NHTSA Complaint #10462989 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I STARTED IT UP AND BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN MOVING FORWARD. AFTER GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THE "I" SIGN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE MESSAGE "STEERING MALFUNCTION, NEEDS SERVICE" CAME ON, ALONG WITH THE ALARM JINGLE. I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVE LANE AND MANAGED TO GET IT OVER TO THE SIDE, BUT THE STEERING WAS PRACTICALLY FROZEN. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LOOKED FOR ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF TROUBLE, BUT COULD FIND NONE. AFTER READING THROUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND CHECKING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I RESTARTED THE CAR (ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER I SHUT IT OFF) AND NO WARNING SIGN CAME ON. I TEST DROVE IT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A MINUTE TO SEE IF THE STEERING WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THEN DROVE HOME AND EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD AUTOWAY DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS STEMMING FROM AN ABS "CORRUPTED" PROGRAM. THEY TOLD ME THE EPAS GETS IT POWER THROUGH THE ABS. THEY REBOOTED THE ABS PROGRAM AND I'VE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR