On Thursday, September 24, 2020, my instrument console gave me an alert regarding servicing my power steering, and a chime went off. There seemed to be no problem with the power steering when this happened, and it worked great when I parked the vehicle and shut it off. I decided to look under the hood to see if perhaps there was a power steering pump reservoir or something that I could look at, to determine what could be the issue and if I could safely make it home before scheduling some maintenance at my local dealership. When I started the car back up, though, the vehicle put the steering into a “manual” mode, and it took a considerable amount of effort to make a simple turn out of the parking lot. I wound up having to ask my passenger to help me turn it into my driveway to get home, and suffered from a pulled muscle for the weekend, due to how difficult the car was to turn.

That Friday, I did some research and learned that certain 2012 Model MKZ hybrids have a recall on them for this very issue (recall number 15S18, NHTSA Campaign 15V340000). I took my vehicle into my local Ford and Lincoln dealership (Purchase Ford in Mayfield, KY) to have it looked into, only to be told that, by the VIN, this particular model did not fall under the recall’s guidelines. The gentleman I spoke with there was very kind and understanding, and pulled my vehicle’s history up and gave it to me, and suggested that I call Lincoln customer service. The concierge that I spoke with then explained to me that while, yes, my car is exhibiting the symptoms that the recall targeted, it was manufactured a month outside of the manufactured timeframe that the recall was for.

It was then suggested that I pay for the repairs out of pocket, and keep the receipts so that if/when the recall was extended, I would be reimbursed. Naturally, with COVID happening, it's rather difficult to afford something like this. I have contacted Lincoln themselves, and they sent me to the NHTSA to file a safety complaint. NHTSA has been contacted, but I'm not certain anything will be done. It's safe to say that, if this isn't fixed, I will not be buying any kind of Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle ever again. I really can't afford a $200 a month lawn ornament.