NHTSA Complaint #10712964 — 2011 FORD FUSION

I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY POWER STEERING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2012. DURING THE COLDER DAYS OF THE YEAR WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I RECEIVED A MESSAGE SAYING POWER STEERING FAULT AND I DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING WHILE THE MESSAGE WAS UP. RESTARTING THE CAR RESOLVED THE ISSUE SO I IGNORED IT AS IT ONLY OCCURRED ON COLD WINTER MORNINGS AND IT DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WASN'T AWARE FORD FUSIONS USED THE EPAS SYSTEM, I THOUGHT THE ERROR WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING FLUID THICKENING UP BUT I SOON REALIZED MY CAR DID NOT HAVE A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. ON 4/25/2015 I WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN ST AND I NOTICED MY CAR WAS SUDDENLY PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I HAD A HARDER TIME STEERING THE VEHICLE. SOON AFTER I RECEIVED A MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC", AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" APPEARED ON MY CONSOLE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND REALIZED I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I POWERED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ERROR MESSAGES CAME BACK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK TO MY APARTMENT WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, I'M JUST HAPPY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY OTHERWISE I COULD OF GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WILL DROP THE CAR OFF TO THE DEALER TOMORROW BUT I'M HOPING MY WARRANTY COVERS THE PART. IF NOT, I MAY NEVER PURCHASE A FORD AGAIN AFTER READING UP ON THE EPAS SYSTEM FAILURES. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND CREATE A RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR