NHTSA Complaint #11231647 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

BOUGHT THE 2012 FORD FOCUS USED IN 2016. IT SHUDDERED WHEN ENTERING THE ROADWAY AFTER STOPPING AND ALSO WHEN GOING UPHILL. DEALER SAID THE CAR HAD TO GET USED TO ME AS A DRIVER. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS, THEY DID SOMETHING NON-MECHANICAL TO ADJUST IT. REPROGRAMMING, MAYBE. ONCE IT WAS OUT OF ITS LIMITED WARRANTY, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH KIT, WHICH WAS $1500. THE SHUDDERING STOPPED. LAST MONTH, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME AND IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TCM WAS REPLACED. THIS MONTH, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, WENT TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND SAW A MESSAGE THAT SAID THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. OK. THE ENGINE WAS OFF, I COULD REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS IN PARK. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SAID THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED DRIFTING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD COME LOOSE FROM SOCKET. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT A PROBLEM IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. THE CAR JUST CEASES TO FUNCTION. I'M VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, OR CLOSE TO HOME WHEN THE CAR DIED BOTH TIMES. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT TO PAY IT OFF.