NHTSA Complaint #10501985 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 FORD FOCUS ST, A SPORTY VERSION OF THE STANDARD FOCUS IS WITH THE GOODYEAR 235/40/18" SUMMER ONLY TIRES AS A STANDARD TIRE FOR ALL ST'S. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE, THEY OPENED A CASE NUMBER ([XXX]). I CALLED THE SALES MANAGER AT ASKING IF HE HAD ANY CONCERNS ABOUT SELLING A CAR WITH SUMMER ONLY TIRES. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION HE AGREED THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE OFFERED AN OPTIONAL PACKAGE FOR THE CAR AS THEY DO FOR THE MUSTANG GT. I ALSO CONTACTED GOODYEAR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY ALSO DIDN'T RECOMMEND THIS TIRE FOR WINTER DRIVING AND SUGGESTED FORD COULD HAVE OFFERED SEVERAL OTHER ALL WEATHER HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. I WAS NOT TOLD THIS WAS A SUMMER ONLY TIRE FROM THE DEALER OR FORD, AND I SHOULD PURCHASE A WINTER SET OF TIRES AND WHEELS BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR. FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL CAR FOR SOME BUYERS THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM AND AN ADDED COST NOT EXPLAINED BEFORE THE SALE. TODAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM [XXX]THE REGIONAL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER. SHE HAD REVIEWED THE CASE WITH A FORD TECH MANAGER FOR THE FOCUS ST, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE CAR COMES THIS WAY WITH SUMMER TIRES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN SNOW BUT CUSTOMERS CAN PURCHASE A SECOND SET OF ALL WEATHER TIRES AND WHEELS FROM LOCAL TIRE DEALERS SINCE THE FORD DEALER DOES NOT OFFER AN OPTION OR TIRES. NO OFFER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES, NO CREDIT FOR THE SUMMER TIRES TOWARDS PURCHASE OF ALL SEASON TIRES, OR MOUNT & BALANCE OF TIRES I COULD PURCHASE. AT THE DEALER OR FORD THERE IS NO OPTION TO PURCHASE AN ALL SEASON TIRE FOR A MAIN STREAM SPORTY ECONOMY CAR, LIMITING IT'S USE TO ABOVE FREEZING TEMPERATURE DRIVING. I'M VERY SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED BY FORDS UNWILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE ANY SOLUTIONS FOR A SERIOUS DRIVABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2013 FORD FOCUS ST DURING WINTER DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR