NHTSA Complaint #10712262 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TWICE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING IN REVERSE AND SLOW SPEEDS. ON JANUARY 18, 2014 WHEN LEAVING A DRUG STORE TO RETURN TO OUR HOTEL THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSH IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. BEING A SATURDAY NIGHT AND 180 MILES FROM HOME WE HAD NO OPTION TO BRING IT IN TO A LOCAL SHOP. MY HUSBAND AND SON WERE TRAVELING TO COLORADO SO THEY TOOK THE HOTEL SHUTTLE TO THE AIRPORT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER FOLLOW ME IN THE CAR THE 180 MILES BACK TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DASH HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT THAT POINT OF THE TRIP. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD SHUDDER AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT DID OK AROUND 60MPH. ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE AT THE GREEN LIGHT IT NEARLY DIED- THE RPMS BLASTED BUT THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND TO MY NEXT TURN. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED AND TOASTED THE TRANNY AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANNY REBUILT. THE ENTIRE PROCESS TOOK ALMOST A MONTH. STARTED TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS A FEW WEEKS AGO, BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SEALS ARE LEAKING AGAIN AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MY TRANNY GOES BUT THAT IT WILL BE ABOUT 12 WEEKS FOR THEM TO GET THE PARTS. *TR