Why did my Mercury Milan's power steering suddenly go heavy?

Short answer: The 2010–2011 Milan uses electric power steering (EPAS: an electric motor on the steering gear does the work instead of a pump). When it faults, you get a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' message and suddenly heavy steering. Ford recall 15V340 covers certain 2011 Milans built from September 7 to December 10, 2010, with a software update or a new steering gear. According to owners, Ford also gave covered cars a one-time 10-year/150,000-mile coverage on the gear. 2010 Milans aren't in the recall, and owners paid around $2,000–$3,000 for a gear, though some fixed intermittent faults by cleaning ground connections.

Symptom: A 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Service Power Steering' message, heavy steering that comes and goes, or steering that stays heavy until you restart.

What to check first

1. Run your VIN for recall 15V340 (Ford 15S18) at nhtsa.gov/recalls or ford.com.
2. Test the battery and clean the battery terminals and engine grounds. Electric steering is sensitive to voltage, and one owner's fault went away after cleaning the grounds.
3. Have the codes read from the steering module (PSCM).
4. Check engine and strut mounts. One owner found a bad engine mount or strut vibration was behind the fault.
5. Get more than one quote before replacing the steering gear.

Likely causes

1. Steering module software or a faulty steering gear. Ford's recall 15V340 says a sensor fault can cause loss of assist and fixes it with software or a new steering gear.
2. Poor battery or ground connections. On Ford Fusion Forum, cleaning the grounds fixed an intermittent fault for one owner.
3. Vibration from a bad engine mount or strut. Another owner traced the fault to a bad engine mount or strut vibration.

What it usually costs

On Ford Fusion Forum, a 2010 Milan owner paid about $2,017 for a steering assembly. Others reported about $2,300 at a dealer and a $3,000 quote. Covered 2011 cars should be done for free.

Is it safe to keep driving?

The car still steers, but it can suddenly take a lot of muscle, especially at low speed and when parking. That's a crash risk. Get it checked before driving much. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for battery and ground checks. Dealer for the recall and steering gear work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recall 15V340 (Ford 15S18; 2011 Milan built September 7 to December 10, 2010, plus certain Fusion, MKZ hybrid, Taurus, Flex, MKS and MKT models): a sensor problem can cause a sudden loss of power steering assist. Dealers update the steering module software or replace the steering gear. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Owners say covered cars also got a one-time 10-year/150,000-mile coverage on the gear.
• 2010 Milans are not part of this recall, according to owners on Ford Fusion Forum.
• NHTSA complaints: 388 keyword-matched complaints for Mercury Milan 2010–2011 (of 1,253 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-18; keywords: steering, power steering, epas, assist).

What owners report

• In this Ford Fusion Forum thread on the steering recall, owners shared that recall 15S18 covers 2011 Milans built from September 7 to December 10, 2010, with a software update or steering gear replacement and a one-time 10-year/150,000-mile coverage on the gear. 2010 models were not covered.
• In this Ford Fusion Forum thread on power steering failure, a 2010 Milan owner paid about $2,017 for a steering assembly. Others reported about $2,300 at a dealer and a $3,000 quote. One owner fixed an intermittent fault by cleaning the grounds, and another traced it to a bad engine mount or strut vibration.

My take

My advice as a former lot tech: when a car with electric steering comes in with an assist fault, I test the battery and clean the grounds before I quote a rack. It's not always the fix, but it costs almost nothing to try.

Vehicle focus: 2010–2011 Mercury Milan with electric power steering (the Fusion of these years shares the system).

Safety / mechanic note

Sudden heavy steering is a crash risk, especially at low speed. Verify with a mechanic.