Our Focus was built 12/1/2011. It definitely exhibits the "breakover" force issue steering from just R of neutral to L and then back again from just L of neutral to R at highway speeds.

Was this what you were experiencing? Did this fix it?

Does anybody know the root cause of this? Are the new parts different/better? Installed differently? The effectivity of this TSB seems to keep changing to pick up more, later, dates. You'd think they'd get tired of building cars with this problem and then having to pay out in warranty claims to fix them in the field.

(of course, I'm also the guy with a BMW with the N54 engine and the much discussed chronic "no problem here" high pressure fuel pump that they redesigned and campaigned and denied and redesigned and denied and ultimately recalled across four or five different models and three or four model years.)

 

The breakover force issue, is exactly what was happening (and continues to happen to unknowing owners) of a small % of '09, '10, and '11 Toyota Corolla's with EPAS.

I ask why, rhetorically, can't they get this EPAS problem solved????!!!!!

 

I know! They should leave it off the cars until they have it figured out. How much of an economy gain is there? Wonder if it's worth the trade-off.

That said, once you have the steering gear changed (as I have), the car will drive much better. But, it's still not as good as a hydraulic setup.

 

does anybody have access to this TSB content/details? (like the DCT one)... my steering wheel is acting up, feeling loose, wandering at low speeds, even my hands get tired after my daily commute. (my focus was built last oct.)

 

I too am experiencing this issue, but it is at low speeds, not highway speeds like the TSB indicates. Just started happening a couple weeks ago. Thought I was just tired and wasn't paying attention since I just changed work shifts, but it is definitely the car itself. Build date is 8/30/11. Since I haven't had time to get these things looked at (this isn't my only issue) I am probably going to take a day or two off work to get these issues fixed all in one go since it seems most are covered by one TSB or another.

 

I sent my car in last week for this issue and the dealer agreed to perform the TSB and ordered related parts. They'll do the replacement tomorrow and I'll see if it actually solves the problem.

 

My parts are on order and they said back order for 30 days

 

Here is the parts list off of my invoice:

W715491-S442 BOLT 52614 (2X)
W520203-S442 NUT - H 508953 (2X)
W520415-S442 NUT - 513464 (2X)
W520113-S442 NUT - H 550178 (2X)
CV6Z-00812-A BOLT 512930 (2X)
BV6Z-3504-CE GEAR AS 561396 (1X)
W714807-S900 BOLT 506728 (3X)
XL-14 FLUID (3X)

 

thanks! [thumb]

 

I finally did a bit of highway driving and the drifting is gone and the steering feels nice and tight.

 

Mine goes in Monday. I contacted my dealer a couple weeks ago about it and they finally got all the parts in yesterday. Said they will need the car about a day and would provide a rental for me. Looking fwd to the fix. Mine is a bear sometimes on speeds of 70+ Its like driving in a constant crosswind but from both side of the car.

 

Tell me about it. I did about a 1600 mile round trip with mostly highway driving right before I took it in since they were waiting on parts. I got quite a workout.

 

I am having this same exact issue. It's so hard sometimes to keep the car straight... and I look at other cars and they're not having the same issue. It sometimes gets really scary when you're in-between two big cars or semis.

I sent a PM to Ford CS so I can get help to get all this fixed.

 

I just dropped my car off this morning for the TSB as well as asking them if they would apply any updates avail for my DCT Transmission.

I know the exact feeling you described about how scary it is when your next to a big truck or near a cement divider. I can't wait to get my car back. They put me in a brand new F150 Supercrew and it feels like a TANK compared to my little rocket.

 

Lol. Yep. What a tank too.

So I got a call about 30 mins ago that my car is ready. I totally didn't expect it would be ready that soon. They also told me there was an update avail for my dct tranny that they applied as well. Can't wait to get back and return this F150.
I will report back my experience with the fix later tonight.

 

They also told me there was an update avail for my dct tranny that they applied as well.

What was your build date? I notice you are a pretty recent member...

 

Hey guys. Sorry I waited so long to respond. @DW - My build date is 12/11.

So I arrived at the dealership and picked up my car. Not only did they resolve the steering issue they also applied a very noticeable PCM update on my DCT Transmission.

My drive home was FANTASTIC!. Guys its like a completely new car!. The steering is perfect now!. You can literally just relax and just hold the steering with 2 fingers and it no longer pulls like before. Amazing difference.

Also the Tranny update resolved my shudder I could hear and feel on take offs. It seems to have also improved performance too. The tranny seems to almost anticapte your next move LOL and if you need to pick up speed a little it is more than happy to drop a gear way quicker than it did before and keep the engine in the peak torque and then quickly drop back to 6th. It truly feels like your driving a manual without having to push a clutch in, etc.

I think anyone that's eligible for these TSB's should definitely get them done!

-Brian.

 

Great! Cannot wait to get my car 'fixed'. I've really been noticing it a lot lately.

Thanks for letting us know your experience.

 

I had this done in early Jan, it took 5 business days once the part was in. The steering is like a normal car now, and the EPAS handles wind really really well.

 

Wow Paul. Mine was repaired same day. My dealer even put me in a rental which was a nightmare of it's own (not their fault) but I got my car back by the end of the day. You are right though. It now drives like a normal car. LOVE IT!

 

Yeah something must have happened or they forgot a part and had to order it once they already started. My receipt says that it's a 2 hour job.

 

Last night my steering seemed to pop back and forth off center. I assumed it was the tires tracking in rain grooves, but it was the first time I have been doind 70 mph in a while. If I had a problem, does it happen at all speeds, or just higher speeds?

 

I believe it's anything over 45 but technically I didn't really notice it until 65-70+ Seems the faster you go the more you'll notice the issue.

 

Mine was most noticeable around 65mph.

 

Thanks, Noemi!

You rock!

 

+1 I agree 100%

 

A Ford Customer Service Manager called me at 9 am this morning... great customer service! I was very pleased. They're going to cover a rental and check with the dealer to try and have my car ready by the weekend.

Having Noemi here as a liaison to these awesome customer service managers is an invaluable service. I really do appreciate it!

 

I brought my focus in this morning at 8 to get this TSB fixed. They ordered the parts last week and set the appointment date. I showed up and they had no idea what the TSB was for. The steering gear that needs to be replaced is the whole rack and pinion. They told me it was a 3 hour job so I drove it up here to wait. Needless to say at 1000 they pulled it in to the shop. I ask about getting a rental and they said they don't have any. They are all being used. So now I'm stuck at the dealership since 8 and they don't know when it will be done. Just wanted to let everyone know what's up.

 

My dealer called me this morning... they're ordering the parts for the steering column.

I also told them about the transmission and they have to replace the clutch! I won't get the car until next week.

 

Did you or the dealer make reference to this TSB 12-02-17 as to getting your work done? If there's another updated TSB please post it...

 

The car is done. They replaced a steering position sensor. P/N CV6Z*3F818*A. Luckily they didnt charge me "extra fees".

 

You have a good service dept there, many of Ford service would of told you that lowering your Focus caused the problem, and others would of charged you for the extra time it took.

Glad to hear there's some good Ford Service Centers out there..

 

How does it drive now?

 

To me it feels the same. I'll give it a couple of days.

 

Is this the same problem?

I've seen this TSB and tried to figure out if its the same issue I'm seeing.

When I drive on the freeway (especially on the "striped" concrete they use here in MI for cold weather) the car feels like it's quickly drifting left or right with no steering input, but doesn't seem to happen on smoother asphalt surfaces.

I don't have to manually recenter the car necessarily (I see people mentioning getting "a workout" having to keep the car straight), but it's really annoying (and will even make you motion sick after a while when it bobs back and forth).

I thought it might be something like the tires just trying to grip the surface and it pushes the car back and forth (heard that's a problem on increasingly larger tires), but don't want to lose my car and have it torn apart if it's not the same thing.

Thanks for any input.

 

I've seen this TSB and tried to figure out if its the same issue I'm seeing.

When I drive on the freeway (especially on the "striped" concrete they use here in MI for cold weather) the car feels like it's quickly drifting left or right with no steering input, but doesn't seem to happen on smoother asphalt surfaces.

I don't have to manually recenter the car necessarily (I see people mentioning getting "a workout" having to keep the car straight), but it's really annoying (and will even make you motion sick after a while when it bobs back and forth).

I thought it might be something like the tires just trying to grip the surface and it pushes the car back and forth (heard that's a problem on increasingly larger tires), but don't want to lose my car and have it torn apart if it's not the same thing.

Thanks for any input.

That's exactly what I was experiencing. I took her in and they said the TSB applies.

 

I've called my dealer service mgr and told them about my steering and it's at 65+ mph and on cement interstate driving. I just received back that they ordered the parts for fixing this and will take it in when they call me that the parts are in.

I do think that the new electric steering, bigger tires (17") and road surfaces plus speed of 65+ makes this condition. I think anyone else that is having this steering issue at 45 mph or under has a tire issue or possible rims out of round. Having the front end realigned might help also.


My build date was March 2011

 

I've called my dealer service mgr and told them about my steering and it's at 65+ mph and on cement interstate driving. I just received back that they ordered the parts for fixing this and will take it in when they call me that the parts are in.

I do think that the new electric steering, bigger tires (17") and road surfaces plus speed of 65+ makes this condition. I think anyone else that is having this steering issue at 45 mph or under has a tire issue or possible rims out of round. Having the front end realigned might help also.


My build date was March 2012

Of course they want me to drop it off and they drive it to replicate the issue BEFORE they do anything. Of course it will not do it for their short test drive and they will tell me how unless they can replicate it they can not fix it....even though there is a TSB about it! I f'ing hate this crap! I paid a lot of money for this car and it has been in the shop twice in the last month. Now they want me to drop it off AGAIN just to drive it! I mean it does it, why can they not believe what I am saying and simply order the parts? I am getting tired of the issues on this NEW car. [!]