NHTSA Complaint #10643142 — 2011 FORD FUSION

A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD STARTED MY CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND FELT STUCK THEN A MESSAGE POPPED UP IN MY DASH SAYING POWER STEERING FAULT. SO I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT DROVE FINE. THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS ARRIVING TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE STEERING JUST WENT OUT AND LUCKILY I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO A GAS STATION AND PULLED INTO THE SIDE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I TRIED LETTING THE CAR SIT AND SEE IF IT WOULD RE START FINE JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME BUT THIS TIME WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR AGAIN IN THE DASH AND THE WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AND IT WOULDN'T CHANGE. I THEN HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AND IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2 DAYS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TO BE DONE. *TR