NHTSA complaint: 2009 FORD FUSION — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD A HISTORY OF RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2009 FUSION. THE BATTERY DIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, CAUSING ME TO FINALLY REPLACE IT. THE CAR CONSTANTLY THREW ERRORS REGARDING LOW TIRE PRESSURE. BUT THE LARGEST PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AT ROUGHLY 55 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND LOCKED, CAUSING US TO HIT FIRST THE CONCRETE DIVIDER ON ONE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RICOCHET ACROSS AND HIT THE METAL SAFETY RAIL ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO BRAKING. THE CAR HIT HEAD-ON BOTH TIMES AND WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. I REMEMBER FRANTICALLY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS BECAUSE I WAS SURE WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME BECAUSE THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT. WE WEREN'T SPEEDING. THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. NO ONE WAS DISTRACTED BY THEIR PHONE OR THE RADIO. NO ONE FELL ASLEEP. A DRIVER BEHIND US WHO STOPPED DESCRIBED HOW THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY VEERED OUT OF CONTROL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THE TERROR YOU FEEL WHEN YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR THAT HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED RESPONDING TO ANYTHING YOU DO. IT IS SCARY TO THINK HOW EASILY WE COULD HAVE CRASHED THROUGH THE METAL GUARDRAIL AND FALLEN TO OUR DEATHS, YET THERE ISN'T EVEN A RECALL IN EFFECT. I AM SO EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT NO OTHER CAR WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT, BUT THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation