What 3,789 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus RS

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING "IN AND OUT" FOR ABOUT 1-2 YEARS. RESOLVED TEMPORARILY TYPICALLY BY RESTARTING ENGINE. HOWEVER, POWER STEERING PERMANENTLY FAILED 9/9/18. TOOK MY CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS WITH NO RESOLUTION. LOOKING AT A $2100 BILL TO REPLACE WHOLE STEERING GEAR. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH CARS COMPUTER. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE STATING FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE (2017 DISMISSED LAWSUIT)-- BUT WARRANTY WAS RELIED TO GET OUT OF THE COST RESPONSIBILITY. MILEAGE AROUND 94-96,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING SERVICE DEFAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORRIS FORD (901 MERRITT BLVD, BALTIMORE, MD 21222, (410) 285-0200) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "STEERING FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (SAN TAN FORD, 1429 E. MOTORPLEX LOOP, GILBERT, AZ) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND FAILED TO TURN, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE "TRANSMISSION READY" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CAMELBACK FORD, 1330 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 635-7551) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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OCCASSIONALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THIS VEHICLE AN ALERT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH, SAYING POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED, CONTACT FORD SERVICE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE POWER ASSIST WILL WORK, SO FAR.

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IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR I STARTED THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL,MANEUVER, AND STEER THE CAR. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO MY LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY ASSESSED THE SITUATION. THEY FOUND FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. IN ORDER TO FIX IT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WHICH CONTAINS THE STEERING MODULE. THIS COST $3,377.56. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPES THAT IT PROMPTS A RECALL AND THAT I MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FORM OF REFUND FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY FAILURE AND EXPENSE FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD WITH LOW MILEAGE. I KEPT THE REPAIR INVOICE WITH ALL THE DETAILS BUT DO NOT WISH TO POST IT AS IT CONTAINS MY PERSONAL INFORMATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND EXITED THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. PAUL CERAME FORD (11400 NEW HALLS FERRY ROAD, FLORISSANT, MO 63033, (314) 838-2400) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,550.

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CAR LOST STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE CAR HAD TO STEER TO AVOID COLLISION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, ALARM CAME ON THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED.

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SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.

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WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL ASSIST MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. LOOK ONLINE AND THERE ARE RECALLS TO OTHER FORD MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE FOCUS ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AND A SERIOUS CAR CRASH COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF IT.

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THE CAR LOSSES STEERING ASSISTANCE ON THE ROAD OCCASIONALLY. THE LIGHT SAYING "STEERING ASSISTANT FAULT" ALSO COMES ON. THEN TYPICALLY AFTER 1DAY OR 2, THE SYSTEM RESUMES ITSELF. WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHEEL BECOMES REALLY HEAVY AND NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN AT 60-79MPH ON HIGHWAY. AT LOWER SPEED, IT NEEDS VERY HARD PULLING TO JUST MAKE A NORMAL RIGHT OR LEFT TURNING. I ALSO HAVE TO DECREASE SPEED WHEN MAKING THE TURN AND CAUSING VEHICLES AFTER TO DECREASE SPEED ALSO. THE FORD MANUFACTURER MECHANIC HAVE MADE FULL DIAGNOSTIC OF THE STEERING PART. THEY COULDN'T FIND A REASON AND ALSO SAID THERE COULD BE NO REASON. THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OF RELATED PART COULD JUST BE OUT OF ORDER SOME TIME AND THEN BECAME NORMAL AGAIN--TOLD BY THE MECHANIC. IT'S ALSO CONFIRMED SUCH DISORDER IS NOT CAUSED BY CAR WASH OR COSMETIC DAMAGE ON CAR'S SURFACE. THE PART IS ALSO NOT REPAIRABLE BUT HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A FAULT OF DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OVER HUNDREDS OF SUCH ISSUE FOR FORD FOCUS 2012-2014, DISCUSSED ON FORUM AND ALSO REPORTED BY MEDIA. TODAY, BEFORE WRITING THIS, THE FAULT JUST HAPPENED ON MY CAR AGAIN. I THINK IT BEGINS TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE THE FIRST TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS MAY 13TH, 2018; SECOND WAS JULY 19TH, THEN TODAY: AUG. 1ST. IT IS TERRIFYING HOW FREQUENTLY IT MAY HAPPEN ON ROAD IN FUTURE. AND WHAT'S MORE, MY CAR'S ODOMETER IS ONLY 44K MILES. HOPE THE COMPLAINT COULD BE VALID AND MEASUREMENT DONE TOWARDS FORD. THANK YOU

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STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVE AND BEEN LOCKED UP FOR SOME DAYS NOW AND IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND DONT HAVE THE MONEY FIX IT HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW THIS JUST A SHAME.

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WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, JERKED THE WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND, AND KEPT THE CAR MOVING STRAIGHT FORWARD. I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING ANOTHER CAR AS MY HUSBAND HELPED ME TUG ON THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POWER ASSIST LIGHT WAS ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED, AND I AM AFRAID OF IT HAPPENING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

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TWICE SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED. MY WIFE SAYS THERE IS A MESSAGE ON THE DASH DISPLAY ABOUT THE STEERING. BOTH TIMES SHE SHOWED ME THE STEERING BEING LOCKED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND RESTARTING. SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER WHILE DRIVING ONCE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH . SHE WAS ABLE TO STRONG ARM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE SHOULDER. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I STILL OWE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR AND I CAN'T EVEN GIVE IT AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

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ABOUT TO DRIVE TO WORK, I TURNED MY CAR ON AND SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF WAITING. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT, I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND I WAS GOING STRAIGHT TOWARDS AN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT BORDERS THE PARKING LOT. I PARKED THE CAR AND NOTICED A WARNING ON THE SCREEN IN THE CAR THAT STATED 'POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION.' I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE STEERING WAS NO LONGER DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN. THE WARNING WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. AROUND TWO WEEKS LATER, THE SAME POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHILE LEAVING A GAS STATION; THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED. MY INTENTION WAS TO TURN AND EXIT TO A STREET, BUT I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN SEEMED TO ALLOW THE STEERING TO BECOME NORMAL AND THE WARNING WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION MAKES IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE WARNING IS NOT SEEN SOON ENOUGH.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. DRIVING AROUND TOWN ALL DAY, PARKED THE VEHICLE THEN UPON RESTARTING THE POWER STEERING ASSIST NO LONGER WORKS. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 34,000 MILES.

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TAKATA RECALL - POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION . STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE TURNING ON OR DRIVING THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE IT'S DANGEROUS

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POWER STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. DTC U3000:49-48 WAS THE CODE FROM THE DEALER. THE STEERING ASSIT LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR.

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I OWN A 2012 FORD FOCUS SE HATCHBACK WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE SPORT PACKAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM A DEALER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN JANUARY 2012. STARTING WITH AROUND 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND OCCURRING PERIODICALLY EVER SINCE, WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE IS FIRST TURNED ON, THE POWER STEERING IS NOT ACTIVE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, A "STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATES IN THE CAR. HOWEVER, IF I START THE CAR AND DON'T ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR 5-10 SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE IS FIRST TURNED ON, THE POWER STEERING IS ACTIVE WITH NO ISSUES. IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE "STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING INDICATOR HAS COME ON, I SIMPLY TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, THEN TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. IF I WAIT THE 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE PROBLEM IS GONE, AND THE WARNING INDICATOR IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. DURING THE 78 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, I HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE A SITUATION WHERE THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY DEACTIVATES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR 2012 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES REPORT SUCH POWER STEERING OUTAGES AND AM AWARE THAT A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

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RANDOMLY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IS 2014 POWER ASSIST DEFAULT WOULD SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN AND THEN I WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I LEARNED TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD WORK NORMAL AGAIN. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAPPENED IN BAD PLACES THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND WAS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT IT HAPPENING. I HAVE RAN INTO A DITCH BECAUSE OF IT BUT WASN'T HURT. IT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AND DOWN ANY ROAD. ON JULY 17, 2018 IT DID IT BUT NOW IT WONT TURN FIX IT WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF. SO I'M GUESSING IT HAS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. THEY SAID ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THERE WERE NO RECALLS. I TOLD THEM I HAVE READ A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. I CALLED TODAY TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HE SAID TO BRING IT IN. 109.00 JUST TO CHECK AND SEE IF IT NEEDS A COMPUTER RESET WHICH HE SAID WAS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM. I DOUBT IT I ASKED HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE AND HE SAID WE WOULD TALK WHEN I GOT THERE. I HAVE NOT WENT BC ITS GONNA BE HARD TO DRIVE AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THEY HAVE RECALLED MANY OTHERS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WHY ARE THEY LEAVING THE FOCUS OWNERS WITH A DANGEROUS CAR? WE HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT FORDS. BUT I PROMISE THIS IS THE LAST ONE WE EVER GET. IF THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT FAMILIES SAFETY THEY WILL GET NO MORE MONEY FROM US

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LAST MONTH CHECK ENGINE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. CAR JERKED AND ACTED AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF AND WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING ON JULY 14TH AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY REPROGRAMMED TCM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE SAME CODE AS BEFORE ABOUT SHIFT FORK B ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JERKED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ACTED AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF AND NOT ACCELERATE. FORD STATES THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNLESS FOR THE CURRENT RECALLS ON THE CLUTCH AND TCM FAILURE.

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HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSIST.IT LOCKS UP STARING WILL.AND TURN OFF VEHICLE SENSOR WARNING GOES AWAY DRY FOR A WHILE SENSOR WARNING COMES BACK LOCKS UP STARING WILL. I HAVE NOT DROVING ON THE HIGHWAY . IT WILL LOCK UP STILL CAN'T FIND A RECALL ONE THIS PROBLEM IT COMES UP WHEN I DRIVE

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"STEERING WHEEL FAULT" HELLO, I HAVE A PROBLEM, I HAVE A 2012 FORD FOCUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MOVE AND A LIGHT THAT SAID STEERING WHEEL FAULT .. I WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST HIT A TRACTOR.. I WAS READING ONLINE AND IT SAID THAT THERE IS ALOT OF ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS SUCH RECALLS

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POWER STEERING FAILED AROUND 75000 MILES SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I LET IT BE BECAUSE IT WENT AWAY AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF BUT SINCE JANUARY 2018, THE CAR HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP AND ONLY REQUESTED THAT I GET A DIAGNOSTIC THAT COST 100$. THE DIAGNOSTIC CONFIRMED WHAT I SAID - THAT THE STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING. THEY ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT 2100$. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF SOMETHING WERE TO RUN OUT IN THE ROAD I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL FAST ENOUGH. ADDITIONALLY, I DON'T DRIVE OTHERS REALLY ANYMORE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING THEIR SAFETY AT RISK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX. I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND I WROTE TO FORD EXECS (YES WROTE BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME A NUMBER) MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT NHTSA SAID IT WASNT AN ISSUE SO THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING. NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REQUIRE FORD TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS FOR THIS ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS MADE FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN OTHER FORD MODELS, SO I AM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. ITS AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR FORD AND NHTSA AND MAKES ME AND PROBABLY ALL OF THESE OTHER PREVIOUSLY LOYAL CUSTOMERS NOT WANT TO BUY FORD AGAIN. TAKE ACTION. PEOPLE AND THEIR SAFETY ARE DEPENDING ON YOU.

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PARK ASSIST FAILURE MAKES THE CAR LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL DO IT WITH NO WARNING AND YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN CAN NOT STEER. IT WILL NOT RESET AND THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AS IT HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN.

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