NHTSA Complaint #11088902 — 2014 FORD FOCUS

I WAS DRIVING IN THE #1 LANE IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, AND SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING. AN ALERT SHOWED UP ON MY DASH SCREEN STATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH STEERING ASSIST. AS I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, AND AS I TOOK A RIGHT TURN AT THE FREEWAY EXIT, IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE IT TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AS HE BELIEVED IT FELL UNDER THE SAME STEERING ISSUE THAT MANY OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE LATELY BEEN RECALLED FOR. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT FULL COST TO ME BECAUSE THE FOCUS DOES NOT FALL UNDER THESE RECALLS. FORD MUST ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE FOCUS MODELS IN ADDITION TO THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. I AM NOT THE ONLY FOCUS OWNER TO EXPERIENCE THIS TERRIFYING ISSUE, WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD MY STEERING ASSIST GONE OUT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SITUATION. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING FAULT AND FOCUS OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLES THEY ARE DRIVING ARE DANGEROUS.