Power assist failed while driving. Could not turn the wheel properly. Car started shaking and sounded like engine was going to fail. Only 108,000 miles

- Orlando, FL, USA

Ive had issues with the steering wheel since I 1st got the car. In the beginning it would like a couple minutes and then be fine. I noticed it when it was super cold or even just kind of cold. There have been a couple of times when the weather was fine and the steering was still very hard to turn. Id have issues in the morning by the time I left the parking lot it was fine and when I got in my car after work the same thing (with in a few minutes was fine). I've taken my car in many times but they could never figure out an issue. Now its 2020 and its been "out" since Thursday today is Monday and I just had it towed to the car dealer ship. Every time this issues occurred my car was in part I never got a warning message until today. Ive always been at home or at work where my car has sat for a few hours

- Waukee, IA, USA

I own a 2012 Ford Focus sel. An error code has come up for about 6 months when starting the car "steering assist fault" it will usually go away but on Jan 13th 2020 I was leaving work and it would not go away and I could not move my car. The error remained and I had to have the car towed because I could not steer the car at all. I am active duty military living in germany on orders and my car is now at the Ford garage with a quote of 1,860 euro to fix the power steering. This is unacceptable that Ford has not recognized this as a need for a safety recall and car owners are having to pay thousands of dollars to repair this part when I have been told by mechanics it is due to the part being placed in an incorrect place causing it to error out. This is a huge safety issue due to the error happening while driving as well, leaving you with no control to steer the car. I am out thousands of dollars in rental fees while my car has been sitting at a german Ford dealership waiting for repairs.

- Apo, AE, USA

Power steering malfunction. Warning occurred each time car was turned on for the first time during the day, but would usually reset and turn off after restarting the car while stationary. This happened for about six months when the power steering completely went out. The mechanic had said this has been a frequent problem for Ford Focus' as the power steering column has a bad and unusual setup that causes the wiring to overheat and thus resulting in the power steering to not work.

- Springfield, OR, USA

The power steering in my car went out. While I was leaving work my car prompted the following message "steering fault assist" came on and my power steering went out. I was very fortunate to be on a straight residential road when this occurred. The steering gear in my car needed to be replaced. After doing further research I found that this is a common issue with Ford cars. So much so that Ford has recalled Ford/Lincoln midsize sedans for an identical issue (recall number: 19V632000). It is inexcusable that Ford continuously ignores this issue for compact cars.

- Mount Dora, FL, USA

When driving the power steering will suddenly go out and the "power steering assist fault" indicator light comes on. I suddenly had no power steering, which is certainly a safety issue! and according to other 2012 Ford Focus owners this is a widespread issue with no recall yet! after 8 years.

- Warr Acres, OK, USA

I own a 2012 Ford Focus went to pick my kids up from school and killed my car. Then tried to restart my car and my steering wheel was really hard to turn then the steering assist failure popped up on my screen. Tried to restart the battery changed the fuse and it still pops up with the message. And this is my only transportation. It's really hard to steer it. And I'm scared to drive it.

- Haileyville, OK, USA

The contact called on behalf of his aunt who owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while his aunt was entering her garage, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated the aunt does not remember the warning light that was illuminated. The contact stated the driver turned off and on the ignition and the steering wheel was functioning normal. The vehicle was taken to local dealer gene butman Ford located at 2105 washtenaw ave, ypsilanti, mi 48197, (734) 482-8581, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown rack to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 34,659.

- Milan, MI, USA

The power steer fails when started and intermittently while driving. The power steering failure after starting has been happening over a year. Today the check engine line came on after pulling out of the drive way and warned me the power steering had failed. The vehicle has 100,700 miles on it.

- Saint Cloud, FL, USA

While driving at approximately 50mph on a country road the vehicle suddenly became unresponsive and numerous warning lights illuminated. A transmission failure warning appeared and the car immediately stopped accelerating. The electric steering became inoperative and steered the vehicle into oncoming traffic. Avoidance and stopping on the side of the road required an estimated 60-80lbs of force to regain minimal steering and bring the car to a stop. Once stopped numerous electrical systems on the car including lights, wipers, and other electrical components began to activate and deactivate in a seemingly random fashion. This car is absolutely unsafe!

- Longs, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was pushed into a nearby gas station to be diagnosed. The driver was informed that the fuel gauge was inoperable. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V735000 (fuel system, gasoline). Additionally, on another occasion while moving the vehicle from a parking space, the steering wheel became firm and difficult to maneuver. Metro Ford Chicago located at 6455 S western ave, Chicago, il 60636, (888)667-9088 was contacted by phone. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall or a warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 62,100.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The power steering went out on my car this morning when I started it. It flashed an error message. After turning it off and restarting it about 3 times, it began to work. I have read that this can occur as I am driving. I am terrified this car is going to kill me, and I just bought it used and am paying payments. The vehicle was not in motion...yet.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving on the highway, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to manually steer the vehicle to the side of the highway. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove slowly to his destination. Joe machens Ford (1911 w worley St, columbia, mo 65203, (573) 445-4411) stated that the rack and pinion system was defective and needed to be replaced at the cost of $2,700. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that nothing could be done since they were cleared by the national transportation board. An investigation was conducted and the steering system was repaired. The failure mileage was 75,000.

- St Peters, MO, USA

A message comes on the dash saying steeeing assist malfunction. When this message comes on all power steering is lost.

- Rockmart, GA, USA

The power steering has been malfunctioning. It will malfunction while driving on the highway making it very hard to steer. This is very dangerous.

- Labelle, FL, USA

Second & third time the power steering has locked out on this vehicle while stationary, thank god. The instrument cluster showed a message reading "steering fault and it was amber in color. Turn off vehicle and restarted vehicle as my spouse told me and steering was ok. Drove to a different location and stopped about one hour later started to restart vehicle to the system warning and status messages cluster was on and amber in color, turn off and restart vehicle and it was ok, drove home and it is as of this date still working..

- Roanoke, VA, USA

Starting car and engaged engine& trans started to move when I found that no power steering. Found out that if you stop and restart car it might reset it did. This has happened twice more times. All had amber message all happened while stationary.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

My daughter pulled out her parking space and was unable to turn the steering wheel. The steering wheel was beyond hard to turn for an adult male or female, suggesting that the problem was not a lack of power steering fluid but that the car's steering modules failed, while the car was being driven.

- Homewood, IL, USA

Vehicle is a 2012 Ford Focus with only 46,000 miles. While starting to make a left turn from a stopped position the instrumentation panel showed a "steering assist fault" message and all power steering was lost. This nearly resulted in hitting another vehicle as I was not prepared for the steering to become completely manual, it was difficult at such a slow speed to turn the wheel. In speaking with Ford this is a known issue, recall was issued for multiple vehicles and multiple years for the same issue but the Focus was excluded.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Steering assist malfunction warning with loss of power steering. Happened at start up. Turned car off and restarted. The problem went away. The 4th time this happened, the power assist did not resume. Car now has no power steering at all.

- Providence Forge, VA, USA