NHTSA Complaint #10789831 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

ON 10 NOV 15 AT 0900HRS I PICKED UP MY 2013 FORD FOCUS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF AN IGNITION COIL/SPARK PLUG AND THE REPROGRAMMING OF MY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (FORD RECALL 15B22). AT 0930HRS WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON HWY 295 AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY, ALL MY WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND I LOST ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE ALSO FELT AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY DRIVING PROCEDURES TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE STARTER DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. I CALLED FOR A WRECKER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED AM ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE LIKE THIS IN THE PAST. I BELIEVE THAT IT MAY BE DUE TO THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE FORD FOCUS IN QUESTION IS A CANADIAN VERSION, WITH 62000KM/38000MILES TO DATE. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT AS IT REQUIRED ME TO USE EMERGENCY DRIVING TECHNIQUES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP (ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO FUNCTION). HAD I NOT BEEN TRAINED IN THOSE TECHNIQUES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY.