NHTSA Complaint #10777833 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE CLUTCH IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING/DISENGAGING. THIS SEEMS TO BE AT ITS WORST AFTER THE VEHICLE IS HOT FROM TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IN ADDITION TO THE SHAKE AND SHUDDERING, THERE IS AT TIMES A LACK OF POWER WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WILL INCREASE ENGINE RPM, BUT THE CAR IS SLUGGISH TO TAKE OFF. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, THIS CAN BE A BIT FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS YOU ANTICIPATE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. YOU CAN HEAR THE PULL ON THE ENGINE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THESE TWO ISSUES HAVE NEVER OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY. EITHER THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUDDERS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP OR THERE IS A LACK OF ACCELERATION. NEVER DO THEY OCCUR TOGETHER. I HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE HAD EVERY SOFTWARE UPDATE AVAILABLE APPLIED. I AM TOLD AT EVERY VISIT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING NORMALLY. I'M CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY I WILL PULL INTO TRAFFIC THOUGH AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 93,000 MILES ON IT.