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Feds probe power steering in Ford midsize cars

By WTOP Staff

TOM KRISHER
AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator has opened an investigation into complaints that the power-assisted steering can suddenly fail on three Ford Motor Co. midsize car models.

The probe covers 938,000 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ cars from the 2010 through 2012 model years, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan. It includes gas-electric hybrid versions of the cars.

According to a class-action lawsuit filed in June about the matter, the problem could affect more Ford models, including the compact Focus.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received 508 complaints alleging that the midsize cars lost power-assisted steering, causing increased steering effort. Four complaints say the problem caused crashes, but no injuries were reported.

Ford says it’s cooperating with the investigation and that anyone experiencing power steering problems with their vehicles should contact their dealer.

The agency says in documents posted Monday on its website that in many cases, a warning message appeared as the failure happened. Restarting the car corrected the problem in some cases, but the problem returned in others.

NHTSA says it will check the scope and frequency of a problem. It could seek a recall.

In one of the complaints filed with NHTSA, from August of 2013, a woman said she was driving her 2011 Fusion to work when she tried to turn right into a driveway and the power steering failed. The woman said she nearly hit another vehicle that was leaving the business. “Brakes were applied sharply and every bit of the 120-pound female driver’s strength was needed to manually steer the vehicle into the parking lot,” the complaint stated.

Another complainant wrote that in July of 2013, the power steering of his 2012 Fusion failed as his wife was getting ready to leave the house to take their children to day care. “The scariest part is what could have happened if my wife had been driving with the kids and trying to make a turn?” the man asked.

Some drivers complained that dealers couldn’t reproduce the problem and they were left to drive a car that hasn’t been repaired. Others complained that their cars were out of warranty and the repair cost $1,400 to $1,900.

People who file complaints are not identified in the NHTSA database.

The investigation follows a class-action lawsuit filed in San Jose, California, in June alleging that electronic power steering systems on the 2010 through 2014 Fusion and 2012 through 2014 Focus compact cars are defective. The lawsuit alleges that Ford has received hundreds of complaints about the systems, yet it hasn’t disclosed to owners that the systems can fail.

“As a result, drivers of the defective vehicles experience markedly increased steering effort, leaving them unable to control their vehicles,” the lawsuit states.

Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Shares of Ford Motor Co. slipped 3 cents to $14.56 in morning trading Monday. Its shares are down 14 percent over the past year.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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