ODI noted an increasing trend of complaints with all 30 received within the past five months.
The Office of Defects Investigation has opened a preliminary investigation because of complaints NHTSA has received alleging incidents of sudden stalling while driving 2012-2013 Ford Focus Electric vehicles.
Such investigations often result in a safety recall. About 1000 Focus EVs are involved thus far, although Ford has sold almost twice that number to date.
In documents just made public, NHTSA told Ford Motor that the complaints allege a sudden vehicle shutdown while driving, about half – or 14 – of them say the shut off occurred at speeds of 30 mph or higher.
When opening the investigation, ODI noted that the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with all 30 complaints received within the past five months. NHTSA has requested detailed information from the Number Two U.S. automaker.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
