A woman recently struck from behind by another vehicle claimed that the reason she was stopped in the middle of the very busy street was that she ran out of gas, the vehicle began shuttering, and the steering column locked up. While the first two make sense to me the last doesn't (in addition to passing two gas stations <500 meters back. Although the ford focus has a history of issues with the steering wheel locking, I've as of yet come across an instance of that being related to the fuel system. Has any one else?

Never had or heard of any issues of the steering wheel locking

my steering is fine

If she has it set to comfort, hydraulics failed, didn't realise she would have no assist, may have felt like it locked, compared to her fairy light setting before....

Perhaps?

Only stearing issues I can find are on the 2012 models

http://www.safetyresearch.net/blog/articles/ford-steering-problems-come-focus

And another set in the USA on the same model - http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/reports-ford-focus-steering-issues-raising-safety-questions/story?id=24274838

what darren said seems more reasonable, the woman probably didnt have the strength to turn the wheel without assist.

she appears to have got confused between steering wheel heavy and steering wheel locked. cars have 'power steering' and require power i.e. the engine running for it to work, so if her car ran out of gas then the steering would have got heavy and if do not know what it is to drive a car who's power steering has failed then it can feel like its locked and you need some force to turn the wheel unless you are the Hulk but then you wouldnt drive a car!

also, if the car has a no key in ignition facility to run and then it runs out of fuel would the steering lock up as it does on older cars ? i.e. if you turn the steering wheel without the key in the ignition it locks!