NHTSA Complaint #10451740 — 2012 FORD FUSION

COMPLAINT 1) WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION FLARES DURING THE SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ACCELERATION DURING THE SHIFT. THE PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN WARM WEATHER FOR MORE THAN 24-48 HOURS. THE MISBEHAVED SHIFT CAUSES DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER ACCELERATION FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THIS DISTRACTION COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, LEADING TO A CRASH. COMPLAINT 2) THE TRANSMISSION TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD, AND FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE. THE TIME IS SOMETIMES IN EXCESS OF 2 SECONDS. THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING THIS TIME COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. *TR