NHTSA Complaint #10818732 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED A 2012 FORD FOCUS SEL LAST YEAR. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. WHEN TAKING OFF (SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR), THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A SHUDDERING NOISE, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CAR BOUNCES AS IT STRUGGLES TO SHIFT GEARS. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO FORD SINCE NUMEROUS CONSUMER WEBSITES HAVE CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SOON AFTER PURCHASE, I HAD IT BACK IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAD A TECHNICIAN DRIVE AROUND WITH ME. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND THAT THE CLUTCH PLATE JUST GETS DIRTY BY TOO "GINGERLY" ACCELERATING. HE WALKED ME THROUGH HOW TO POWER BRAKE (HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE, FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL, AND THEN RELEASING THE BRAKE TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE THROUGH THE FIRST 3 GEARS). THIS APPEARED TO HELP FOR A DAY OR TWO, BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SOLUTION FOR A $12,000 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CLAIMING THAT THE TCM SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY WOULD BE EXTENDED. I HAD THIS UPGRADE COMPLETED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT TO THE SITUATION. THE TECHNICIAN THAT I SPOKE WITH SAID THE UPGRADE WILL PROBABLY NOT HELP THE SHUTTERING. HE SUGGESTED AGAIN THAT I GIVE IT MORE GAS WHEN ACCELERATING. HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING SIMILAR TO A STICK SHIFT STALLING WHEN NOT ENOUGH GAS IS APPLIED. THIS DOES NOT WORK. I GIVE IT MORE GAS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY SEEN WHERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS. MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FREQUENTLY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS PROMPT ATTENTION. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER FOR MANY YEAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT RESOLUTION YOU HAVE FOR MY COMPLAINT.