NHTSA Complaint #10607358 — 2012 FORD FUSION

I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 FORD FUSION SEL CAR IN AUGUST 2011. I NOW HAVE 55K MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, SO THE STANDARD WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT EXCEEDED THE 3 YEARS. I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO ADVICE THAT FORD FUSIONS ARE HIGHLY RELIABLE. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THE ADVANCETRAC INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH AND ADVANCETRAC SERVICE MESSAGE HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS EVEN LEAVING THE FORD SERVICE WHEN THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC INDICATOR LIT UP AND MESSAGE OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED AND SHOWED IT TO THE SERVICE PERSON. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT CAN OCCUR IF ONE TIRE TURNS MORE THAN ANOTHER SO IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. RECENTLY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT AND POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGES AND ADVANCETRAC POPPED UP. SHE SAID SHE ALMOST HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT IS A $1,375.00 REPAIR PLUS THE $225.00 THEY CHARGED ME ALIGNMENT. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE FORD FUSION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY POSTING OF RECALLS ON MULTIPLE MODELS OF FORD FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR