NHTSA Complaint #10523208 — 2011 FORD FUSION

MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS NOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS JUNE 26. I HAD PARKED THE CAR (PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A BAD RAIN STORM). WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND STARTED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING PLACE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE DEFAULT LIGHT WAS OFF AND IT WAS FINE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 28. AGAIN, IT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I WAS PARALLEL PARKED AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, RESTARTED AND IT WAS FINE. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED TODAY, 7/4/2013, AND THIS TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS FINE. HOWEVER, TO JUST SUDDENLY LOSE THE CAPABILITY TO STEER IS QUITE TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY ON A HIGHWAY. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FUSION OWNERS- ESPECIALLY 2010-2012 MODELS. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE IS A REALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I'VE ONLY MADE A FEW PAYMENTS ON MY CAR AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT- IT IS NOT SAFE!! *TR