NHTSA Complaint #11277357 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

ON 10/26/2019 I WAS BACKING THE CAR OUT THE DRIVEWAY, AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO START TURNING I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME, AND PREVENT ME FROM PROCEEDING ON TO MY ROUTE. I MANAGED TO QUICKLY GET IN BACK ON TO THE DRIVEWAY AND NARROWLY MISSED GETTING HIT BY A CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK ON PARK I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THINKING IT WOULD RESET ANY PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT " NOTIFICATION CAME BACK ON. I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE TURNING THE CAR OFF, AND BACK ON, AS WELL AS PLACING IT NEUTRAL, DRIVE, AND REVERSING IT AGAIN BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STAYED LOCKED. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION I SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND FOUND MANY TESTIMONIALS DATING BACK YEARS! OF PEOPLE HAVING THEIR LIVES PUT AT RISK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND MYSELF IN A SAFE LOCATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT NOW I FIND MYSELF WITH A TOWING BILL OF 85 DOLLARS, AS WELL AS A BILL OF 2,000 DOLLARS (THAT I DO NOT HAVE) TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT PUTS LIVES IN DANGER, AS WELL AS ECONOMICALLY DEBILITATING. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO FIX IT!