NHTSA Complaint #11222943 — 2012 FORD FUSION

FORD 2012 FUSION SEL POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILURE: AFTER RECEIVING FORD RECALL NOTICE 15S18 REGARDING THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE, I RETURNED MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ON 08/06/15 TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLIED WITH. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE RECALL, THE SERVICE RECEIPT NOTED NO REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE INSTALLED, ONLY A "REPROGRAM OF THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE". NOW IN JUNE 2019, THE CAR HAS DISPLAYED A "POWER STEERING ASSIST" FAULT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 4 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 DAYS. THE FAULT CODE DID EXTINGUISH AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AFTER SITTING AND BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE, ONCE AFTER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, BUT AFTER STARTUP AND ENGAGING "DRIVE", AND AGAIN HOT WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. TODAY I DROVE THE SUBJECT CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DISCUSSED MY OPTIONS FOR REPAIR WITH THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBABILITY OF THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS PRETTY HIGH AND THE FAULTS WOULD CONTINUALLY GET WORSE (MORE OFTEN?) WITH TIME. HE EXPLAINED THAT ONCE THE RECALL WAS COMPLIED WITH, FORD CONSIDERS THE RECALL CLOSED AND ANY REPAIRS/ FAULTS AFTER THE RECALL AT THAT TIME WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $2,220. THE SERVICE MANAGER OFFERED A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR $119. I DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE PERFORMED BELIEVING THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER'S OPINION OF THE FAULTY POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND MY EXPERIENCE WERE ENOUGH TO CONCLUDE A FAULTY POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. IT SEEMS THAT THE FAULTY MODULE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER REPLACED AT THE TIME THE RECALL WAS COMPLIED WITH, SHOULD BE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD. THE PART IS BAD! IT JUST DIDN'T TEST BAD AT THE EARLIER DATE. IT STILL PROVED BAD/ FAULTY.