Cpsc: A week ago, my son was driving app 45 miles per hour when suddenly the power steering locked, jerking his vehicle to the left, across the adjacent lane on a 2 lane highway. He attempted to redirect the vehicle, but the steering was locked and he could not control the car. The consumer stated the vehicle became airborne. The seat belt locked and the airbag deployed.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 55 mph, the steering wheel seized and the steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the power steering failed to reset. The vehicle was able to be driven without power steering. The vehicle was taken to currie motors Ford of valpo (2052 w morthland dr, valparaiso, in 46385, (219) 464-3523) where it was diagnosed that the strut and pinion in the power steering needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed her not to drive the vehicle because the front wheels would turn in different directions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 41,000.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to watertown Ford in walthan, Massachusetts where it was diagnosed that the electrical power steering rack needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. The VIN was not available.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

Ability to turn heavily degraded; loud squealing when turning the steering wheel; strong force required to make turns; loss of power steering; unsafe to drive; Ford dealership diagnosed failed rack and pinion

- Pensacola, FL, USA

Steering wheel acted like it lost power and as I tried to avoid a curb, instead of avoiding the curb the vechile hit the curb and blew out two tires and more damage. I will find out when I go to the Ford dealer. This is the second accident I have had with a steering issue with this vechile. Sterling has been an issue where it acts like manual if the car sits or around water. Car has also had clutch and multiple service for transmission issues.

- Lithia, FL, USA

When I parked my car it was in perfect working condition. The car sat for a few days and when I went to go drive it again the steering wheel was locked up while the car was on then it unlocked after a few seconds. When I turned the wheel both ways there was a weird noise (like tire on the pavement but worse) and a grinding/vibration in the steering wheel. I drove the car anyways think maybe it just needing to be driven after just sitting. While only a 100 yards down the road (city street) the steering wheel locked up for a second they unlocked. Had my dad look at my car and drive it to make sure I wasn't crazy and he couldn't find anything visually but said it wasn't right. Took to dealership the next morning. The dealership had no idea what was wrong with my car. All the technician and even the manager was stumped. Not a good sign. They had to contact the help desk for assistant. They finally got an answer 4 days later that the steering racking pin was bad and needed to be replaced. It was out of warranty of course so the cost of part is going to be about $1900 plus labor so I looking at around $2100. I was able to get cost to only be $560 as a goodwill cost from the dealership.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

The electronic power steering (epas), or driving assistance system, displays an error: "steering assist fault; service required." Ford Focus vehicles are outfitted with the electronic steering assist system install of the standard fluid-based power steering pumps. From forums and blogs, the problem looks to happen after turning the car off, then back on again. The sensor for this system looks to not triggering the steering assist.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While driving 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel. The contact lost power steering and the vehicle crashed into a guardrail. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that the front passenger side fender to the rear quarter panel was severely damaged. Additionally, the transmission began to shudder. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to hagerstown Ford (1714 massey blvd, hagerstown, md 21740, (301) 733-3673) where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the clutch was replaced for the second time. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V514000 (steering). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 9,999.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

I only bought the car last year. Now, I cannot hardly steer it. The steering wheel locks up. I have to fight to turn it. A few mechanics took a look at it, at a shop, and they said it was the steering column, that it is defective. There are other reports about Ford knowing there is an issue with the steering. I want a car that is safe. This car has had issues, continuously, since I bought it. Now, I am stuck with paying almost $400/month on a car that I cannot drive. This is not fair. Besides not fair, I do not want to end up dead, or any of my family members dead, because of a defect in the safety of the vehicle.

- Lucedale, MS, USA

While driving home through the village at under 30mph, slowing down from 30mph because of traffic stop ahead, the right front side of vehicle crashed down and control was lost causing me to sideswipe parked vehicle. The pieces of the front end appear to have failed and were falling all over the road.

- East Syracuae, NY, USA

2014 Ford Focus power steering issue while driving this vehicle the power steering failed while making a right turn on a busy roadway in a urban area. The steering wheel locked in the turning position and the power steering assist warning light came on. I had to put the vehicle in park and turn the ignition off. I turned the ignition back on and put the vehicle in drive and the vehicle's power steering failed once more and the steering wheel locked a second time. I once again put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition and removed the key. I waited several seconds and started the ignition, placed the vehicle in drive and the vehicle once again failed. I had the car taken to the dealership for servicing and was told that this is a common issue this vehicle has and it would take several weeks to repair due to the volume of repairs this dealership has at the moment. I had this same vehicle repaired several months ago for the transmission issue that is currently under recall. The car performed fairly well after the repair. The same hesitation issue began again a few weeks ago and now this issue arose as well. I asked the dealer if this too would be covered under the recall / warranty and was told the transmission was but they did not know if the power steering issue was but would get me an answer from Ford. I've read all the other complaints regarding this vehicles issues and my experience is the exact same. There's no doubt in my mind that Ford is well aware of this issue judging on how many formal complaints have been issued. I will be letting go of this vehicle when it is repaired. I will not operate this 2014 Ford Focus in good conscience knowing full well that it presents a significant liability to my safety and the safety of others.

- Elmira, NY, USA

My daughter was driving her new/used Ford Focus into town and the epas--power steering assist fault coded and she had no power steering. She was going roughly 55 and she could notice it becoming harder to steer. By the time she made it so a parking lot for safety it was close to non-steerable. It became hard for her to steer and luckily she did not have or cause and accident with the sudden change. She tried to assess what was wrong which is when we learned there is no powersteering fluid as it has and eletric steering assist instead. It doesn't work now and shortly after this code faulted the entire car shut down. It won't start and is useless--Ford replaced a perfectly good steering system with crap. I hope nobody gets hurt be this defective system.

- Valdez, AK, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while the vehicle was operated at normal speeds and it experienced a loss of power steering. The power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle towed to chapman Ford where it was diagnosed the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

- Butler, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the steering wheel shook while driving at lower speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the foothill Ford dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering clutch failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the clutch was replaced twice under warranty; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The contact was referred to NHTSA to file a complaint and was advised to reference NHTSA campaign number: 14V514000 (steering) as the cause of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000. Updated 08/23/17

- Hillsville, VA, USA

Upon startup no power steering, making steering extremely difficult. Dashboard message stating "electronic steering assist fault needs service now" diagnosis came back steering gear is bad. Class action has been filed for 2012-14 Ford Focus as well as 2010-2014 Ford Fusion so it is a known issue but still no assistance by Ford.

- Randolph, NJ, USA

Bought a 2014 Ford Focus 1/17/16and 6 months after owning it, the vehicle shuddered when taking off at a green light, had lost power around corners. Got a recall notice June 2016 got a new clutch and transmission power train. January 2017 problem persisted brought it back to the dealer they said its over 60,000 warranty and have to pay cash for the transmission repair. Could not drive the car safely it would not shift. Brought it back without recall notice June 20, 2017, and the dealer said they will file a 360 on repair of the clutch. Waiting for the dealer to call now 6/21/17. I need a reliable car for work and my family and can not drive this car. So scared driving it 3/4 close calls and rear ends. It sits as I pay for it every month.

- Brooksville, FL, USA

Electric failure of power steering. I was told that there was a "short" that caused the power steering mechanism to fail. Less than 3 years and 48K miles. Sudden failure with total loss of power steering.

- Glyndon, MD, USA

2014 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall and transmission problems. Updated 05/1/2017

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

After being stalled in traffic for over an hour I pulled into a gas station and started my vehicle to leave. Immediately I could feel something wrong with my steering and my alert popped on and said peer steering assist warning. Called dealership and they said it's a common for the electric component to fail after idling. They said that's this has happened to people as they are driving. Steering just fails. They said it was a fuse that overheats after idling for so long without warning. If this is a component that fails that affects steering it needs to be fixed and changed.

- Daphne, AL, USA

While driving my car the steering became difficult all of a sudden and immediately after an error read "steering fault service now". fortunately I was on a side road and able to pull over as I was pulling over an error then read "steering loss stop safely". now I have to have my car towed to the dealership. I'm extremely upset at the situation and how unreliable my car has become bc even after diagnosis and repairs I will be nervous. Not to mention how terrible this could've been had I have been on a busy road with my children in the car.

- Hanover Township, PA, USA