NHTSA Complaint #11058450 — 2012 FORD FUSION

THE DASHBOARD INFO DISPLAYS "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" WHEN STATIONARY (A COLD START), EITHER WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, OR AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL REQUIRE GREAT EFFORT TO TURN IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS WARNING HAPPENS NOW ABOUT 1 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 74000 MILES. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 80000 MILES. TO WORK AROUND THE PROBLEM, THE IGNITION IS TURNED TO OFF, TURNED ON AGAIN, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, THEN RESTART THE MOTOR. THE STEERING MAY FEEL TIGHT WHEN TURNED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND, BUT WILL LOOSEN AS THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN. THE WARNING HAS NOT REPEATED AFTER RESTARTING. SO FAR, THE STEERING HAS NOT FAILED (BECOME TIGHT) WHILE DRIVING. THE WARNING AT START UP OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD OR WET WEATHER. THE CAR WAS LAST SERVICED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AT ABOUT 72000 MILES WITH THE ONLY NOTICE THE BRAKES NEED SERVICE SOON. THE SYNC SYSTEM REPORTS INDICATE NO PROBLEMS WHEN UPLOADED TO THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. IT WAS COLD THIS MORNING 25 F WHEN THE "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" REOCCURRED AGAIN. AFTER RESTARTING, THE WARNING DID NOT REPEAT, BUT STEERING WAS STIFF ABOUT 1 SECOND. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS. THIS STEERING TYPE ISSUE HAS NEVER OCCURRED IN PREVIOUS CARS I HAVE OWNED. THESE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEMS NEEDS TO BE BANNED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED.