NHTSA Complaint #10544268 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

METALIC GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING AT SLOW SPEEDS. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 RPM AND BETWEEN 10-25 MPH, GRIDING NOISE IS HEARD FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN STOPS. AS CAR PROCEEDS INTO NEXT GEAR, IF RPM DROPS TO 1500 AND SPEED AGAIN BETWEEN 10-25 MPH, GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERAPHIN FORD IN VERNON, THEY CLAIM TO HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITHOUT HEARING THE NOISE. A SEPARATE DATE, I TOOK THE CAR TO SERAPHIN FORD, DROVE A MECHANIC IN THE CAR, BUT THE NOISE WAS FAINT AND MECHANIC COULD NOT HEAR IT. SOMETIMES THE SOUND IS FAINT, OTHER TIMES SOUND IS LOUD. NO RHYME OR REASON. I HAVE READ MUCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH 2012-2013 FOCUS POWER TRAINS. I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING. ALSO, POWER TRAIN LAGS AND FLUTTERS OFTEN. I HAVE LEARNED TO DRIVE VERY "GENTLY" TO PREVENT LAG/SHUTTER/SURGE WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IF I ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE SPEED USING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS (TO ADVANCE SPEED), THE ENGINE TAKES OFF, RPM CLIMBS VERY HIGH AND THE ENGINE ROARS. I HAVE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CRUISE CONTROL AND START OVER AGAIN. IT CAN BE SCARY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO HAVE THE ENGINE RACE LIKE THAT.