NHTSA Complaint #10917991 — 2011 FORD FUSION

POWER STEERING RECALL 15S18 WAS PERFORMED ON CAR 08/01/16. FOURTEEN MONTHS AFTER RECALL, WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH ON IH-635 IN SOMEWHAT HEAVY TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE CAR'S HANDLING. THE ADVANCE TRAC WAS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD TURNED IT ON BY MISTAKE WHEN I TURNED ON THE AC. I DECIDED TO MOVE OVER 6 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE ON THE SERVICE ROAD, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A DISCOUNT STORE & WAREHOUSE SHOPPING CENTER AND UPON MAKING TWO DIFFICULT RIGHT TURNS INTO THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING PROBLEM PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE. TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPACE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, DID A WALK AROUND THE CAR TO INSURE THERE WERE NO FLAT TIRES OR DEBRIS STUCK UNDER THE CAR. I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO CALL MY HUSBAND AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, (DID NOT START MOTOR) AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EASY TO MOVE, NOT NORMAL BUT MANAGEABLE. AFTER A SEVERAL MINUTES, I TURNED ON THE CAR AND SLOWLY DROVE APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES TO REACH HOME ON THE HIGHWAY SERVICE ROAD (IN CASE IT OCCURRED AGAIN) UNTIL I REACHED MY NORMAL EXIT. IT WAS WITHOUT DOUBT A WHITE KNUCKLED DRIVE HOME. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS, I HAVE BEEN USING MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, UNTIL I CAN GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. I'M LOOKING INTO HAVING IT TOWED OR HAULING ON A CAR DOLLY. I DO NOT CARE TO IMAGINE HOW I OR THE CAR MIGHT HAVE REACTED IF TRAFFIC WAS AT A NORMAL SPEED LIMIT OR IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE BUSY INTERSTATE. *TR