NHTSA Complaint #10948117 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I STARTED MY CAR THIS MORNING, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOCKED UP AND LOST POWER. I COULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT MY GARAGE AND STOPPED. THE LIGHTS CAME ON MY DASH READ "(I) STEERING ASSIST FAULT". I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND GAIN FULL CONTROL OF MY CAR AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER IN KANNAPOLIS, NC (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) AND THEY SAID THE CAR WOULD NEED TO "DUPLICATE THE ERROR" BEFORE THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT. I EXPLAINED THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE IN MOTION FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND I CANNOT STOP THE CAR IF THAT HAPPENS AGAIN. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND I AM PETRIFIED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE TECH SAID THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LOSS OF STEERING POWER ON THESE FORDS, BUT THAT UNTIL FORD ISSUES AN OFFICIAL RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT. IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS A SOFTWARE UPDATE.