While backing out of our garage I noticed a strange noise when I turned the steering wheel. The same noise occurred when I had to turn the steering wheel to enter the garage.( makes the noise every time you drive it now.) I had a local mechanic friend check it and he said to take it to the dealer to run diagnostics and to drive it as little as possible. The nearest dealer is 20+ miles away. I made an appointment and here is the diagnoses: Found that the noise is internal to the epas gear. Steering gear replacement and alignment $1596.49 installed plus tax. I had to pay a $95 diagnostic fee to find this out. The car has 61094 miles on it, so it is out of warranty and the Ford Focus has not had a recall for this problem. Many other Ford models with the same steering mechanism have been recalled, why not this one! so now it is sitting in the garage waiting on the part to come in so I can take it back to the dealer and have it, hopefully fixed to be safe. Hoping for a recall to get my money back.

- Cambridge City, IN, USA

While driving down the freeway at 60 mph the inspection light came on and a message stating the power assist has faulted and requires maintenance. When I attempted to pull off at the next off ramp the car was extremely difficult to maneuver and I almost went of the side of the ramp. I had to struggle to get the car home.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

Power steering failure, upon starting car dash lights warns of power steering failure. At first we could turn car off and restart car and then it would function. This was last year when fall and winter came we had no more problems, as summer came this year with high heat it would not function at all now.

- Visalia, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 10 mph, the steering malfunction warning indicator illuminated and the power steering failed and the vehicle became difficult to turn. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that an unknown local dealer scheduled a diagnostic test in the next 15 days. The contact was concerned that, due to her small stature, it would be unsafe to operate the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact attempted to contact Ford Motor Company, but was unable to do so. The approximate failure mileage was 99,450.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

My steering wheel is locking up while I am driving. I am on the highway almost every day. I had to jerk it back because I was driving into another car in the other lane. I will try and change lanes and it locks, then pops back to able to steer. Someone is going to die from this! this needs to be a recall! it's bad enough I have had my transmission replaced 3 times in one year....

- Willowick, OH, USA

The contact owned a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 30 mph, there was an abnormal noise and the steering seized. The contact crashed into a telephone pole. The driver's side air bag deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the arms, a broken nose, and black eyes. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN and failure mileage were not available. Updated 10/18/17 consumer stated "I'd only had the car 3 weeks when the steering froze and the steering wheel would not move. It was going left when it hit the pole." No VIN available. Updated 10/4/18

- Elkland, PA, USA

Steering locked after starting car - indicator light on dash "I" turned car off and back on several times finally indicator disappeared and normal steering returned - looked on line for similar events and found other reports for same events. Had car towed in to Ford dealership they haven't been able to reproduce event and indicate they have never seen this before - major concern that could happen when vehicle moving

- Clarksville, TN, USA

The power steering is currently not working. It is like driving a car without power steering at all. Have to manually turn and maneuver the car. It is estimated that the whole steering column will have to be replaced which will cost $1,500 which should be covered by the Ford manufacturer. The vehicle was stationary when the problem was detected by the computer system in the car. Checked the steering fluid to make sure that it was not low or leaking and this was not the case.

- Prattville, AL, USA

Power steering assist failure, first indication of issue happened two days ago at approximately 104,000 miles. Cleared its self when car was put into gear, second indication was in drive way and a restart cleared problem. Issue has gotten progressively worse daily. I'm not risking my family driving the car until I talk to the dealer. This is a known serious safety issue and the buyers of this car deserve to be warned and compensated with a fix. Innocent persons will die from this while Ford is apparently silent or waiting on their supplier to step up. NHTSA step it up now!!!

- Tullahoma, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 5 mph and making a left turn into a parking lot, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was later taken to rustyeck Ford located in wichita, ks where it was diagnosed that the control motor of the steering wheel failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

- Derby, KS, USA

Steering wheel is locking up at slow speeds. Electronic assisted power steering. Recently, had the transmission recall taken care of. Soon after the steering started locking up when I would leave a parking lot and has happened several times since.

- Naples, FL, USA

The power steering ('epas' - electric power-assisted steering) system failed in my 2012 Ford Focus on 7/15/2016. The power loss was intermittent and unexpected at first, randomly shutting off upon vehicle start-up, or shortly thereafter. The power steering eventually experienced full failure on July 15th, 2016 and remains inoperable to this day, leaving me to deal with complete manual steering only. As a result of the failure, steering effort has increased tremendously during stationary and low speed maneuvering. It also makes controlling the steering wheel and vehicle under bumpy road conditions troublesome at all speeds, as well as avoiding lane drift at all speeds. The most concerning result of this power steering failure is dealing with bumpy road conditions, including potholes, which can jerk the steering wheel from my grip at times and veer the vehicle into another lane, or worse, an opposing lane of traffic. This has at times caused mild injury to my wrists and occasionally strain in my elbows when dealing with sudden jerks as well as the immense effort required to turn the steering wheel in stationary or low-speed maneuvering situations. I am a healthy and physically fit young man, & even I have trouble dealing with the steering wheel in these situations. Due to the enormous cost of repair, which can cost upwards of $2000, I have been unable to afford repair the steering, which has been inoperable for over a year. The NHTSA has already recalled the 2011-13 Ford Taurus and flex, 2011-13 Lincoln mks and mkt, 2011-12 Ford Fusion and Lincoln mkz, and 2011 Mercury Milan for the same epas steering failure, but nothing has been done for the Focus yet. I worry this issue will potentially cause serious injury or death to me or my loved ones.

- Culver City, CA, USA

In January, 2017 I had my 2012 Focus hatchback checked out for an ongoing grinding noise only present when turning. My local mechanic diagnosed this as a failing rack and pinion which needed complete replacement to avoid a catastrophic failure while driving. A $1700 repair for a major component on a 5 year old car with only ~40K miles. Very disappointed in Ford, currently looking at other brands for a new purchase.

- Quincy, MA, USA

Steering rack failure, vehicle is at 62,000 miles. Daughter lost what we thought was power steering control while driving thru a somewhat busy Suburban neighborhood road. Upon driving to a safe place, it was harder to steer than the traditional old school non-power steering cars. Was $1800 to replace.

- Austin, TX, USA

Power steering gear. My college student had the check steering message. We took car to dealership. They explained that the steering gear needed to be replaced and it would cost $1900. This is the same problem with their new electronic power steering that resulted in recalls on the Fusion, Taurus, and mlzs but the Focus is not recalled. I declined the repair and took it a local shop I use. They told me that they can't get the part because......Ford is purchasing every last one. There is a 2-3 month wait for the backorder. They also told that the part comes with a 15% surcharge so any saving that I would get not servicing at the Ford dealership would be lost as their price was also $1900. I did call in my complaint to Ford customer service and have a case number which I have yet to receive any response, that was 48 hours ago. The repair is approximately 40% of the net value of the car. For a problem that NHTSA dinged them on for the same system in other models. This is wrong. As an owner of an F150, Lincoln town car, and the Focus and a loyal Ford Motor Company customer, I am questioning my decision making!!!

- Bartlett, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 75 mph, the power assist indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (automax Ford 3301 E. central Texas expy, killeen, tx, 76543) where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was not clear on the diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Killeen, TX, USA

On way to local store power steering went out. Having to steer with much effort. Stopped and tried to turn ignition off several times and restart, but did not work. It initially went out while in motion on way to store after accelerating from stop sign. Noticed it when I had to make a right turn at next corner. And panel warning light came on.

- Franklin, LA, USA

After starting the Focus I would get a power steering fault alarm. Turning the car off and on would fix the issue. Now it stays off no matter what. This makes maneuvering extremely hard and dangerous.

- Louisville, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 55 mph, the steering failed and the steering assist malfunction warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to spradley Ford (located at 2828 U.S. 50 pueblo, co 81088 719-545-0192) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 60,258.

- Boone, CO, USA

I purchased this car used in 2016 for my 16 yr old daughter. In the month of June 2017 the power steering would intermittently go out and make it extremely difficult to turn. On July 11, the power steering completely failed and I took it to a local Ford dealership in chesterfield, mo. The dealership communicated to me that they were not aware of power steering issues with this care which is quite disappointing since there is significant content on the internet for this issue. The diagnosis is faulty power steering assembly and will cost me $2200 to fix. I am disappointed Ford is not taking this issue more seriously. I am lucky my daughter was not involved in an accident.

- Ofallon, MO, USA