NHTSA Complaint #11170885 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED A USED 2012 FORD FOCUS THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING. AT ABOUT 116,500 I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE TURNING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. AN "POWER ASSIST MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEARED, BUT AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR IT "SOLVED" THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AT AROUND 118,000 IT CAME ON PERMANENTLY WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT A GRANITE CURB PUTTING A DENT IN THE RIM.. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED (01/05/2019) AND IT FAILED THE SAFETY PORTION OF THE INSPECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND IT WILL COST ME OVER $2,000 DOLLARS TO HAVE "FIXED". THIS TYPE OF "STEERING UNITS" HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY FORD ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF THEIR VEHICLES, BUT NOT ON THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHY? THIS PUTS LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS DRIVEABLE BUT EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WHEN AT SLOW (5MPH TO 15MPH) SPEEDS, BUT STILL, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PARK IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT.