NHTSA Complaint #11151212 — 2015 FORD C-MAX ENERGI

THIS CAR HAS 57,500 MILES AND IS INSIDE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD. THE POWER ASSIST STEERING FELT STICKY, NOT SMOOTH LIKE NORMAL, SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN ALMOST THERE AN ERROR LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING ISSUE. IT CLEARED AND NOTHING HAPPENED, THEN SOON AFTER A POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE CAME ON, BUT THE PERFORMANCE WAS STILL STICKY BUT FUNCTIONAL. I PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT AND POWERED DOWN, THEN BACK UP TO DRIVE INTO THE SERVICE BAY. THE POWER STEERING WAS NON-OPERATIONAL AT THAT POINT. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY ALSO STATE IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER FORD MODELS, BUT NOT THE C-MAX SO FAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND HAS OCCURRED FAR TOO EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE FOR WEAR AND TEAR. THE FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL FOR THE STEERING IS 60,000 MILES AND THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN THERE YET.