NHTSA Complaint #10545429 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR FROM FIRST TO SECOND, A VERY LOUD BANGING SOUND WAS HEARD. CHECKED ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM ON JUNE 10, 2013. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM OF MY PROBLEM AND THE TSB. WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WOULD ORDER PARTS. HAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO DRIVE THE CAR AND LEAVE IT AN ENTIRE DAY. WENT BACK JULY 18, 2013. DEALER HAD A TECH DRIVE THE CAR, AND YES, THERE WAS A PROBLEM. PARTS ORDERED. AFTER WAITING WEEKS, WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER ON PARTS. AFTER HITTING 3000 MILES, STARTED TO HAVE SEVERE STEERING ISSUES. WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND OR THIRD UNDER ACCELERATION, THE WOULD ALMOST MAKE A RIGHT TURN. AND THEN WHEN ACCELERATING IN SECOND AND THIRD, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE SO BAD I HAD TO HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE. BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY MADE A CALL TO FORD ENGINEERING WHO SAID THAT NEW MOUNTS WOULD FIX THE STEERING ISSUES. IN AUGUST, I STARTED CALLING HEATHER AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. EXPLAINED ABOUT THE BACKORDER AND MY STEERING ISSUES. TOLD HER I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. SHE SAID SHE WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PARTS. AFTER WEEKS OF NO RESULTS, TALKED TO HER ABOUT ME BUYING AFTERMARKET MOUNTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SHE SAID FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANYTHING BUT FORD PARTS. I SAID THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IF FORD WOULD COME UP WITH THE PARTS. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT PARTS MIGHT BE HERE IN OCTOBER. WORD ON THE WEB IS THAT DELIVERY WILL MOST LIKELY BE NOVEMBER OR NEXT YEAR. FINALLY BROKE DOWN AND BOUGHT MY OWN MOUNTS AT A COST OF $369. MY SAFETY IS WORTH THAT MUCH. I WILL TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK FROM FORD, WAITED 9000 MILES FOR THEM TO FIX IT. *JS