NHTSA Complaint #10790661 — 2012 FORD FUSION

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND IN THE MIDDLE OF ACCELERATION WHEN MY 2012 FUSION SEL BEGAN TO MAKE NOTIFICATION SOUNDS. I READ TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST ONE INCLUDED A WARNING LIGHT FOR "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC". THE SECOND NOTIFICATION READ "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW". I CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORTHBOUND TO THE HIGHWAY. UPON TURNING AND BREAKING TO BOARD THE FREEWAY, I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STEER MY CAR TOWARDS THE FREEWAY WITH SEVERAL OTHER CARS DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-50 MPH BEHIND US. I HAD TO USE BOTH ARMS AND BODY WEIGHT TO TURN RIGHT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS AFRAID TO CONTINUE ON THE HIGHWAY AS I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS WERE IN THE BACKSEAT. I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE STEERING GEAR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE RECALLS ON FUSIONS MADE BETWEEN 2011-2013 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORD RECALLS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY OFTEN. FORD MOTOR CO. HAS TOLD ME THREE TIMES THAT MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS, IT WAS NOT MADE IN THE SAME FACTORY AS THOSE RECALLED, AND IT WAS MADE MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL. THE CARS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WERE MADE IN FEBRUARY 2012 WHILE MY CAR WAS MADE IN JUNE 2012. THIS IS A HORRIBLE WAY TO HANDLE CONSUMERS. SAFETY OF CONSUMERS DOES NOT APPEAR RELEVANT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THOUSANDS MORE 2012 FORD FUSIONS... THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERYONE.