NHTSA Complaint #10537623 — 2011 FORD FUSION

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN TO PLACE OF WORK. AS THE VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE TURNED RIGHT INTO DRIVEWAY THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE DRIVER NEARLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS EXITING THE BUSINESS AND THE CURB. BRAKES WERE APPLIED SHARPLY AND EVERY BIT OF THE 120 LB FEMALE DRIVER'S STRENGTH WAS NEEDED TO MANUALLY STEER THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE CLUSTER DESPLAYED TWO ERROR MESSAGES; "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC." THIS WAS THE FOURTH OCCURENCE OF THIS TYPE WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN THE THREE PREVIOUS SITUATIONS WHEN THE KEY WAS CYCLED OFF AND BACK ON AFTER THE STEERING FAILED IT RETURNED TO OPERATION UPON RESTART. IN THIS OCCURENCE MULTIPLE KEY CYCLES WERE COMPLETED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE. DEALER CHARGE FOR REPAIR WAS OVER $1600. *TT