NHTSA Complaint #10201193 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

I WAS DRIVING A 2007 FORD FOCUS THAT I HAD RENTED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY UNDER GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS, MID-MORNING, GOOD LIGHT, NO CURVES, NO DISTRACTIONS, LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE CAR BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT IT AND IT DIDN'T RESPOND. WHEN I TURNED IT A LITTLE FURTHER, THE CAR ABRUPTLY TURNED ON A SHARP ANGLE TO THE LEFT. THE STEERNG WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. I SWERVED AGAIN TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT. I WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER IT AND WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE MEDIAN WHEN I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR (I CROSSED THE FAR LEFT LANE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER DRIVER). THE IMPACT CAUSED THE SIDE OF THE CAR TO INDENT MORE THAN 1 FOOT. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I WAS FORCED FORWARD SO HARD THAT THE SEATBELT BROKE MY COLLAR BONE. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS AND A HAND INJURY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNDER EXAMINATION BY ENGINEERS WHO HAVE TOLD ME THAT I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, GIVEN THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, WHICH IS A TOTAL LOSS; I HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM IT.