NHTSA Complaint #11154789 — 2012 FORD FUSION

DROVE VEHICLE 15 MILES TO DESTINATION AND THEN ANOTHER 15 MILES BACK HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. PARKED AND FULLY TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE 6 MINUTES LATER AND UPON INSERTING KEY AND STARTING VEHICLE GOT THE MESSAGE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. RETURNED TO THE HOUSE TO GOOGLE THE ERROR AND TO MY SURPRISE FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND HAD RESULTED IN A LARGE RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I AM HOPING SOMEONE CAN PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED AS THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE DRIVER IS TURNING LEFT AGAINST TRAFFIC AND THE STEERING GOES OUT? OR A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN IS INJURED (OR WORSE) AS A RESULT OF THE STEERING LOCKING UP. CLEARLY THERE IS MANUFACTURER LIABILITY HERE.