The Safety Institute is a non-profit organization who’s main goal is injury prevention and product safety as a basis for a healthy and productive society and as a vital component to reducing health care costs. The group is currently involved in a variety of issues regarding product safety, including reports that monitor vehicle defect trends and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recall and enforcement activities. Their quarterly compiled early warning list shows the top 15 vehicle trends that they say automakers and government should be paying attention to.
One of the vehicles which has been ranked number one for the second time for steering problems is the 2012 Ford Focus. The NHTSA website shows that this model year Focus has received seventy three complaints related to the steering system with one complaint involving a fatality. These consumer reports include:
- Steering is difficult to turn
- Complete loss of steering
- Power steering fault light illuminates
There are two technical service bulletins (TSB) released for steering defects, one for wandering steering and a second for the steering assist warning light illumination, but there have not been any recalls. While TSB’s are helpful in identifying a problematic trend in vehicles, the manufacturer and dealer are under no obligation to alert owners. It is important to ask if any TSB’s have been issued for your vehicles problems when you take it in for repairs. If there are, ask the service manager to make note of it on your work order and/or repair order.
Steering problems can affect the safety, use, and value of your automobile and if the manufacturer or one of it’s authorized repair facilities are unable to fix the problem within a reasonable number of repair attempt, it could qualify for a buyback under the California Lemon Law.
