NHTSA Complaint #11414000 — 2012 FORD FUSION

I WAS PULLING OUT FROM MY PARKING SPOT (PARALLEL PARKED) WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS AND THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST LIGHT POPPED ON. I WAS ON A SIDE STREET BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AFTER PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, IT EASILY COULD HAVE CREATED A WRECK. WHEN THE WHEEL JERKED, I SLAMMED MY BRAKES ON. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN ON, AND THE LIGHT POPPED OFF. I RE-PARKED IT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND BEFORE RE-PARKING, THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND LOOKED ON LINE (FORD RECALL #15S18, NHTSA #15V340000). WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE, EVEN THOUGH IT DID INDEED FAIL THE SAME WAY THESE OTHERS FAILED. BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE, I WOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS KNOWN DESIGN FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. I'VE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR YET, HOPING THIS RECALL IS WIDENED TO THE APPROPRIATE RANGE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND IT'S COSTLY, BUT FINDING OUT THIS PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY IDENTIFY POINTS OF CONTAINMENT MADE ME ANGRY.