NHTSA Complaint #10692332 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

THE TRACTION CONTROL IN THE VEHICLE OPERATES IN AN UNSAFE MANNER IN SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN CLIMBING A SLIGHT GRADE IN SNOW, THE TRACTION CONTROL CONTINUALLY REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD. AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO A STOP WHILE MODULATING THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE WILL NOT REV ABOVE 1500RPM WITHOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL CUTTING OFF POWER. CONTROLLED AND SUSTAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM IS REQUIRED FOR SAFE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE WHEN TRAVERSING TYPICAL ROADWAY INCLINES IN SNOWY WEATHER WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED. ADDITIONALLY, IT TAKES NO FEWER THAN SEVEN INPUTS FROM THE DRIVER TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM; SOMETHING THAT MUST BE DONE FREQUENTLY IN THIS VEHICLE TO KEEP IT MOVING SAFELY IN SNOW. THIS CREATES UNDUE DRIVER DISTRACTION IN ALREADY DEMANDING DRIVING CONDITIONS. A MANUFACTURER RETROFIT OF A SIMPLE ON/OFF SWITCH FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AS INSTALLED IN MOST CONTEMPORARY VEHICLES, SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM REMEDY. *TR