NHTSA Complaint #11395853 — 2011 FORD FUSION

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST QUIT WORKING FOR MULTIPLE SECONDS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY AFFORDED US VIA THE SAFETY RECALL 15S18. EACH TIME WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED FOR DTCS, THERE WERE NO DTCS PRESENT PROBABLY BECAUSE THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. NOT LONG ENOUGH TO SET A DTC. AT TEN YEARS AND 28 DAYS AFTER THE IN SERVICE DATE OF THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO SET A DTC. WHEN THE RACK FAILED, THE STEERING WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LUCKY FOR US WE WERE STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY IN GEAR BUT NOT MOVING. FORD DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED POWER STEERING RACK, BUT SINCE WE WERE 28 DAYS PAST THE TEN YEARS, THEY REFUSED TO INSTALL A POWER STEERING RACK UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL. WE HAD TO PAY $2100 FOR A REPLACEMENT POWER STEERING RACK.