2014 Ford Fusion (2nd gen) · Known Issue
2014 Ford Fusion Electric Power Steering Failure: What It Really Costs to Fix
Quick answer: 2014 Ford Fusion electric power steering failure is free to fix on recall-covered VINs and up to $2,400 out of pocket otherwise.
Applies to: every version of this generation.
What the Issue Is
Second-generation Fusions use electric power-assist steering, with the assist motor mounted on the steering gear. When it fails, assist cuts out, sometimes for a moment, sometimes for good, leaving sudden heavy manual steering, often with a "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" message. Recall 15V-250, filed in April 2015, covered about 487,000 2013 to 2015 Fusions and Lincoln MKZs in states that use heavy road salt: corrosion could weaken the bolts holding the steering gear motor, and if they broke, the motor could separate and the car would lose power assist. A 2019 follow-up recall covered some 2013 to 2016 Fusions in corrosion-prone regions and added a wax coating to protect the bolts.
Not every assist failure is the recall problem. Owners also report "Steering Assist Fault" messages on cars outside the recall populations, where the cause is the rack's motor, sensors or wiring and the repair is usually a replacement steering rack. A separate 2018 recall covered 2014 to 2018 Fusions and MKZs for a steering wheel bolt that could loosen; that concerns the steering wheel, not the power steering gear, and it did not include the 2013 model.
The failure's intermittent phase makes used-car screening tricky, because a car can steer perfectly at the viewing, so history does the heavy lifting: recall completion by VIN, stored steering codes on a scan, and any service record of assist complaints.
Symptoms to Watch For
- 1.Momentary heavy steering that returns to normal
- 2."Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" message
- 3.Assist dead on startup, restored after restart
- 4.Uneven assist or notchy feel through corners
- 5.Steering-system fault codes stored on a scan
Real Repair Costs
The recall remedies are free at Ford dealers, but only for VINs in those populations: 15V-250 and its 2019 follow-up were limited to corrosion-prone, road-salt states. Outside them, assist failures usually end in a remanufactured rack; owners report dealer quotes above $2,000, and CarComplaints owners of the 2016 list a typical cost of $2,400.
| Repair | Typical Cost (installed) |
|---|---|
| Recall remedy (15V-250 or 2019 follow-up VINs only)verify by VIN | Free |
| Diagnosis + connector/software attempts | $150-$400 |
| Reman steering rack, installed + alignment | $1,200-$2,400 |
Major issue: budget for it. Ranges are US independent-shop estimates with quality parts. Use them as negotiation grounding, not a quote.
Mechanic's Tip: Spot It Before You Buy
Start the car five separate times during your visit, because assist failures love cold boots, and each startup is a free test: the wheel should feel identically light every time. On the drive, make several full-lock parking maneuvers and a series of quick lane-change wiggles, feeling for a beat of heaviness or notchiness. Then let a scanner speak: steering-module fault history persists past intermittent episodes the seller never mentioned. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov for recall 15V-250 and the 2019 follow-up, which only cover cars from road-salt states, and require completion where they apply. A Fusion with clean codes and consistent assist across restarts is as verified as this issue allows.
The Bigger Ownership Picture
Beyond this specific issue, budget roughly $800-$1,300 per year for scheduled maintenance and repairs on a 2014 Ford Fusion. That is a typical US range from Avturo's ownership-cost table, an estimate rather than a quote, and it excludes insurance, fuel, and financing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when Fusion steering assist fails?▼
The electric assist motor or its sensor circuit has dropped out, leaving fully manual steering: controllable but startlingly heavy, especially at low speed. On salt-belt cars covered by recall 15V-250 the cause can be corroded bolts letting the motor separate from the steering gear; on other cars it is usually the rack's motor, sensors or wiring. It often starts intermittently, so treat any episode as a warning.
Were Fusion steering problems recalled?▼
Yes, for specific cars. Recall 15V-250 (April 2015) covered about 487,000 2013 to 2015 Fusions and MKZs in heavy road-salt states, where corroded bolts could let the steering gear motor detach, and a 2019 follow-up covered some 2013 to 2016 Fusions in corrosion-prone regions. Remedies are free at Ford dealers for covered VINs and checkable at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A 2018 recall for a loose steering wheel bolt (2014 to 2018) is a different problem, and cars outside these populations pay for rack failures themselves.
How much does a Fusion steering rack cost?▼
About $1,200 to $2,400 installed at independents for a quality remanufactured electric rack, alignment included; owners report dealer quotes above $2,000, and some far higher. Diagnosis first is worth the $150 to $400, because some intermittent faults trace to connectors or software, and a documented rack replacement in a car's history settles the question.
Is it safe to drive with intermittent assist?▼
It is drivable, because the steering never disconnects, only the boost, but a heavy surprise mid-corner or mid-parking-maneuver is a genuine hazard, particularly for smaller drivers. An intermittent fault is a schedule-the-rack conversation, not a live-with-it quirk, and a car with an open recall should see the dealer before daily service.
Sources
The facts on this page were last checked against these documents on October 10, 2026. Programs and their coverage end; check the car's VIN with a dealer for what still applies.
- Recall record: NHTSA recall 15V-250 (Part 573 report): 2013-2015 Fusion and MKZ steering gear motor bolts (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Recall record: Ford Authority: 2019 power steering recall for some Fusion, MKZ, Edge and MKX (fordauthority.com)
- Recall record: Autoblog: 2018 recall of 2014-2018 Fusion and MKZ for loose steering wheel bolts (autoblog.com)
- Owner reports: CarComplaints: 2016 Ford Fusion "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" reports (m.carcomplaints.com)
- Repair cost estimate: BuyAutoParts blog: Ford Fusion electric steering rack failures and replacement costs (buyautoparts.com)
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