NHTSA Complaint #11253046 — 2013 FORD FUSION

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; I'M WRITING TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU AN ISSUE WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR 2013 FORD FUSION. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY FAILED. LUCKILY, WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WE PURCHASED AND HAVE HAD ALL OF OUR SERVICE DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2016 WITH 38,233 MILES ON IT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FAITH'S FORD IN BRATTLEBORO VERMONT ON MONDAY THE 26TH FOR A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. ON TUESDAY, WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM XXX]SERVICE MANAGER, AND HE INFORMED US THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK HAS HAD A PREMATURE FAILURE AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $1900.00. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE OWNER OF FAITHS FORD AND NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 FUSIONS FOR THE STEERING RACK, BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT, DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD, AS THE RECALL ORIGINATED FROM (15S18) IN HERMOSILLO MEXICO. OUR VEHICLE, VIN NUMBER [XXX] 69,520 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED. WE ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT WITH OVER $6000.00 LEFT TO THE LOAN AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE CONTACT FORD CORPORATE OFFICE ABOUT THE ISSUE WHICH WE DID, HOWEVER THEY MAINTAIN THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD ALREADY DONE THAT VERY THING. THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT THE NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. HOW MANY OTHER CARS ARE OUT THERE THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE BUT ARE 'NOT PART OF THE RECALL.' IF [XXX] EEN DRIVING, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER IT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE US WITH THIS SITUATION. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR