NHTSA Complaint #11006738 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

POWER STEERING GEAR. MY COLLEGE STUDENT HAD THE CHECK STEERING MESSAGE. WE TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST $1900. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEW ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING THAT RESULTED IN RECALLS ON THE FUSION, TAURUS, AND MLZS BUT THE FOCUS IS NOT RECALLED. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND TOOK IT A LOCAL SHOP I USE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE PART BECAUSE......FORD IS PURCHASING EVERY LAST ONE. THERE IS A 2-3 MONTH WAIT FOR THE BACKORDER. THEY ALSO TOLD THAT THE PART COMES WITH A 15% SURCHARGE SO ANY SAVING THAT I WOULD GET NOT SERVICING AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD BE LOST AS THEIR PRICE WAS ALSO $1900. I DID CALL IN MY COMPLAINT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE A CASE NUMBER WHICH I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE, THAT WAS 48 HOURS AGO. THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE NET VALUE OF THE CAR. FOR A PROBLEM THAT NHTSA DINGED THEM ON FOR THE SAME SYSTEM IN OTHER MODELS. THIS IS WRONG. AS AN OWNER OF AN F150, LINCOLN TOWN CAR, AND THE FOCUS AND A LOYAL FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER, I AM QUESTIONING MY DECISION MAKING!!!