NHTSA Complaint #10596881 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

WHEN LIGHTLY ACCELERATING FROM A STATE OF REST, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED, EVEN WHEN A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THEN IT UNPREDICTABLY "KICKS" INTO GEAR, FORCING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE SUDDEN JOLT. IT ALSO SLIDES BACKWARD WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE ON HILLS. NONE OF THESE ISSUES OCCURRED SEVERELY IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR NEW. THE SYMPTOMS BECAME NOTICEABLE AROUND OCTOBER 2013, AND HAS OCCURRED SINCE, MOST OFTEN IN THE LOWEST GEARS -- SLOWLY BACKING OUT FROM A PARKING SPOTS, STOP & GO TRAFFIC, ETC. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES, AND TAKEN TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THREE DAYS FROM RECEIVING MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE THIRD SERVICE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUDDER AND HESITATE WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS. ONLY THIS TIME I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT. USUALLY IT SHUDDERS WHEN IN REVERSE, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL WHEN IN REVERSE AND WITH LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE GAS. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS OF LIGHT, EVEN PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL TO INCH THE CAR OUT OF THE SPOT, THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARD, NEARLY SENDING ME THROUGH THE STORE WALL. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS WERE NEARBY, BUT THIS INCIDENT MAKES ME AFRAID THAT THE CAR IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR