NHTSA Complaint #10788921 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING, SUDDENLY NO POWER WAS DELIVERED TO THE WHEELS. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP AT THE CURB. I RETURNED 1-1/2 HOURS LATER AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 3 MILES BEFORE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY AN IDENTICAL UNIT. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON A FREEWAY, IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN FACT, I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THERE HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN A NUMBER OF SUCH ACCIDENTS. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IN AUGUST I RECEIVED A NOTICE STATING THAT "THE TCM MAY EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURES CAUSING INTERMITTENT SYMPTOMS OF LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING, NO-START, OR A LACK OF POWER." IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE IS AVAILABLE THAT WILL GIVE A VISUAL WARNING OF A POTENTIAL FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS WILL NOT PREVENT A DRIVER FROM BEING STRANDED, NOR, IN MANY CASES, WILL IT PRECLUDE AN ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING. I AM BUYING A NEW CAR AND TRADING IN MY FOCUS. I COULD GET MORE FOR IT BY SELLING IT TO A PRIVATE PARTY, BUT I AM UNWILLING TO HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE UNWITTING PERSON WHO OWNS THE CAR NEXT. SINCE THE INCIDENT WITH MY 2012 FOCUS OCCURRED ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER MY PURCHASE, IT IS REASONABLE TO THINK THAT SUCH INCIDENTS WILL OCCUR WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. FORD NEEDS TO TREAT THE DESIGN OF A REPLACEMENT TCM AS AN URGENT MATTER, AND TO MAKE IT THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL.