NHTSA Complaint #10455369 — 2008 FORD FUSION

OVER TIME THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED GRADUALLY MORE SLACKNESS AND FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING RESPONSE. I INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED THE CONDITION TO TIRE WEAR AND VEHICLE AGE. EVENTUALLY THE CONDITION BECAME SO SERIOUS THAT I WAS CERTAIN IT WAS NOT NORMAL, SO I DECIDED TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS MOVING AROUND ON ITS ATTACHMENTS IN RESPONSE TO STEERING INPUTS. I CHECKED THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT SECURE THE RACK TO THE SUB-FRAME AND FOUND THAT TWO OF THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE TURNED BY HAND AND THE THIRD WAS BROKEN AND WAS JUST SITTING IN THE HOLE. IF I HAD NOT INTERVENED, THE CONDITION WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING RACK COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTS RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *JS