NHTSA Complaint #10994605 — 2012 FORD FUSION

AFTER POWER STEERING FAILED, CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL NOTICE AT LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. 3 HOURS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, WHEN LEAVING WORK, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING UNDER 40 MPH DECELERATING COMING TO A RED LIGHT. RECEIVED WARNING "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCTRAC." THESE ARE THE SAME WARNINGS RECEIVED PRIOR TO REPAIR. THE CAR WENT IMMEDIATELY AND GROSSLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ABOVE 55 MPH, THE CAR SHAKES SEVERELY. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE REPAIR NEEDED FALLS UNDER THE TSB 11-11-3 RELATED TO HIGH FRICTION IN THE CONTROL ARMS; HOWEVER, THE TSB STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM ONLY CAUSES THE STABILITY/TRACTION INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS EVERYTHING UNDER MY CAR LOOKS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THAT THIS HAS TO BE THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT THE HIGH FRICTION IS CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO LOCK UP WHICH IS THEN FAILING THE POWER STEERING ALL TOGETHER. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS 145,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 6 YEARS WITHOUT ISSUE.