NHTSA Complaint #10578985 — 2014 FORD FOCUS

PURCHASED A 2014 FORD FOCUS SE ON JANUARY 4, 2014 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DRIVING IT OFF THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCES OR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. THE FEEL IS SIMILAR TO WHEN IT IS WINDY AND THE CAR IS CAUGHT IN AN AIR GUST. WHEN DRIVING ANY DISTANCE OR A SPEED OVER 10 MPH, THE DRIVER MUST HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL SWAYS ONE WAY AND ONCE YOU CORRECT IT IS NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE OPPOSITE WAY. THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES ONE DAY DAILY. BY THE TIME I ARRIVE AT WORK OR HOME MY HANDS HURT FROM HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL SO TIGHTLY. PRIOR TO THE THIRD VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE STEERING ISSUE, A NEW PROBLEM AROSE. AFTER BREAKING TO STOP THE CAR, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD FAST ENOUGH TO SQUEAL THE TIRES. APPLIED THE BREAK AGAIN, STOPPED, REMOVED FOOT TO ACCELERATE AND CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AGAIN. THIS IS BECOMING AN ONGOING ISSUE. AS OF APRIL 9, 2014 THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES, EACH TIME TO BE TOLD THERE NO PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND WITH THE CAR. IT DRIVES THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE PER THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE BARELY MISSED HITTING THE CENTER BARRIER ON THE FREEWAY, TAKING OUT THE SIDE OF A DELIVERY TRUCK, ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A DANGEROUS SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THE STEERING IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY. FORD CONTINUES TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF HURTING ANOTHER DRIVER OR MYSELF. *TR