NHTSA Complaint #10905169 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

ONE DEC 24 2015 DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY CAR HAD FULL LOSS OF STEERING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE PEDALS STOPPED WORKING AND I NEARLY CRASHED THE CAR. AFTER PULLING OFF THE FREEWAY I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP. MOMENTS LATER I COULD START THE CAR, I RAN A VEHICLE HEALTH REPORT TO PROVE TO FORD THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED. I THEN DROVE MY CAR WHICH WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR TO MY DESTINATION. THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY, THE PEDALS WERE NOT WORKING WELL AT ALL. AFTER LEAVING IT PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE ILLUMINATED, BUT THE PROBLEMS HAD CLEARED. THIS FEATURE IS VERY DECEIVING, AS SOME MAY ASSUME THE CAR IS NOW SAFE. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR, AND THEY SIMPLY REPROGRAMMED THE CAR. I CONTINUE TO THIS DAY TO HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, AND HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH ONLY REPLACED ONE TIME DISPITE BRINGING IT TO THEM CONSTANTLY FOR REPAIR. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR MY CARS CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE CAR SEEMED TO MAKE A LOUD ACCELERATION NOISE AND THEN BECOME FORCED INTO 1ST GEAR. THIS MADE STEERING HEAVY OR HARD, & THE PEDALS NOT WORK WITH THE USUAL WEIGHT ON THEM. I DROVE MY CAR TO FORD LIKE THIS, STUCK IN 1ST TO SHOW THEM FINALLY THAT THE WHOLE TIME I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. MY VARIOUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS VEHICLE INCLUDE REGULAR ACCELERATION BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, THERE IS THE STANDARD SHUDDER. IN ADDITION, MY VISITING FAMILY BECAME STUCK IN THE BACK SEAT WITH INDOOR LATCHES NOT WORKING - THE CHILD LOCKS WERE OFF. I FEEL AS THOUGH I WAS SOLD A "DUD" CAR & THAT THE SALESPERSON LIED TO ME ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. IF I HAD KNOWN IT WAS AN "ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED MANUAL CAR" I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. NOW I CAN'T GET MY CAR APPRAISED, NO DEALER IS WILLING TO BUY THIS CAR FORM ME. KBB STATES MY CURRENT VALUE IS AT AROUND $9000 AND 12 MONTHS AGO I PAID $16000, CLOSE TO $17000 INCLUDING FINANCING