NHTSA Complaint #11019157 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SAME NOISE OCCURRED WHEN I HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENTER THE GARAGE.( MAKES THE NOISE EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT NOW.) I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC FRIEND CHECK IT AND HE SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. THE NEAREST DEALER IS 20+ MILES AWAY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HERE IS THE DIAGNOSES: FOUND THAT THE NOISE IS INTERNAL TO THE EPAS GEAR. STEERING GEAR REPLACEMENT AND ALIGNMENT $1596.49 INSTALLED PLUS TAX. I HAD TO PAY A $95 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIND THIS OUT. THE CAR HAS 61094 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FORD FOCUS HAS NOT HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER FORD MODELS WITH THE SAME STEERING MECHANISM HAVE BEEN RECALLED, WHY NOT THIS ONE! SO NOW IT IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE WAITING ON THE PART TO COME IN SO I CAN TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAVE IT, HOPEFULLY FIXED TO BE SAFE. HOPING FOR A RECALL TO GET MY MONEY BACK.