More Ford Fusion and Fiesta Lemons? Steering Defects

Plaintiffs in a 2014 federal case allege that new 2010-2014 Fusion or 2012-2014 Focus vehicles’ Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system has a “systematic defect” that “renders the system prone to sudden and premature failure during ordinary and foreseeable driving situations.”

The plaintiffs claim that the vehicles are defective because the EPAS systems contain unreliable electro-mechanical relays that cause the vehicle’s power steering to cut off and revert to manual steering.

The plaintiffs assert that, as early as 2007, Ford knew that the electro-mechanical relays were not suitable for use in the EPAS systems but chose to use them anyway due to budgetary issues. They claim they paid more for their vehicles than they otherwise would have if Ford had disclosed that the vehicles’ EPAS systems were defective.

The federal court denied plaintiffs bid for class certification, finding that any misrepresentations were not necessarily seen by all the Ford owners.

Now Ford is fighting to throw out the claims of the individual plaintiffs, too. Ford claims that the new recall parts fixed the problem and that there was no real danger to any steering failures. They also claim the plaintiffs unique damages theory is unsupported.

We would like to hear from Ford consumers whether the recall fixed their cars, whether any accidents may be related to the failures, and whether they believe the defect otherwise substantially effected the use, value or safety of their vehicles.