NHTSA Complaint #11230338 — 2013 FORD TAURUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITHOUT POWER STEERING ABILITY TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. *TR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A FORD DEALERSHIP (PLACE MOTORS IN WEBSTER MA) AWAITING REPAIR. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK/MOTOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD WAS NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE VERY SIMILAR RECALL (NHTSA#15V340000). CODES FOUND IN THE COMPUTER WERE U3000-96, U3000-49. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED ON AN OFF RAMP AND HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITH SOMEONE NOT AS STRONG OR WITH AN ELDERLY PERSON, THIS WOULD HAVE MOST CERTAINLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING WHEEL TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN. ADDRESS IS INCORRECT.*JB