NHTSA complaint: 2014 FORD FOCUS — ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAS WENT INTO REVERSE ON 3 OCCASIONS WHILE THE GEAR STICK SELECTOR IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. ONE INCIDENT IT WENT INTO REVERSE, STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN CAUSING INJURY. ON ANOTHER IT WENT INTO REVERSE WHILE ON A FREEWAY, THEN CAME TO A CRAWL AND STOPPED. FORD SENT OUT THEIR FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND SAID THAT AN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT SEAL WAS LEAKING (IN ADDITION TO THE CLUTCH SEALS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR LEAKAGE EARLIER). THE DEALER SAYS THAT THESE LEAKS ARE COMMON AND CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO EXHIBIT ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING GOING INTO REVERSE. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DISPUTE RESOLUTION DEPARTMENT, THEY COULD FIND NO ABNORMAL CODES IN THE COMPUTER OF THE CAR - WHICH COULD BE A WHOLE OTHER DEFECT IN ITSELF. FORD REFUSES TO PROVIDE ME PAPERWORK ON THE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT/REVIEW OF THE VEHICLE AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, NOR WILL THEY VERIFY THAT THE FIXES ARE SAFE. FORD WAS "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THE TRANSMISSION GOING IN REVERSE DURING THEIR 7 MILE TEST DRIVE. A PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY TRY NOT TO DRIVE THE CARS VERY FAR AND WITH A COLD TRANSMISSION SO THAT THE ISSUES ARE NOT PREVALENT AND CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO DIAGNOSE ANYTHING. THEY ALSO VERIFIED THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND WITH FORD IN GENERAL TRYING TO AUTHORIZE REPAIRS. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE "DUPLICATED" IN ORDER TO HAVE A FIX LOOKED INTO. I W
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation