NHTSA Complaint #11104447 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

I HAD COMPLAINED OF A GRINDING OR CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. SOUND AND SHUDDER TO STEERING WHEEL SEEMED LIKE IT WAS BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING GEAR. I LOOKED UP ONLINE ARTICLES AND IT MENTIONED STEERING BY WIRE AND OTHER MISDIRECTION. SEEMED TO ME TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A UNIVERSAL JOINT; BUT THIS IS NOT MY EDUCATED DIAGNOSIS, JUST A THOUGHT. DEALER SERVICE WRITERS CONTINUED TO SAY SOMETHING AKIN TO "YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO AND IT'S NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE/MODEL/ETC". ON 6/11/18, WHEN I GO TO PICK UP VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, [WHICH HAD RECALLS AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE FIXED "UNDER WARRANTEE" SEE FORD "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS 14M01, 14M02" AND FORD "SOFTWARE UPDATE PROGRAM 15B22] I AM TOLD I NEED TO HAVE RECOMMENDED WORK DONE. THIS RECOMMENDED WORK READS AS FOLLOWS: ITEM 03 CONCERN: STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CLUNKING/BINDING WHEN TURING (SIDE NOTE: YES, WRITTEN AS "TURING"!) LEFT OR RIGHT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH OLD DESIGN STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRRECT AND PREVENT CONCERN FROM REAPPEARING. CORRECTION: CUSTOMER DOES NOT WANT WORK DONE". [END OF WORK RECOMMENDED ON FORM]. IT IS NOT THAT I DON'T WANT THE WORK COMPLETED, IT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP THIS PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 4 YEARS; IE, UNDER WARRANTEE TIME AND MILEAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES, WHICH BROUGHT ME TO YOUR SITE. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM UP UNTIL NOW OTHER THAN THE SOUND AND CREAKING FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL. WHAT HAS ME UPSET FIRST IS THAT ALL THE SUDDEN THERE IS NOW!!! UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE; PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS "NORMAL SOUND AND FEEL". FROM 6/20, UNTIL 6/27/18 DAILY, I CALLED THE FORD WEST REP FOR CALIF CENTRAL VALLEY AREA @ 866/631-3788. THE PHONE CIRCLE ENDS WITH OPTIONS "LEAVE A MESSAGE" OR "FOR OPERATOR, PUSH 0" WHICH CUTS OFF THE PHONE CONNECTION. THIS "NORMAL" STEERING CLUNK APPEARS TO HAVE NOW BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.