NHTSA Complaint #10475047 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

THE ROLLING BACK PROBLEM CAME FIRST. WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED ON ANY INCLINE, BETWEEN TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PLACING IT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR ROLLS BACK QUITE QUICKLY, AND I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE STEERING PROBLEMS CAME A LITTLE LATER. THE STEERING REQUIRES BOTH HANDS AT ALL TIMES, AND EVEN THEN IT IS QUITE SHAKY. I FEEL CAR SICK WHEN I AM THE PASSENGER BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT. DURING TURNS, THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS CUTTING OUT, IT LOSES SO MUCH POWER, AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR EXTREMELY HARD JUST TO GET ENOUGH POWER TO FINISH THE TURN. THE SCARIEST OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME THREE TIMES. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (60-70MPH) AND I BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN, THE STEERING GETS OUT OF CONTROL AND GOES BACK AND FORTH SO RAPIDLY, I HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE TRYING TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE, AND THE BRAKING IS NOT AS EFFICIENT AS IT SHOULD BE WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND I HAVE NEARLY ESCAPED HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION, I HAVE STARTED TO BRAKE RIGHT WHEN I SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS AHEAD, AND I HAVE HAD AMPLE SPACE TO STOP GRADUALLY AND SAFELY IF I WERE DRIVING A NORMAL CAR, BUT IN THIS CAR, IT IS OUT OF CONTROL AND THE BRAKES WON'T WORK WELL WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON DRY ROADS. THIS CAR TERRIFIES ME AND THE RAIN AND ICE HAVEN'T EVEN HIT YET. AFTER I EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THEM TOO. THE SHOP HAD MY CAR FOR 13 DAYS AND THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT IT IS "PERFECT" AND THEY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING AND TO COME PICK IT UP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE, IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER, IT HAD 1074 MILES WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. I LEFT IT THERE FOR NOW, I AM TERRIFIED OF THIS CAR AND UNFORTUNATELY I OWN IT. *TR ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS