NHTSA Complaint #10784979 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAULT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PARKING ENGAGE CONTROL SENSOR MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE DEALER, IT EXPERIENCED TROUBLE SHIFTING AND MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE EVERY TIME IT WAS SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PLATES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.