NHTSA Complaint #11119772 — 2015 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FAILS TO CONTROL YOUR CAR WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING? WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CRANKED AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO, MY CAR CONTINUED GOING STRAIGHT AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I STOPPED THE CAR COMPLETELY, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THEN I SLOWLY DROVE FORWARD WITH NO CONTROL OVER STEERING. THANKFULLY, THE CAR ENDED UP IN A SUITABLE PARKING SPACE, BUT NOT DUE TO MY EFFORTS. I HAD NO MEANS WITH WHICH TO AIM THE CAR. ALL I COULD DO WAS CALL FOR SOMEONE TO GO GET ME. ONE DAY EARLIER, THIS CAR WAS ON AN INTERSTATE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. I SHUDDER TO THINK ABOUT THE HARM THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED IF IT HAD HAPPENED 24 HOURS EARLIER! FORD'S ONLINE DOCUMENTATION REFERS TO "LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST." THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED. I LOST ALL CONTROL OVER STEERING WITH A STEERING WHEEL THAT MOVES EASILY IN ANY DIRECTION BUT WITH NO EFFECT ON WHERE THE CAR IS GOING. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND WHEN THIS HAPPENED.