NHTSA Complaint #11190463 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF, ALMOST JERKING AT TIMES, WHEN TURNING. FEELS LIKE IT TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS FOR THE STEERING TO CORRECT ITSELF LIKE THERE'S A DELAY FROM TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE CAR ACTUALLY TURNING. DOES IT AT LOW CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. WE DROVE IT SATURDAY, IT WAS FINE. IT DIDN'T GET USED SUNDAY, AND PROBLEM STARTED ON MONDAY MORNING. WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS ALSO A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. NO WARNINGS ON DASH, NO INCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 83,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT'S THE STEERING GEAR AND IT WILL BE OVER $1500 TO FIX. MONEY I DON'T HAVE FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON A CAR THIS NEW. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT SO IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY LIKE A GIANT EXPENSIVE PAPERWEIGHT.