NHTSA Complaint #10608393 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADMITTEDLY ENGINEERED A DEFECTIVE "AUTOMATIC CLUTCH TRANSMISSION" AND PUT IT TO MARKET. I, AS A CONSUMER, WAS SOLD A CAR THAT WAS LABELED/TICKETED WITH AN "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION". I WAS ADAMANT ABOUT THE STYLE OF TRANSMISSION AS I COMMUTE WITH 40% OF DRIVING WITHIN CITY LIMITS. I DID NOT KNOW, NOR WAS IT DISCLOSED THAT, THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS A HYBRID COMPUTERIZED CLUTCH. A CLUTCH ASSEMBLY PACK WAS REPLACED AT 17,265 MILES WHICH REDUCED THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DEFECT FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO "FIX" THE CAR, THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM TOLD ME TO SUE FORD. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY SIMPLY REPEATED WHAT ALL OTHERS ARE SAYING "IT OPERATES ACCORDING TO DESIGN". AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS OPERATING AT ITS WORSE SINCE I TOOK POSSESSION. LIKE MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS, THERE IS GRINDING, JOLTING, SEVERE SHUDDERING, RAPID ACCELERATION FROM HESITATION, AND NEAR POWERLESSNESS WHEN ASCENDING. THIS PAST MONTH, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW NEAR MISSES FROM HESITATION THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. GREG BURGESS, MANAGING ENGINEER OF THIS TRANSMISSION (NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE JULY 15 2011 AND OCT 26 2011) AS WELL AS HIS SUPERIORS, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR COMPROMISING THE SAFETY AND LIVELIHOOD OF FOCUS CUSTOMERS. THE MENTAL ANGUISH AND TIME SPENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH FORD HAS BEEN A VERY SERIOUS PERSONAL AILMENT. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED, IF NOT ALREADY. I HAVE A CAR THAT FORD WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE AND YET THEY DEMAND A MONTHLY PAYMENT. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR IN IT'S CONDITION AND A TRADE-IN IS ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL LOSS AND BURDEN. THIS WEEK IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT FORD'S CEO, MARK FIELDS, RECEIVED A 7% SALARY INCREASE, 1.75M ANNUAL WITH 200% PERFORMANCE BONUS. FORD IS NOT UNLIKE GM. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INTERVENE NOW AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD *JS.