NHTSA Complaint #10632720 — 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING FROZE. WITH GREAT EFFORT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND COMPLETE THE PARKING. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE STEERING WAS NORMAL. THE REPAIR CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM WAS $1704. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED (VIA GOOGLE) THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE SWITCHED FROM HYDRAULIC TO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. HAD THE POWER STEERING LOCKED WHILE I WAS SWITCHING LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ON A TWO LANE ROAD, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE THIS NOTE. CLEARLY, A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR