NHTSA Complaint #10949571 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I BOUGHT MY CAR LAST YEAR AT CARMAN FORD, WITH ABOUT 91,905 MILES IN AN "AS IT IS" CONTRACT. I ALSO PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL GUARANTEE FOR UP TO 24,000M. I TOOK THE CAR TO REGULAR INSPECTIONS TO THE DEALER, NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. THEN, I HIT 117,609 MILES, AND MY STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY, AND I HAD NO GUARANTEE. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING, I FELT THAT THE WHEEL WAS MOVED SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD (HIGHWAY). I ASKED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER AFTER AN OIL INSPECTION; THEY SAID THAT PROBABLY IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. RECENTLY, THEY SAID NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED BEFORE. "STEERING WHEEL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED" APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. WHILE DRIVING TO THE SHOP, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN EITHER WAY. IT WAS VERY HARD TO DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM EARLIER. HOWEVER, IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO A RECALL OR SOMETHING. I THINK THAT THE CAR IS NOT SUPER OLD AND MOST OF THE MILEAGE WAS BECAUSE I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE, I DRIVE MOSTLY ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS ODD THAT A 2012 CAR HAS SUCH A PROBLEM. COULDN'T GO TO WORK, SCHOOL, SINCE SUDDENLY THE CAR STOPPED WORKING ON FRIDAY 02/03/17. I HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET ANOTHER CAR. OVERALL, SO MUCH LOSS AND DRAMA INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT AND I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR THAT THIS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IS NOT SUPER OLD.