NHTSA Complaint #11081485 — 2012 FORD FUSION

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE ODOMETER DISPLAY. THIS COULD NOT BE RESET BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION FOR 10 SECONDS AND TURNING ON THE IGNITION AGAIN. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR 6 MONTHS. IT WOULD APPEAR OFTEN WITH FIRST START UP ON RAINY AND RAINY ON COLD DAYS. NEVER OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. I DROVE THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE STEERING TAKES A GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL. HAD A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT WITH WOOD TRASH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS COULD BE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED RECALL. THE FORD DEALERS WE CALLED SAID THEIR SYSTEM WAS DOWN NOT ABLE TO CHECK VIN FOR RECALL. IT HAS ABOUT 83000 MILES AND 6 YEARS OLD. THE STEERING FAILURE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT. I'VE DRIVEN CARS BEFORE WITHOUT POWER STEERING - EASY COMPARED TO THIS FAIL. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY UNSETTLING FEELING WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A CURVE OR TURN. CHECK BACK LATER TO SEE IF FORD REPAIRED THIS.