NHTSA Complaint #11446478 — 2012 FORD FUSION

(1) On 12/15/21, the Power Steering Assist Fault light on my 2012 Ford Fusion went on. (2) I was unable to schedule a repair until 1/3/22, because of the two-week Christmas and New Year's holidays. (3) On 1/3/22, I took the car to my dealer, Germaine Ford in Columbus, Ohio, for repair. (4) The dealer informed me that the steering column had failed, and I need to replace it at a cost of approx. $3,000. (5) I asked about warranty and recall. The dealer told me Ford's extended warranty for steering column failure had expired two weeks earlier, on 12/17/21. The warranty for steering column failure on my car lasted from 12/17/11 - 12/17/21. (6) The steering failure occurred while my car was still under warranty (12/15/21), but two weeks prior to my taking the car to the dealer for repair--the earliest appointment I could get. (7) I called Ford Motors customer service to ask for a warranty extension or financial consideration, given that: (a) the steering failure occurred during the two-week Christmas/New Year holiday period, while my warranty still was in effect; (b) my steering warranty had expired just two weeks prior to my dealer visit; (c) my repair cost was approx. $3,000; and (d) steering failures on 2012 Ford Fusions are well documented and have resulted in injuries and deaths. (8) Ford denied my request for a further extension on my steering warranty, in spite of the fact that steering failures on 2012 Ford Fusions are well documented and have resulted in injuries and deaths. (9) I asked Ford Customer Service what the appeal process is. I was told my only option was to report the steering column failure and warranty lapse to NHTSA. (10) Given that my car was under warranty when the Power Steering Assist light went on & given that steering failures on 2012 Ford Fusions are well documented and have resulted in injuries and deaths, I feel Ford should extend my warranty and cover my $3,000 cost of repair. (11) Any help NHTSA can provide is much appreciated.