Randomly, when starting the car, I receive a steering assist fault error causing the steering wheel to freeze. The only remedy is to turn the car off, wait a few minutes, and restart. The error should go away and the steering wheel can easily move.

- Wheaton, IL, USA

Power steering completely went out. Error notification on dash says "steering assist fault." This was an intermittent problem for the last couple months that was fixed my turning the car off and restarting it. But it has completely gone off and it will not reset with turning the car off and on. Replaced 80amp megafuse that others online said may be the issue, this did not correct the problem. My only other idea is that it is the power steering rack that everyone else online has needed replaced.

- Montgomery, IL, USA

Power steering assist fault when driving. No power steering at all. Difficult to drive the car.

- Folsom, CA, USA

On a wet pavement in the rain while attempting to make a right turn into a shopping center the power steering locked up and would not turn or respond. The vehicle continued into an island curb breaking off the front left tire causing over $4,300 in damage. The problem with the power steering locking up during wet weather was confirmed by the repair shop. Ford Motor Company (customer service) was contacted but would not send a representative to look at the vehicle. This issue is ongoing as everyone who drives the vehicle has experienced the steering locking up during wet conditions. The vehicle also has a shuddering issue where the vehilcle bucks when moving forward.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

Power steering assist failed while pulling out of driveway. Ford is aware of this issue and has failed to issue a recall on this model, but has on other models with same issue. There are many other complaints of this problem you can find online, even news articles about this happening with this model. Even the service technicians at the Ford dealer knew of the problem.

- Mount Juliet, TN, USA

Car had been parked overnight. Went to start up and the "faulty steering assist" warning light came on. I called the dealer and they said to check the battery. Took it to a mechanic and he had to replace the electronic steering gear and rack and pinion. Total cost $2500.

- Victoria, TX, USA

When the car is turned on and stationary, it will display "steering assist fault, " and the power steering will not turn on, greatly reducing the capacity to steer. Upon turning the car off and back on, the power steering re-engages. It has been doing this for about one year now.

- Orlando, FL, USA

A few days before incident the car developed a rubbing noise in the steering column and my fiance stated that the car was difficult to steer. Thinking it was a power steering issue - a service appointment was scheduled and I drove the car to the dealer after hours. The distance is approximately 13 miles. After about 10 miles the dash display indicated a yellow display stating "service steering system soon". I continued to dealership and arrived just before 7:00 pm. When I turned the car into a parking space near service the steering column locked and became immovable and car display stated a red warning box " total steering failure - stop safely" this is the condition the service manager found the next morning. The cause is a total failure of the electronic steering control module. The cost to replace this part is $2000 after which time the dealer can diagnose "any of the other three common causes of steering loss."

- Perry, MI, USA

I would like to report my steering malfunction on my Focus has gone out...I have seen many complaints on the exact same model and year on this and it's a problem that needs to be recalled. My recent experience with this problem occurred while I was on the freeway with my children and it was very scary the steering wheel locked up and was so hard to steer it. This is an urgent matter that need to be recalled.

- Corona, CA, USA

Making a right hand turn in silver lake, ca when the power steering assist failure light came on. The steering wheel seemed to freeze. I was able to pull over but was definitely shaken as I almost hit several cars. I know that if my younger sister was driving she would not have known what to do. I turned the car off and restarted and was able to get home. After research and realizing this is a common problem with the 2012 Focus not sure what to do and do not have the estimated $2,000 to repair.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Auburn, me - while reversing out of my driveway the "auto steering assist failure" message appeared and I lost power steering in the vehicle, steering wheel was almost impossible to turn. Left car for the evening and started the car again in the morning. Warning message did not appear and power steering seemed to have returned. I had the car towed to the local Ford dealership. Mechanics were unable to find an issue or reproduce it after having the vehicle for three days. Sited that they had not heard of or seen any issues with power steering failures with other Ford Focus vehicles. The vehicle has 130K (aprx) miles.

- Auburn, ME, USA

The vehicle was in motion when a sudden loss in power steering occurred. A "steering assist failure" message appeared on the display. The vehicle had previously been checked at a factory dealership for this issue which appeared intermittently and no apparent problem was found. The epas system is now disabled full time and the vehicle has only 26K miles. It is my understanding that Ford is aware of faulty components/engineering regarding this problem but refuses to recall. A sudden loss of power steering could result in catastrophic consequences and loss of life. Costly repairs would not solve the inherent problems with this system as it would be prone to fail again. Please take action

- Morganton, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While idling at a stop sign, the power steering failed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 99,050.

- Camp Verde, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, the power steering failed to operate as intended. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the steering assist service fault warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

- Chester, SC, USA

Steering warning light came on so I turned the car off and when I turned it back on it was gone. I then backed out of my spot and put it into drive. The car lost all power steering and was unable to move. I turned the car off and back on and this fixed the problem (no warning lights). This happened many times over the next few weeks but without the warning light going off. Now I have no power steering at all in forward or reverse and it does not get fixed when turning the car off and back on. Took it to the dealer and they said the steering module had failed and would need to be replace. I have done research on line and many other people have had this same problem. Why has this not been a safety recall is beyond me. Very disappointed with Ford and NHTSA for not already acting on this!

- Ellensburg, WA, USA

Steering assist goes out leaving me with no power steering.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

Electronic power steering suddenly failed while turning into a parking area. The wheel became so stiff that it was nearly impossible to turn it. This event occurred in a parking lot at low speeds but some reports show that this has happened to other 2012 Focus cars while driving at highway speeds.

- Conyers, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While starting the vehicle, the "faulty steering assist" warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,480.

- Kinston, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving, the power steering locked up and the contact was unable to control the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not able to be driven and was towed to a Ford dealer, but was not repaired. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- Jackson, AL, USA

My wife was driving on a city street and when she made a left turn the power steering failed, and almost hit another car. She was able to get the car to a parking lot. I did some research and I am not the only one with this issue. Ford needs to warranty all affected cars and fix it.

- Owasso, OK, USA