NHTSA Complaint #11113460 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

ABOUT TO DRIVE TO WORK, I TURNED MY CAR ON AND SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF WAITING. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT, I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND I WAS GOING STRAIGHT TOWARDS AN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT BORDERS THE PARKING LOT. I PARKED THE CAR AND NOTICED A WARNING ON THE SCREEN IN THE CAR THAT STATED 'POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION.' I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE STEERING WAS NO LONGER DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN. THE WARNING WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. AROUND TWO WEEKS LATER, THE SAME POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHILE LEAVING A GAS STATION; THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED. MY INTENTION WAS TO TURN AND EXIT TO A STREET, BUT I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN SEEMED TO ALLOW THE STEERING TO BECOME NORMAL AND THE WARNING WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION MAKES IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE WARNING IS NOT SEEN SOON ENOUGH.