NHTSA Complaint #11493081 — 2018 FORD FOCUS

On Saturday October 15, 2022 while driving my 2018 Ford Focus hatchback, the steering went out. I was able to avoid being hit by the car behind me by somehow managing to pull into a driveway. I had the car towed to my home and called my usual mechanic on Monday the 17th who told me that it could only be repaired at the dealership as it would require special calibration after the steering was fixed. I then had it towed to the closest Ford dealership to my home. I was informed the next day, the 18th, that the "steering gearbox had to be replaced which was caused by intermittent overheat internal to steering gear, internal fault has caused steering gear damage internally". I was informed parts, tax and shop fees would amount to 3500.00. They also said there was a back log on parts and they have no idea when it would be fixed. It has now been there 3 weeks and they still have no idea when the parts will come in. There was no warning lights or messages prior to the steering going out. If I had been on the highway, as I often am as I am a nurse who sees patients in their homes, I truly believe I might have been killed as it was incredibly hard to even pull the car over into the driveway when I was going 30 miles an hours, let alone if I had been going 60 mph on the highway. I am a caretaker for elderly family members and as I stated, am a nurse. I have not been able to work, nor have I been able to do my usual caretaking for my family members. The car is only 4 years old with low miles and having the steering go out without warning is completely unacceptable which is why I am filing a formal complaint.