NHTSA Complaint #11112183 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I OWN A 2012 FORD FOCUS SE HATCHBACK WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE SPORT PACKAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A DEALER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN JANUARY 2012. STARTING WITH AROUND 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND OCCURRING PERIODICALLY EVER SINCE, WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE IS FIRST TURNED ON, THE POWER STEERING IS NOT ACTIVE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, A "STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATES IN THE CAR. HOWEVER, IF I START THE CAR AND DON'T ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR 5-10 SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE IS FIRST TURNED ON, THE POWER STEERING IS ACTIVE WITH NO ISSUES. IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE "STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING INDICATOR HAS COME ON, I SIMPLY TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, THEN TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. IF I WAIT THE 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE PROBLEM IS GONE, AND THE WARNING INDICATOR IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. DURING THE 78 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, I HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE A SITUATION WHERE THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY DEACTIVATES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR 2012 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES REPORT SUCH POWER STEERING OUTAGES AND AM AWARE THAT A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.