NHTSA Complaint #10723461 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

AFTER 2 WEEKS OF INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ENGAGEMENT AT START-UP, THE EPS SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY, WITH JUST OVER 40K MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, A 2012 FORD FOCUS, I WAS SURPRISED AT THIS FAILURE. WITH 50 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, I AM UNIMPRESSED WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM. UNLESS A FAN BELT FAILED, I HAVE NEVER HAD A HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. ALTHOUGH I HAD NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY, SOMEONE WITH LESS UPPER BODY STRENGTH WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN A TURN OR ON WET OR ICY SURFACES. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR A 'BLOOD PRIORITY' DECISION TO BE MADE TO RECALL THIS SYSTEM AT FORD'S EXPENSE. SINCE I NEED THIS VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS, I WAS FORCED TO PAY OVER $1638 FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE ASSEMBLY. OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE 2012 FOCUS SHOULD BE ALSO.