NHTSA Complaint #11164899 — 2013 FORD FUSION

THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 2013 FORD FUSION HAS GONE OUT WITH 53,000 MILES ON MY CAR THROUGH NO USER FAULT. I FIRST NOTICED THE NOISES WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WITHOUT WARNING THE STEARING STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES (LIKE WHAT A CAR MAKES WHEN THE POWER STEARING IS GOING OUT) AND WOULD THE WHEEL WOULD PERIODICALLY CATCH (THIS IS WITHIN TWO DAYS OF THE NOISES STARTING) WHEN I WOULD TURN. OTHER THAN THESE SYMPTOMS THERE ARE NO OTHER SIGNS OF STEERING FAILURE. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOCKED UP WITHOUT NOTICE. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION ON MY MODEL, BUT WHEN THE DEALERSHIP RAN MY VIN, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS THE PARTS MUST HAVE MANUFACTURED AT ANOTHER FACTOR. CONSIDERING THE LOW MILEAGE ON MY CAR AND MAINTENCE ROUTINELY PERFORMED THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON MULTIPLE FORD FUSIONS ON 2011+. THANKFULLY MINE DID NOT FAIL WHILE ON THE ROAD LIKE OTHERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. A MECHANIC WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE BEFORE I GOT INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING FAILURE.