The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the icons and buttons that were used for turning on the air conditioning, heat, radio and other components was too hard to reach. In addition, the contact stated that it would be hard to see the buttons for senior citizens. The contact would for the vehicle design to be changed with senior citizens in mind. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The current mileage was 6,000 the failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 09/05/12

- Highland Park, IL, USA

2011 Ford Fusion. Consumer states safety issues with vehicle related to driver controls and distractions, battery failure and loss of electric power steering capability the consumer stated there was no warning that the steering was about to freeze while driving. The consumer also stated it was difficult to read the instrument panel. The headlight control was located in an inconvenient place, the obstruction of the left side plastic molding inside the steering wheel prevented a clear view of object.

- Elyria, OH, USA

Letter sent Oct. 2011. Customer unhappiness department Ford Motor Company P.O. Box 6248 dearborn mi 48126 gentlemen and/or ladies: I have owned a Ford (Fusion SE) for several months and every time I take it out of the garage to drive I am afraid. I am afraid because as soon as I leave the garage I have trouble seeing the red needle that should be telling me how fast I am going. In the garage, I see the speedometer needle easily. The few times I have driven at night (at age 90, I try to avoid night driving) I could see it quite well. But in any daylight the big needle tends to disappear, and on bright sunlit days I usually cannot see it at all in the fraction of a second I take my eyes off the road to look down at the dashboard. Curiously, the smaller needle on the right that tells me the temperature of the radiator fluid shows up better than the -- much more important -- large needle that should tell me the speed. The order writer at my dealer says there is nothing they can do except turn up the dial that controls brightness of the needles which have, he says, lights inside them. I had already done that. In my judgment, a white needle would show up better than the red one. Can anything be done to make my driving safer" do I need to trade for another make of car so I can feel safe when I drive" ******* their reply said, in effect, "tough luck kid; we can't afford to solve all problems."

- Lombard , IL, USA