NHTSA Complaint #11173456 — 2017 FORD FOCUS

THE 2017 FORD FOCUS S WITH UNDER 26,000 MILES HAS A STEERING ISSUE. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND IS HARD TO STEER, WON'T RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION WITHOUT BEING FORCED BACK, AND IS UNSTABLE AT MID AND HIGH SPEEDS. THERE IS A SOUND THAT IS STARTING TO PRESENT ITSELF, SIMILAR TO A ROOFER HAMMERING NAILS, THAT COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AT LOWER SPEEDS. FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM SUDDENLY WHEN PULLING OUT FROM MY STREET PARKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK IN ITS NEUTRAL POSITION, AND STEERING HARD TO THE LEFT THERE WAS A POP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL RELEASED FROM ITS NEUTRAL POSITION. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT AND SUBSEQUENT STEERING ISSUES, WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT 15-25 MILES PER HOUR, THERE WAS A ROLLING AND SWIRLING SENSATION GOING INTO THE TURN, ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING WAS NOT ENTIRELY CONNECTED IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SLIGHTLY DETECTABLE ISSUE WAS NOTICED 100% OF THE TIME, EACH TIME I EXITED THE FREEWAY. IT FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR ENTERED AND EXITED THE TURN, WHICH WAS NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO TIRE SLIPPAGE. FELT LIKE IT WAS FROM THE SUSPENSION.