What 3,789 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus RS

THE STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. THEN AFTER THE FAULT WARNING CAME ON THE CAR'S STEERING WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL AND WAS LOCKED ONTO A SLIGHT LEFT TRAJECTORY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

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EXTREME TRANSMISSION SHUDDER TO THE POINT OF TIRES LOSING TRACTION WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STANDSTILL. INCLUDED SHUDDERING AT RANDOM FROM STANDSTILL AND WHEN SHIFTING. LACK OF ANY CONSISTENCY IN ACCELERATION DURING SOME SHIFTS. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. HAS ALREADY HAD THE MODULE REFLASHED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JANNELL MOTORS INC LOCATED AT (2000 WASHINGTON ST, HANOVER, MA 02339) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THE HORN DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME ALONG WITH THE DOORS NOT ALWAYS LOCKING OR UNLOCKING. THE HORN CONCERNS ME DEEPLY. I DON'T HAVE A RADIO HAVEN'T HAD ONE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS I FILED A COMPLAINT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. I'M A FORD PERSON AND I REALLY WISH FORD WERE TAKE CARE IF THESE ISSUES. A HORN IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITOL FORD LOCATED AT (919 CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS NO GUARANTEES THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE RESOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE FORD STORE MORGAN HILL LOCATED AT (17045 CONDIT RD, MORGAN HILL, CA 95037) AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V515000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING SLOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THE CAR DOESN'T LIKE TO SHIFT TO ANY OTHER GEARS IT DRIVES HORRIBLY GOING DOWN HILLS OR BACKING OUT OF THE ROAD I HAVE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS MY CLUTCH IS BAD AND IT IS 1200 TO FIX IT .

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2102 FORD FOCUS - HAVE TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AND ALSO COULD NOT GET THE GEAR SHIFT TO GO FROM PARK TO DRIVE . WAS STICK FOR 2 HOURS IN THE WINTER MONTHS UNTIL TOW ARRIVED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED STATING; TRANSMISSION HOT, WAIT 5 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE WARNING LIGHT DIRECTIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000(POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.*DT*JB

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WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE THE RPMS MAX OUT .IT WILL STUDDER FOR A FEW SECOND THEN THE RPMS WILL PLUMMET TO ZERO OR ONE.THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION.WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD.THE RPMS ARE ALL OVER THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER SURGES AND CUTS OUT.WHEN DRIVING UP HILL OR AN INCLINE THE ENGINE WILL LOOSE UP TO HALF ITS POWER AND THE CAR WILL DERASTICALLY LOOSE ACCELERATOR POWER.THE STEERING IS IRRATIC .IT SHAKES AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LURCH .IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS.SINCE RECALL SERVICE I'VE HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE RECALL SERVICE PROVIDER.THE CAR NOW HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY.SINCE OCTOBER I'VE PAID FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE FOR A CAR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUB SITIARY COMPANIES OF THAT COMPANY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR RE-CALLS AND SERVICES STEMMING FROM THOSE RECALLS.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11317603

ON VEHICLE START UP POWER STEERING IS OCCASIONALLY UNRESPONSIVE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE WHICH HAS OVERCOME THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST.THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS ON THE DASH THAT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND MAYBE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY FORD DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR A $3000. REPAIR? THIS SURE LOOKS LIKE A SAFETY PROBLEM AS NO ONE CAN SAY IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITH MANUAL STEERING? WHAT IF I KEEP DRIVING IT AS IS? IF I GIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY CAN I OR FORD BE HELD LIABLE IF SOMEONE IS INJURED. THE CAR NOW NOT WORTH THE COST TO REPAIR. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT AND I THOUGHT FORD WAS ALL ABOUT SAFETY? I WILL BE SURE TO LET MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDERED AND HESITATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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THE LUG NUTS THAT FORD USES ON MY CAR ARE POORLY DESIGNED, AND WILL SWELL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THEM (SUCH AS WHEN YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE) AND THEY NEED TO BE BROKEN OFF, AND NEW LUG NUTS PUT ON. IF YOU HAVE A FLAT, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR CAR TOWED. FORD KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT, INFECT THEY STILL USE THIS FAULTY PARTS.

NHTSA ODI 11317222

I WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION ISSUE, UNCOMFORTABLE GEAR SHIFTS AND ACCELERATION LAG, THAT I HAVE WITH MY 2012 FORD FOCUS IN 9/13/2019. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD A FIELD SERVICE ACTION (TECHNICALLY IS NOT A RECALL) THAT HAD EXPIRED COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THEY PROVIDED ME SOME PAPERS THAT EXPLAINS OPERATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION. IN SIX MONTHS TO THIS DATE, MY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOT WORSE. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, MY ENTIRE CAR STARTS SHAKING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS, AND BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT SOMETIMES TAKES DANGEROUSLY LONG TIME TO SPEED UP. TODAY I WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY MECHANIC ESTIMATES THE COSTS OF REPAIR TO BE $1500, AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TELLS ME THAT THEIR FIELD SERVICE ACTION (14M01) HAS EXPIRED AND WOULD NOT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSION ANYMORE.

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MY TRANSMISSION IS SLOW ON TAKE OFF SLIPS IN CORNERING HAS A VIBRATION WHILE RUNNING. IT HESITATES AND LUNGES. IN TOWN AND ON HIGHWAY RUNNING.THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION.

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I WAS LEAVING WORK WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CENTER OF THE CAR MAINLY THE TRANSMISSION START TO SHAKE AND THE CAR WOULD STOP MOVE, THE MORE I PRESS ON THE PEDAL THE LOUDER THE SHAKING GET AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES THEN START IT AGAIN TRY TO MOVE IT BUT IT WAS MOVING SLOWLY I EVENTUALLY REACH HOME.

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AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALLS SERVICED BY MIKE WHITE FORD IN CDA IDAHO.MY VEHICLE IS NO.LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE.THE 2012 FORD FOCUS THAT WAS PERFECT NOW STALLS LACKS POWER .THE SAFETY FEATURES NO LONGER WORK.THE CAR NOW HAS STEERING ISSUES .SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE THE CAR HAS SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY .IT IS UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PADDLE THE RPMS WILL RACE ALL THE WAY UP THEN PLUMMIT.WHILE DRIVING THERE IS NO POWER .WHEN DRIVING AN INCLINE OR HILL THE GAS PADDLE HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND STILL LOSES SPEED .THE CAR SHAKES AND THE STEERING IS ERRATIC. ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES IN WHICH THE STEREO MUTES UNLESS THE SEATBELTS ARE CLICKED IN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION NO LONGER WORKS THE FORD MOTOR CERTIFIED MECHANICS OR TECHNICIANS REFUSE TO HONOR THE. NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT AND THE LETTER OF RECALL CONCERNING MY 2012 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS UNDER 60 THOUSAND MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

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WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. THIS MORNING, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. WHILE DOING SO HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR DUE TO THE POWER STEERING BEING NON-FUNCTIONING. FORTUNATELY I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND NOTICED HE WAS STRUGGLING. HE TOLD ME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. I INSTRUCTED HIM TO PULL OVER BUT HE COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH SO I ASKED THAT HE JUST STOP THE CAR. AT THAT TIME, WE SWITCHED SEATS. SURE ENOUGH, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AN AMBER COLORED WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK HOME TO PARK IT. AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF AND RETURNING TO CHECK ON IT LATER AND LIKELY TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC AS I FIGURED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT, I FOUND THAT UPON RESTART THERE WAS NO ISSUE. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE WARNED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM WHILE IN MOTION, SOME OF WHICH AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY INCREDIBLY CONCERNING, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNGER, INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS WHO MAY PANIC SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINANT REPORTS AND THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL BY FORD FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE PARTICULAR MODEL. PLEASE HELP REMEDY THIS ISSUE SO THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN, AND THOSE THAT SHARE THE ROAD WITH THEM IS ENSURED. THANK YOU.

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WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, I USED THE SHIFT LEVER TO PLACE THE VEHICLE ON REVERSE. HOWEVER, EACH TIME THE SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED ON REVERSE IT WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON DRIVE IT WOULD SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR IN A ROUGH MANNER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK BEFORE ENGAGING THE NEXT GEAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARSHAL MIZE FORD LOCATED AT (5348 TN-153, HIXSON, TN 37343) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A PLATE CYLINDER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V523000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CAR SHUDDERS. TOOK TO FORD A YEAR AGO AND THEY REPLACED PURGE VALVE ON A RECALL. LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAR STOPPED SHUDDER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CAR SHUDDERED AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO FORD BUT THEY SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION OR CLUTCH AND THAT OTHER FORD FOCUS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID MAYBE I CAN WAIT UNTIL A RECALL HAPPENS. MEANWHILE, CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR IT SHUDDERS AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND NOW IT IS PARKED WHILE I CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS. :(

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2012 FORD FOCUS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION! HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS FOR OUR DAUGHTER TO ATTEND COLLEGE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE IT LOSES POWER SUDDENDLY SHUDDERS AND SHAKES CAN BARELY GET PULLED OVER TO KEEP FROM BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. LAST REPAIR BY FORD DEALER WAS 8-15-2018. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN!. I COULD SAY MORE BUT DO NOT FEEL THAT ANYONE IS LISTENING TO HOW DANGEROUS THIS VEHICLE REALLY IS AS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE. REALLY FEEL FORD GOT AWAY WITH A MAJOR SCREWUP AND HAVE NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ANYONE! GOING TO HAVE TO TRADE THIS IN AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE SOLD AGAIN BUT THEY WILL SELL IT TO SOME POOR SOUL JUST LAS IT WAS SOLD TO ME! 1ST REPAIR11-2012 BY PREVIOUS OWNER 2ND REPAIR 7-16-2014 3RD REPAIR8-25-17 4TH REPAIR 8-15-2018

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VEHICLE MAKES EXTREMELY LOUD STATIC SOUNDS, CRACKING, POPPING. RADIO CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I ALMOST CRASHED FROM THE ERRATIC AND SUDDEN NOISE. RADIO DOES NOT WORK AS OF NOW, MILEAGE IS 80,000 APPROX. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

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THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN OVERHEATING WITHOUT ANY UNUSUAL ACCELERATION. IF DRIVING OVER 25 MPH THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE RADIO COMES ON WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WITHOUT WARNING.

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POWER ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL PROPERLY. CAR STARTED SHAKING AND SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. ONLY 108,000 MILES

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THE FAMILY HAS TAKEN ALL THREE OF OUR FORD VEHICLES TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THEM AND THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN RECALL ACTION. THE FOCUS NOT ONLY HAS THIS RECALL BUT THE SHUDDER RECALL, THAT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST US $1,500 BECAUSE THE RECALL REQUIRES CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. WE RECEIVED NOTICES FOR THE TCM, SHUDDER/SHAFT SEALS, AND CPV WITH NO ACTIONS TAKEN. THE FAMILY'S RECORD IS THAT OUR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT VISITS WITH THE DEALER'S ASSIGNED RETURN DATES AND NOTHING LESS. THE FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALL FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY. THAT AMOUNT SHOULD BE DOUBLED AND SUBMITTED TO US AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW FORD VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT LIKING WHAT SEXTON FORD TOLD US THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN NOWHERE ELSE FOR MAINTENANCE EXCEPT THEM SINCE DAY ONE! NOW, WE ARE BEING NOTIFIED OF NOTHING BEING DONE IAW WHAT SUPPOSED TO HAD BEEN DONE ALREADY.

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