Ford Focus Complaints (2013)

2,181 consumer complaints on file.

#10554041November 27, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL WITH MY GRANDSON AND THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AS WE CREPT IN THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. ALMOST SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS READY TO STALL! THIS CAR HAS JUST OVER 5000 MILES ON IT AND I ENJOY DRIVING IT BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS JERKING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE HOW CLOSE TO GET TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU ( BECAUSE THE "SLIPPING " IN AND OUT OF GEAR SURGES FORWARD ) AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVEN AT SPEEDS UP TO 35-45 MPH THE HESITATION MAKES ME FEEL AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. SO TODAY I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND AM SHOCKED TO FIND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BY FORD. ALSO THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN USING AS THE MANUAL STATES. I PLAN TO BE AT MY DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553636November 24, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE ONLY HAD TO CAR FOR A DAY. THE CAR MAKES AN AWFUL RATTLING NOISE AND HESITATES WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TODAY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I WAS IN DRIVE I PUSHED THE GAS TO GO FORWARD AND THE CAR WENT IN REVERSE! PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. IT'S SO UNSAFE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AWFUL TRANSMISSION. A DANGER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553461November 22, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH AT 65MPH WHEN A SAFETY ALARM WENT OFF IN THE CAR AND MESSAGE READ "STOP SAFELY NOW". WHICH I DID. CAR HAD DIED BY THEN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF BUT ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER WHO FAILED TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES. IT WORKED WELL FOR 2 TO 3 WEEKS, UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO WHEN SAME THING HAPPENED. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED 3 TIMES, LATEST BEING TODAY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS. I BELIEVE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER LIKE THAT MIDSTREAM. PEOPLE BEHIND ME CAN CRASH INTO ME SINCE I HAVE NO PROPULSION. I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH INTERNET AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME COMPLAINT WITH SAME VEHICLE AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO IT. I HAVE ABOUT 8000K ON THE CAR. I PURCHASED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553120November 20, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A 2013 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM IN OCTOBER OF 2012. SHORTLY AFTER, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SHUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, INCLUDING PULLING INTO AND OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. IT THEN BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS ON INCLINES. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FREELY ROLL BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE, MUCH LESS ON THAT IS NOT VERY STEEP. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR REPAIRS. THEY DID A REPROGRAM ON THE VEHICLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SHORTLY AFTER IT BEGAN DOING IT ALL AGAIN. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON A REPLY FROM FORD AS TO WHAT MY NEXT STEP NEEDS TO BE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552192November 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATED PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS EXHIBITED ABNORMAL READINGS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECALIBRATED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551721November 11, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING MY FORD FOCUS IT "STUTTERED", I.E. WHILE I WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE STOPPED RESPONDING AND JERKED AS THOUGH I HAD SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT DIDN'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL THE 15 OCT. INCIDENT. I MENTIONED IT TO MY WIFE WHO ALSO JUST BOUGHT A FORD FOCUS 2013 MODEL AND SHE CONFIRMED HER VEHICLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. SEVERAL GOOGLE SEARCHES LATER I FOUND OUT THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THESE ELECTRONIC PROPULSION TRANSMISSION FAILURES. PLEASE ADD OUR TWO VEHICLES TO THIS REPORT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551828November 11, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUTS DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. I RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE OTHER FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECEIVED, "STOP SAFELY NOW". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551229November 7, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING OUR ELECTRIC FORD FOCUS TO WORK WHEN LEFT-MOST DISPLAY SCREEN FLASHES, "STOP SAFELY NOW!" MESSAGE AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT ALL DRIVE POWER IS COMPLETELY CUT OFF. COASTED TO A STOP, TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A MINUTE OR SO, AND TURNED CAR BACK ON. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT 5:30 AM ON A TWO LANE ROAD, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOME, AND BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551442November 7, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN
THIS INCIDENT HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE WEEK. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE CAR JUST DIED. THE FUEL LIGHT NEVER WENT ON AND STILL SAID I HAD ABOUT 30 MORE MILES UNTIL E. WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY PUT GAS IN IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. IT SAID I HAD 144 MILES UNTIL E AND THEY CALIBRATED IT AND THE MILEAGE DECREASED TO 133. I DROVE THE CAR 80 MILES AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY, BUT THIS TIME I WAS ON A BUSY STATE ROAD GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. THE CAR JERKED AND I COULD TELL IT WAS LOSING POWER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A SUBDIVISION. THE FUEL LIGHT NEVER WENT ON AND ALSO STATED I STILL HAD ABOUT 33 MILES LEFT UNTIL E. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED AGAIN TO SAME DEALERSHIP AND NO WORD ON WHAT IS WRONG. WAS TOLD THEY WERE ON THE PHONE WITH FORD TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY IN A RENTAL AND SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR AS I AM AFRAID THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO, HAD MANY TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ISSUES THIS SUMMER AND THOSE PARTS HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR IS A YEAR OLD AND BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN MY OLD CAR THAT I TRADED IN FOR MY NEW FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551059November 6, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THIS ISSUE HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE DRIVING HOME A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY 2013 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE DASHBOARD ERROR READ "STOP SAFELY NOW". LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN AN AREA WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL ASIDE OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO GET THE CAR GOING AGAIN. I FIGURED OUT THAT I HAD TO ACTUALLY EXIT THE VEHICLE, CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEN OPEN AND RE-ENTER AGAIN TO GET THE CAR TO RESTART. IT SOUNDS WEIRD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, BUT I THINK THE KEYLESS PUSH START HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS HAS BEEN THE PROCESS TO GET IT FINALLY STARTED EACH TIME AFTER I FIGURED IT OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550924November 5, 2013
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS PUTTING SOME GAS ON TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DEEP SNOW TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE SNOW WAS COMPACTED. I WOULD HAVE MADE IT TO THE CENTER; HOWEVER THE TRACTION CONTROL REDUCED THE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS GETTING ME STUCK IN THE SNOW, BLOCKING HALF OF THE LANE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC I MIGHT HAVE BEEN HIT. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH ALSO PUT ME AT A HIGHER RISK OF GETTING HIT BY A CAR, OR SLIPPING AND FALLING, OR GETTING FROST BITE. IF I HAD THE OPTION OF TURNING OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL I COULD HAVE GOTTEN MYSELF OUT OF THE SNOW AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY SAFELY. CONVERSELY, IF I DID NOT HAVE THE TRACTION CONTROL ON IN THE FIRST PLACE I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN STUCK. THIS BROUGHT TO MIND A FEW CRITICAL QUESTIONS: 1. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A MORE REMOTE AREA AND I HAD BEEN STRANDED IN FREEZING WEATHER WITHOUT HELP; AND 2. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A MORE CONGESTED ROADWAY AND I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT DUE TO THE RANDOM OPERATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL WITHOUT A WAY TO DISABLE THE FEATURE. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT I FEEL UNSAFE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ON, SO I HAVE DISABLED IT. TO DO SO I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE, WHICH ALSO DISABLED THE ABS. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER HALF OF MY DRIVING CAREER WITHOUT ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL HAS NEVER BENEFITED ME, EVEN WHEN I NEEDED THE FEATURES. A CONCERTED INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE MADE TO DETERMINE IF FORCING THIS FEATURE ON DRIVERS IS A BETTER POLICY THAN ALLOWING THE DRIVER'S EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TO BE THE CONTROLLING FORCE WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MUST BE, IN ALL CASES, A WAY TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE IN A VEHICLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND THEIR PASSENGERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550709November 3, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TRAVELING ON A MAIN ARTERY, VERY BUSY ROAD, WITH 13 YEAR OLD CHILD IN PASSENGER SEAT. LEFT-MOST DISPLAY SCREEN FLASHES, "STOP SAFELY NOW!" MESSAGE AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT ALL DRIVE POWER IS COMPLETELY CUT OFF. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST INTO AN UNOCCUPIED DRIVEWAY, OTHERWISE WE VERY WELL LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF A MULTI-CAR COLLISION. AND NOW, AM FINDING ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD AND THE NHTSA HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR ALMOST A YEAR? I'M HAVING A HARD TIME DETERMINING WHICH ENTITY I'M MORE PISSED OFF AT -- THE PUBLICLY TRADED FOR PROFIT AUTO MAKER, OR THE PUBLICLY FUNDED GOVERNMENT BODY THAT EXISTS WITH ONE SOLE PURPOSE: PROTECTING THE MOTORING PUBLIC'S SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550525November 1, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A ROUGH JERK, WHEN SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEARS, AS WELL AS A SHUDDER AND GRINDING METAL SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH, AND DID NOT PERFORM AS A NEW CARE SHOULD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 05/05/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550360October 31, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS FLAWED ON ROUGH / POT HOLE SURFACES. EVERYTIME ON THE WAY TO WORK, THERE IS A PORTION OF ROAD THAT IS VERY ROUGH/ UNEVEN/WAVE LIKE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE WHILE ON THIS PORTION OF ROAD THE CAR ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE (THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IN THE BEGINNING THEN APPEARS THE BRAKES RELEASE PRESSURE AND VEHICLE SPEEDS UP AS IF I JUST RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE). THIS IS VERY REPRODUCIBLE, "EVERYDAY". THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM AND ACTUAL LIKE MY INFINTI JX35 BRAKE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550417October 31, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY I DROVE IT TO WORK. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AUG. 7, 2013, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN AGOURA, CA. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCT. 16, WHILE LEAVING WORK, AND ON OCT. 21, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY STOP, A STOP SAFELY NOW READ-OUT WOULD APPEAR, FOLLOWED BY A MECHANICS WRENCH SYMBOL. SEEKING TO LEARN IF OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS THE ODI PRELIMINARY EVALUATION DOCUMENT. MY WIFE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE COME OUT UNSCATHED IN THE FREEWAY INCIDENT AND FRANKLY FORD COULDN'T GIVE [XXX] ONE AND I CURRENTLY OWN 4 FORDS. PLEASE STICK IT TO THEM BEFORE SOMEONE ISN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO SURVIVE A "LIMP" CONDITION AS THEY DESCRIBE IT. AS FOR ME, I'M CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR A LEMON-LAW LAWYER. INCIDENTALLY, THE OTHER 4 FORD VEHICLES, I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549962October 29, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SLOWING TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT OR SERVICE MY VEHICLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THEM ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR A NOISE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THEY ASSURED ME THE NOISE WAS NORMAL, SAYING IT WAS LUBRICATING THE TRANSMISSION SO IT DIDN'T HAVE TO "COLD START." I FOUND A TSB ABOUT THIS NOISE AND TOOK IT BACK TO THEM TO HAVE THEM CORRECT THE PROBLEM THEY HAD TOLD ME WAS NORMAL. AFTER THEY MADE THE NOISE GO AWAY IS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AFTER A 36 DAY WAIT. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR 3 DAYS AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB REQUESTING FORD DO A BUY BACK OF THE VEHICLE, ARBITRATOR RULED THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF APPEALING THIS DECISION. THESE CARS WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION ARE UNSAFE AND FORD IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550042October 29, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE OWNED THIS FORD FOCUS FOR APPROX. 1 YEAR. 10 MONTHS INTO OWNING IT, I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, OR PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL UNLESS I GAVE IT A LOT OF GAS TO KEEP IT MOVING. THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THIS I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER, A TECH. RODE WITH ME AND AGREED IT WAS SHUDDERING AND MAKING GRINDING NOISES. THEY SAID THIS WAS COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY HAD A FIX FOR IT. THEY RESET THE TRANSMISSION STRATEGY AND SAID IT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WITHIN A WEEK THE SAME THING STARTED ALL OVER, THE JERKING, THE GRINDING NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN EVER AND MORE CHRONIC. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT HAD RESET THE TRANSMISSION. AGAIN A TECH DROVE IT, CONFIRMED MY CONCERNS. I WAS INFORMED FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE, AND THAT THE GRINDING IS "NORMAL CLUTCH RATCHET NOISE". I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR THIS TIME, EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS. I WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WHILE THEY INSPECTED MY CAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED BY FORD. THE SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THERE WERE FIVE OTHER CUSTOMERS AHEAD OF ME FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENTS FOR THE SAME KIND OF ISSUE I AM HAVING. HE STATED THE CLUTCHES WERE ON BACK ORDER DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. TALKED TO THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER TODAY, SHE TOLD ME FORD WAS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES. HER WORDS TO ME WERE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO "LIVE WITH THE GRINDING NOISE, THE SHUDDERING AND JERKING."WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GET REAR ENDED AT A STOP LIGHT BECAUSE MY CAR SHUDDERS AT LOW SPEEDS AND TAKES OFF SLOWLY?" 3 TIMES IN FOR SERVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS. NO HELP FROM FORD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549817October 28, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, STEERING
THIS IS FOR THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 4 LANE ROAD IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, MY WIFE WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A 4 LANE HWY. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CHIMED ONCE, SHOWED AN ORANGE CAUTION SIGN IN THE LEFT INFO DISPLAY THAT READ "PLEASE STOP SAFELY NOW," AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN MECHANICALLY. SHE INSTANTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, BRAKES OR ENGINE AND THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION. SHE PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TRIED TO TURN IT OFF (THE INTERIOR ELECTRONICS THAT ARE POWERED BY THE STANDARD LEAD ACID BATTERY WERE ALL STILL ON AND FUNCTIONING) AND RESTART THE MOTOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT WAS LUCKY IT STOPPED BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, IF IT HAD HAPPENED 3 SECONDS LATER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY THAT'S MOSTLY TRAFFICKED BY BIG RIGS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS AND SHE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR HER TO SAFELY GET OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHEN THERE WASN'T THERE WERE CARS HONKING AND SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A FAILED COOLING PUMP SO THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THE BATTERY PACK AND EVERYTHING DRIVEN BY IT (IE STEERING BRAKES AND THE MOTOR) TO PREVENT OVERHEATING. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY CAUSE OF THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" SIGN AND SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR. INSTANTLY CUTTING OFF THE DRIVER FROM ALL THE BASIC CONTROLS OF A VEHICLE IS A VERY DANGEROUS WAY TO DEAL WITH FAULT CODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549826October 28, 2013
POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING, AND ONCE I DID GET IT STARTED, I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR COULD OPERATE IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION, HOWEVER, ISSUES WERE NOTED WHEN THE CAR CHANGED GEARS (FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND 2ND TO 3RD) EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN AUTOMATIC. RATTLING SOUNDS WE'RE HEARD AS THE CAR LURCHED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. AFTER 80 MILES OR SO, THE DISPLAY SAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT 9 MINUTES FOR TRANSMISSION TO COOL. AFTER WAITING, CAR HAD ISSUES STARTING, AND SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549894October 28, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY, FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE TO 'STOP SAFELY NOW'. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS AND IS ABLE TO DRIVEN AGAIN NORMALLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME THREE TIMES SO FAR, WITHOUT WARNING AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY COMMON PATTERN THAT IS CAUSING THE STALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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