NHTSA Complaint #10521453 — 2011 FORD FUSION

WHILE TAKING A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP, AN ALERT POPPED UP ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY STEERING IMMEDIATELY BECAME LABORED. I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING UNUSUAL AT THE TIME, SO MY IMMEDIATE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I BEGAN TO SLOW AS I NEARED THE EXIT RAMP, AND AT THIS POINT MY DASHBOARD SHOWED A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ERROR AND A "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" ERROR MESSAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING. AT THIS POINT I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT, SHUT OFF MY CAR, AND LET IT REST FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES WHILE I READ THE FORD OWNER GUIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE ENGINE AND FINDING NOTHING UNUSUAL, I STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AGAIN AND IT HAS BEEN 24 HOURS, BUT I'M STILL WEARY OF TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS LEST MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAIL AGAIN. *TR