bucks2002 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Not sure if this is an alignment issue or not. Noticed at the onset after purchase that there was some what I would call tracking issues. When I would steer right it has a tendency to want to track to the left..almost as if it is steering that way. It would also drift to the left. The opposite seems fine. Returned to dealer for alignment only to have alignment but upon return the same was true and the steering wheel was not straight. Returned for another alignment. Now the wheel is still not straight and the tracking problem is still evident. If there is pulling, it is very little. I'm concerned there may be something more serious here and they cannot find the problem. I have suggested tire problems but have been assured that would not be the problem. Any ideas? Thanks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabige Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Just a shot in the dark, but could it be something malfunctioning with the power steering motor? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucks2002 Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 Just a shot in the dark, but could it be something malfunctioning with the power steering motor? Not sure...Thought about EPS issues though. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 It's not likely to be the EPS. There are about a million threads on this and other Fusion forums about drift/pull concerns. Yours doesn't sound like anything different. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Not sure if this is an alignment issue or not. Noticed at the onset after purchase that there was some what I would call tracking issues. When I would steer right it has a tendency to want to track to the left..almost as if it is steering that way. It would also drift to the left. The opposite seems fine. Returned to dealer for alignment only to have alignment but upon return the same was true and the steering wheel was not straight. Returned for another alignment. Now the wheel is still not straight and the tracking problem is still evident. If there is pulling, it is very little. I'm concerned there may be something more serious here and they cannot find the problem. I have suggested tire problems but have been assured that would not be the problem. Any ideas? Thanks Did they switch the tires side-to-side? If not, how can they be sure the tires aren't the problem? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raisin Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 I have had several Taurus's over the years. Whenever I had a pull right or left I would swap front tires and pull would swap sides also. That said the wind seems to pull my new Fusion more than my Taurus's. My steering wheel is off very slightly to left. I drove another one at time of sale and it was the same. But it does go straight with no wind. I've taken cars in for an alignment with a aligned steering wheel and came out with wheel off center so I don't get alignment unless I see a problem.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dffr1 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 My company car is a 10 fusion se and has VERY serious steering issues... When newer I took it back to the dealers - who I now call stealers. I told them what the problem was - very simple - they asked multiple times if I had a brake issue and said NO every time. They took the car for service - told my leasing co that it also had brake problems. They cut every rotor, replaced ALL 4 tires and did an alignment - $1,300 later it had the exact same problem. When I questioned them their and Fords official response is that its not a problem - just a characteristic of the car and pulls on flat and crowned surfaces... They said that taking your hands off the wheel is not a way to test it. Now at 60K and hate every second in the car and can't wait to select a different vehicle - I would even take a mini-van over this POS. AC broke twice, terrible steering and pulling - hate this cheap POS econo box... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dffr1 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 BTW - we were lucky enough to get stuck with a fleet of these lemons - and roughly 30% have the issue. My guess is that another 20% do not notice or care. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruggybuggy Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 BTW - we were lucky enough to get stuck with a fleet of these lemons - and roughly 30% have the issue. My guess is that another 20% do not notice or care. Love this, he gets ripped off by the dealer and the car is a piece of sh!t. Bad alignment and tires will cause pulls. I have the same car and mine pulled to the left when I bought it. I'm a tech by trade so I checked the alignment and found the rear toe was out which caused the thrust angle to be out causing the pull. Have someone diagnose it properly and your steering issues can be solved. You never did explain what happened to the AC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayminsky Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 (edited) I just bought a used Ford Fusion SEL 2006 FWD with 131,000km (81,400 miles) and noticed that the steering is stiff. I posted this issue in the forum "Ford Fusion Exterior, Braking & Chassis Forum→ Brakes, Chassis & Suspension" and then saw this posting which has related issues. According to the User Manual (pg 163) "..the steering in your vehicle is speed sensitive. At high speeds, steering assist will decrease to improve steering feel. At lower speeds, maneuverability will be increased". I'm not noticing any difference in steering maneuverability between highway and city driving -- the steering is stiff all the time. What would cause this problem? Also, I disagree with the Salesman 's opinion regarding the "stiffness" in the steering is a normal characteristic for Ford Fusions (I've driven Ford Escapes -- a 2002 AWD and a 2008 FWD -- that required much less effort in turning the steering wheel than with the Fusion). What is your opinion on this statement? Related to the steering issue, there is a slight pulling (drifting) to the right while driving on the highway. I've taken into consideration the crown in the road and tested for alignment on different sections on the highway and, in all cases, the car drifts to the right. Any help / advice on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advanced... Ray Edited November 4, 2013 by Rayminsky 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Ray, your 2006 does not have electric steering, like the 2010+ Fusions do. It will be much stiffer than the newer Fusion. Also steering assist is a lot more complicated than just the amount of assist. The geometry of the Fusion's front suspension is such that at high speeds you really don't need any assist at all. That's why the system provides less assist, to make it consistent, not to make it feel stiffer at high speed. To me from what you're describing, everything sounds perfectly normal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayminsky Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Waldo... thanks for your quick reply and your opinion on the steering characteristics of the 2006 Ford Fusions. In comparison to the Fusion, other cars I've driven recently -- other than the Ford Escapes I've mentioned before -- is a 2004 Toyota Matrix and a 2014 Toyota Camry; both those vehicles (along with the Ford Escapes) require much less effort in turning the steering wheel than the 2006 Ford Fusion. Do you know of other Fusion owners who have revealed their own experience regarding the amount of effort required in turning the steering wheel as I have? thanks.. Ray 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Whenever you have an alignment, warranty or customer pay, ask for a print-out. You can post the results here and get an evaluation as to if the settings are correct or not. I strongly suspect that you had either lazy or incompetent techs. Many seem to think that all there is to an alignment is "set the toe and let it go". The other angles need to be checked too. Some are not easily adjusted, but it is still their responsibility to let you know that it is out of spec. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Waldo... thanks for your quick reply and your opinion on the steering characteristics of the 2006 Ford Fusions. In comparison to the Fusion, other cars I've driven recently -- other than the Ford Escapes I've mentioned before -- is a 2004 Toyota Matrix and a 2014 Toyota Camry; both those vehicles (along with the Ford Escapes) require much less effort in turning the steering wheel than the 2006 Ford Fusion. Do you know of other Fusion owners who have revealed their own experience regarding the amount of effort required in turning the steering wheel as I have? thanks.. Ray Comparing a Fusion to a Camry is like apples and oranges. The Camry steering is designed to be numb and appliance-like (I'm sure the 2014 also has electronic steering, which does allow more flexibility). The Fusion steering is designed to be engaging and fun to drive, which basically means stiffer. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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