NHTSA Complaint #10461106 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY FOCUS. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE FOCUS'S AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION (IN D) WILL QUICKLY SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DURING A STOPPED TURN AT A INTERSECTION THIS LEADS TO A UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE COMMANDED ACCELERATION TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO HAPPEN. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS LIKE THIS: THE CAR ACCELERATES AT A STOP SIGN OR PARKING LOT. THE CAR ACCELERATES TO 10-15 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER LETS OFF THE GAS DURING THE "TURN" PART. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO SECOND OR A HIGHER GEAR. THE DRIVER THEN COMMANDS A LARGE ACCELERATION - SAY DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC - AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE DSG TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO SHIFT SEQUENTIALLY INTO FIRST AND THIS TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS. ALSO IT APPEARS THAT THE POWERTRAIN IS DISCONNECTED WHILE THIS SHIFTING TAKES PLACE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SELECTS FIRST THE ACCELERATION CAN BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT CAN BE AVOIDED BY MANUALLY SELECTING FIRST - THEN SHIFTING TO D WHEN THE TURN IS COMPLETE. *JS