NHTSA Complaint #11164695 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION (UNABLE TO STEER). TURNED KEY OFF THEN BACK ON AFTER GETTING CAR STOPPED AND STEERING WORKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT INITIAL START UP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT. AT INITIAL START UP WE WERE UNABLE TO EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ENGINE RUNNING. ON ONE OCCASION I HAD TO RETURN HALF HOUR LATER AND IT DID FUNCTION PROPERLY. VERY UNPREDICTABLE. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE STEERING GEAR AND COSTS ABOUT $2,000 TO REPLACE. DISPLAY ON VEHICLE SAYS PROBLEM IS ELECTRIC ASSIST FOR POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE IF LOSES POWER STEERING ASSIST. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. RUBBER DOOR GASKETS CONTINUE TO FALL OFF ON ALL FOUR DOORS. THE DUST COVER UNDER THE MOTOR IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PIECE OF CARDBOARD WITH SOME SPRAYED ON FUZZY FAKE MATERIAL COVERING ONE SIDE.