NHTSA Complaint #11240301 — 2014 FORD FOCUS

ONCE THE TRANSMISSION HAS WARMED UP (GENERALLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING) THE CAR BEGINS TO JERK, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, FAILS TO SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION AND MAKES THE ENTIRE CAR SHUDDER. WHEN STOPPING ON HILLS THIS CAN RESULT OF THE CAR SUDDENLY ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT CAN ALSO MAKE GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS A HAIRY PROPOSITION. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE TAKEN TO CARPOOLING WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE NOTICED THE ISSUE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM FORD IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. FORD TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WAS A LEARNING COMPONENT TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT HAD TO LEARN HOW I DRIVE BEFORE IT "SETTLED IN" AND TO GIVE IT TIME. AFTER A LEARNING MODULE RESET, MULTIPLE CALLS AND TRIPS TO FORD IN DECEMBER 2018 THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR DATE ONCE THE PARTS CAME IN. THEY ALSO SAID AT THE TIME THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME DESPITE MY MISGIVINGS. THIS WAS OVER 8 MONTHS AGO. EACH TIME I CALL THEY SAID I AM STILL ON THE WAITING LIST AND THAT I HAVE TO WAIT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO UNTIL THEY HAVE THE PARTS. IT IS NOW 7/29/19, OVER 8 MONTHS LATER, AND THEY HAVE YET TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE NATIONALLY. IN MY AREA I WAS TOLD BY ONE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS COMMON TO WAIT OVER A YEAR. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE KNOWING THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T USE THE CAR SAFELY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I'M STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE CAR DESPITE THE PROBLEM SO I CAN'T BUY A NEW CAR. I'M TRAPPED ALONG WITH APPARENTLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.