Lost power steering in middle of driving. Almost got into serious accident.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

While driving the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus on a 4 lane highway with adaptive cruise control and lane centering on, the car all of a sudden turned into the next lane. It does this both to the right and the left. I was on the phone with both my mother and the Lincoln service manager on separate incidents when it occurred. Also, I took it on a test drive with the lead mechanic and it did the same thing to him to the right, right where our veterinarian office is located. Center line was still there. After they had the car for a few days, and a conversation with the general manager, they determined that it was working as designed, they checked other non-nautulis vehicles and found the same thing. They told me that it would not happen on an interstate. I was shocked. There is no difference between a 4 lane highway and an interstate. I am a retired navy operational test Pilot, and we would never allow this to be given to the fleet operators. I checked the operators manual on page 239. Here is what it says: The system may not correctly operate in any of the following conditions: ' your vehicle is not centered in the lane. ' the lane is too narrow or wide. ' the system does not detect at least one lane marking or when lanes merge or split. ' you switch the direction indicator on. ' limited steering torque input is applied. ' areas under construction or new infrastructure. ' when modifications to the steering system have been made. ' when using a spare tire. Note condition above: ' the system does not detect at least one lane marking or when lanes merge or split at the time of the incidents there were turn lanes on each side of the car with small openings to move into the turn lane. The center lane markings were always there.

- Lexington Park, MD, USA