NHTSA Complaint #11635861 — 2010 FORD FUSION HYBRID

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to turn the vehicle to the left or the right, the steering wheel seized. The failure occurred intermittently but had become more pronounced and constant. The vehicle was now only able to be driven in a straight direction, whether going forward or in reverse. The steering assist failure light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to another mechanic who confirmed the diagnostic result. The mechanic informed the contact of an unstated recall and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall or under warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.