NHTSA Complaint #11298977 — 2011 FORD FUSION

ON JANUARY 13, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM I, [XXX]., WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 40 LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS TRAVELING FROM EXIT 47 TO EXIT 123 FOR WORK. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 71 MPH (POSTED SPEED OF 70 MPH). WHILE DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 40, JUST WEST OF EXIT 86, MY 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID'S STEERING SYSTEM LOCKED UP. AT THE MOMENT THE STEERING SYSTEM LOCKED UP IT FORCED ME OFF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM RECEIVING ANY DAMAGE BY EASING ON THE BRAKES. IT WAS HARD TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TRAVELING ONCE THE STEERING SYSTEM LOCKED BUT I DID MANAGE TO GET IT SAFELY STOPPED. I THEN GOT THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO ASHEVILLE FORD. THEY PERFORMED A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION IN WHICH THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR