EPAS system’s built-in “torque sensor” (which measures how hard you are turning the wheel) detects a major discrepancy: the driver is applying a lot of torque, but the wheels are not turning as easily as the system expects.
4. The PSCM interprets this high-friction state as a failure within the steering system itself. It logs a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) like P07AE or C102D (“High Friction Inside Power Steering”) and shuts the system down to prevent damage.

Your Action: If your diagnostic scan reveals DTC P07AE, the root cause may not be your $2,000 steering rack, but rather a set of seized $250 control arms.

Cause #3: Catastrophic EPAS Rack Failure (The Most Likely Cause)

For the vast majority of 2011 Fusion owners, this is the unfortunate reality. The entire EPAS steering gear assembly—which houses the motor, sensors, and the PSCM in one “black box” unit—is failing.

The failure is internal to this sealed unit.

Ford’s own investigation, submitted to NHTSA as part of the 2015 recall, identified the exact “smoking gun” cause: “quality issues pertaining to conformal coat contamination and ribbon cable pin misalignment within the steering gear Motor”.

In plain English: The protective coating sprayed on the internal circuit boards was bad, and the tiny electrical ribbon-cable pins that connect the motor sensor to the computer were not aligned correctly during manufacturing. Over time, this leads to short circuits, corrosion, and lost connections, causing the PSCM to detect a “motor position sensor fault” and shut down. This is a fundamental manufacturing defect.

The Infamous Recall: Ford’s 15S18 and 15N01 (And Why They Don’t Help You Now)

This section is critical for managing your expectations when you contact a dealer. You may have heard there was a “recall,” but the reality is complex and, for most owners, frustrating.

The “Recall” 15S18: A Failed Software Patch

Ford Safety Recall 15S18 (part of NHTSA campaign 15V340) was not a hardware replacement. It was a mandatory software update for the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM).

This patch did not fix the failing ribbon cables or contaminated circuit boards. Instead, its goal was to “prevent loss of steering assist while driving“.

This was primarily a liability-mitigation strategy for Ford. They knew the steering racks were failing and could cause a sudden, dangerous loss of steering at highway speeds.

• The 15S18 software update made the PSCM more sensitive to the early warning signs of this hardware failure.
• Instead of failing unexpectedly at 70 MPH, the new software would detect the intermittent fault on startup and fail “safely” in the driveway.
• This is precisely why so many owners reported that their power steering problems started, or became much worse, after the 15S18 recall “fix” was performed. The recall simply unmasked the inevitable hardware failure that was already there.

The “Warranty” 15N01: The Real (But Expired) Fix

Simultaneously, Ford issued Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01. This was the real fix. This program authorized a one-time, free replacement of the entire steering gear assembly… if (and only if) the vehicle had specific “loss of steering assist” DTCs stored in the PSCM.

The Bad News: This extended coverage was for “10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first”.

As of this writing, every 2011 Ford Fusion is now well past its 10-year mark. This warranty program is expired, and dealers will tell you that you are no longer eligible.

What You Can Do Now (A Small Glimmer of Hope)

There is one important distinction: Federal law mandates that safety recalls (like 15S18) never expire. The extended warranty (15N01) has expired, but the safety defect remains Ford’s responsibility.

Your path forward is to call Ford Customer Service (not your local dealer). Your argument should be polite but firm:

• Acknowledge you are aware of NHTSA recall 15V340.
• State that the 15S18 software “remedy” performed on your vehicle was insufficient, as it did not repair the known hardware defect (the contaminated/misaligned components).
• State that your vehicle is now exhibiting the exact failure mode the recall was meant to prevent, proving the remedy was inadequate.

Some persistent owners have successfully used this line of reasoning to receive partial or full reimbursement for their repair, even after the 15N01 warranty expired.

Diagnosing the Fault: Understanding the Trouble Codes (DTCs)

To make any progress, you must know the exact Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) stored in your car’s memory.

Why Your $20 OBD2 Scanner Won’t Work

A standard, inexpensive OBD2 code reader that you buy at a local parts store will not work for this problem. Those scanners are only designed to read the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)—the engine and transmission computer.

The power steering codes are stored in a separate computer: the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM). To read this module, you must have a more advanced scanner that can access the Ford-specific MS-CAN bus. This is why many owners plug in their scanner and are frustrated to see “No Codes Found,” even as the “Power Steering Assist Fault” message is glowing on the dash.

The DIY Solution: FORScan

For any Ford owner, the best diagnostic tool is FORScan. This is a software program (for a Windows laptop) or a mobile app that, when paired with a high-quality OBD2 adapter (like the OBDLink EX), can read every computer module in your Ford, including the PSCM.

Using FORScan, you can:

1. Read the specific steering-related DTCs.
2. Recalibrate the Steering Angle Sensor.
3. Program a new or used steering rack after installation.

For more information on this powerful tool, see our Ultimate Guide to Using FORScan on Your Ford.

Common 2011 Fusion Steering Fault DTCs

This table is your diagnostic roadmap. The specific code tells you the exact nature of the failure, separating a power issue from a true rack failure.

Permanent Fixes for the Power Steering Assist Fault

Based on the diagnostic codes, here are the only permanent solutions.

Solution 1: Stabilize the Electrical System (The “Hopeful” Fix)

If your diagnostic scan revealed U0100 or a cluster of other “U” (Network) codes, the fix is not the rack.

Action: Replace your 12-volt battery if it fails a load test. Clean all battery terminals and main chassis ground connections until they are bright metal. Have your alternator tested and replaced if its voltage output is low or unstable.

Solution 2: Advanced Software Recalibration (The “Maybe” Fix)

If your fault was triggered by an electrical issue, or if you have just replaced suspension components (like the control arms), the Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) may be “confused” and need to be re-calibrated.

Action: Using a tool like FORScan or a high-end professional shop scanner, perform the “Steering Angle Sensor Calibration” procedure. This service function re-teaches the PSCM what “straight” is. This will not fix a hardware failure like a U3000 or C200B code.

Solution 3: Replace the EPAS Steering Rack (The “Real” Fix)

If your diagnostic scan shows U3000, C200B, B2278, or C1B00, this is your only solution. The fault is internal to the rack, and the entire EPAS steering gear assembly must be replaced.

CRITICAL: Your New Rack MUST Be Programmed (PMI)

This is the most important warning for anyone considering this repair. You cannot just “swap” the steering rack like an old hydraulic unit. The PSCM is a computer that is “coded” to your car’s specific VIN and optional features.

When you install a new, remanufactured, or junkyard rack, it will arrive “dumb” or “blank.”

If you simply install it, the car will power up, and the PSCM will set a new code, such as U2100 – Initial Configuration Not Complete. The steering still will not work.

This is what parts descriptions mean when they say “Requires Programmable Module Installation (PMI)” ³⁴ or “Flash programming is required”.

A diagnostic tool (like FORScan with an extended license, or the dealer’s IDS tool) must be used to perform the “PSCM Module Configuration”. This procedure copies your car’s “As-Built” data into the new module, telling it what car it’s in.

Your Action: Do not attempt this as a DIY repair unless you have FORScan and are comfortable using its advanced functions. If you are using an independent mechanic, you must confirm they have “the factory-level scan tool to program a new Ford PSCM” before you give them the job. Many shops do not.

2011 Ford Fusion Power Steering Repair Cost: The Data

The price for this repair varies wildly, often by thousands of dollars. The dealership is banking on you not knowing the true cost of the part. This data provides transparency and negotiating power.

Estimated EPAS Rack Replacement Cost (2011 Fusion)

This is, unfortunately, one of several known issues with this model year. For a complete overview, see our 2011 Ford Fusion Common Problems and Repairs Guide.

Conclusion: Your Path Forward

The “Power Steering Assist Fault” on your 2011 Fusion is not a simple “glitch” to be “reset.” It is the primary symptom of a widespread, documented hardware defect in the EPAS steering rack assembly. While temporary resets can get you off the road, they are not a fix.

Here is your step-by-step action plan:

1. Check Power First: Before spending a dollar, go to an auto parts store and get your battery and alternator load-tested for free.
2. Scan for Codes: Get the real DTCs from the PSCM module, not the engine module. This requires FORScan or a professional-grade scanner.
3. Analyze the Codes:
   • U0100 (or many U-codes): Fix the electrical (battery/alternator) problem.
   • P07AE / C102D: Inspect your front lower control arms for seizing before replacing the rack.
   • U3000 / C200B / B2278: You must replace the entire EPAS steering rack.
4. Get Quotes: Use the cost table in this article to get quotes. Your most important question for any independent shop is: “Can you perform the PSCM Programmable Module Installation after the rack is installed?” If they hesitate, find another shop.
5. Contact Ford: Call Ford Corporate. Politely argue that the 15S18 recall was an insufficient fix for the 15V340 safety defect and request financial assistance. The worst they can say is no.

This issue is complex, but it is well-understood. For more information on navigating vehicle defects, see our Complete Guide to Ford Recalls. We strongly recommend the FORScan tool for this job, which you can learn more about at forscan.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I drive my 2011 Ford Fusion with the power steering fault?

A: You can, but it is not recommended and may be dangerous. The system defaults to manual steering, so you still have a mechanical connection to the wheels. However, the physical effort required to turn the wheel, especially at low speeds, is enormous. You may not be able to steer fast enough to avoid an obstacle or navigate a parking lot safely.

Q: Will disconnecting the battery permanently fix the power steering fault?

A: No. This is the most common misconception. Disconnecting the battery is a temporary reset that only clears the module’s short-term memory. The underlying physical hardware failure (bad sensor, bad cable) remains, and the fault will return.

Q: Why isn’t my 2011 Fusion covered by the power steering recall?

A: You are likely confusing two separate programs. The recall (15S18) was just a software update that most cars have already received. The extended warranty (15N01), which actually paid for the steering rack replacement, expired for all 2011 models after 10 years or 150,000 miles.

Q: My mechanic says I need a new $2,500 steering rack. Are they ripping me off?

A: If you are experiencing the “Power Steering Assist Fault,” it is highly likely that they are correct. This is the known, common failure for this specific model. The high price is, unfortunately, the standard cost for this repair. The EPAS assembly is a very expensive and complex part, and the $2,000-$3,000+ price range is well-documented.

Q: What is FORScan and why do I need it?

A: FORScan is a powerful diagnostic software for Ford, Lincoln, and Mazda vehicles. It is essential for this problem because it can (1) read the specific fault codes from the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), which basic scanners cannot, and (2) perform the mandatory programming and calibration required to make a new steering rack work after you install it.