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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 40 MPH AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE DRIVE AND/OR REVERSE POSITIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND THE DISPLAY PANEL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND DISPLAYED "HOT HOT PULL OVER". THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 03/07/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10946619

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME VIA TYPICAL CITY STREETS AND THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CATCH GEAR AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY VISUAL DAMAGE. NOTHING VISUAL BUT THERE WAS A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. A WARNING APPEARED "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW" I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO GET DOWN THE STREET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND BEFORE COMING TO A STOP THE "TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING" WARNING APPEARED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE SEVERAL TSB'S ISSUED BY FORD FOR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE FOCUS AND I HAD MY CAR SERVICED ACCORDINGLY SO I WAS ASSUMING THE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10946284

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2012 FORD FOCUS, THAT IS KNOCKING LOUD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN, THE DELEARSHIP DID TRANSMISSION WORK ON IT EARLIER 2016, ONE MORNING, WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND IT KNOCKING, SO MY HUSBAND CHECK TO SEE IF, THERE IS OIL IN THERE AND IT WAS, SO I WAS GOING TO TAKE TO HAVE A OIL CHANGE, BUT HE SAID, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON FIRST. I WILL TAKE TO DELARSHIP THIS WEEK TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT WOULD LIKE FORD TO TAKE CARE OF REPAIR. MY FOCUS WAS BOUGHT NEW AND I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 4 RECALLS ON IT SO FAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,255.

NHTSA ODI 10945925

MY LAST REPORT WAS ON THE AFFECTS OF THE TCM FAILURE AND THE COMPUTER FAILURES OF THE ENGINE, WIPERS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE CONTINUED ISSUES OF THE FORD FOCUS, I NOW HAVE A PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS. THE DOORS ARE NOT UNLOCKING. SOME WILL UNLOCK AND SOME WILL REMAIN LOCK. AT THIS POINT WITH THE MILEAGE AT 73400 THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FOCUS IS NOT GOING AWAY. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE VEHICLE AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES IT HAS. 1. TCM 2. SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT NOTICE 3. JERKING BACK WHEN INITIATING PARK 4. WIPERS GOING ON WITHOUT NOTICE 5. ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN WHEN IN DRIVE

NHTSA ODI 10945407

PURCHASED 2012 FORD FOCUS USED, 04-14-15. I TEST DROVE THE CAR IT JERKED A LITTLE. THE REP STATED IT WAS NORMAL. THE NEXT 4 MONTHS IT CONTINUED TO JERK, SKIP, HESITATE AND JUST NOT MOVE WHEN YOU ACCELERATED. IN 08-2015 I REC'D A LETTER FROM FORD, MY CAR NEEDED A TCM-SOFTWARE UPDATE. 09-09-15 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IT TOOK AN HOUR TO RE-PROGRAM THE TCM. THE DEALERSHIP HANDED A PRINTED COPY OF THE TCM CHARACTERISTICS. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUES HOPING IT WOULD GO AWAY. 10-19-15 WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE TCM RE-PROGRAMMED AGAIN. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN 10-19-15 AND A CASE FILE WAS ISSUED #[XXX]. I DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. 10-23-15 THE CAR WENT TO THE 2ND DEALERSHIP. DISCOVERED THE TCM HAD FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED., EXPLAINING TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR A NUMBER OF MILES TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE DRIVE HAD IMPROVED, BUT THEN STARTED FAILING AGAIN. 03-16-16 I WENT BACK TO THE 2ND DEALERSHIP, THE TCM WAS REPLACED. AGAIN THE DRIVE HAD SLIGHTLY IMPROVED AND HAD AGAIN FAILED. THIS TIME WHEN THE TCM FAILED, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT TURNING THEM ON,EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T COME ON SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 300 MILES MADE A STOP AND IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE LOCAL MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. DRIVING BACK HOME ABOUT 150 MILES ON HIGHWAY ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH, BATTERY, FUEL, TRANS, ETC.. WIPERS CAME ON, POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. ROLLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. SAT 5 MIN, THEN STARTED AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED!? WE MADE IT HOME. CAR NOT STARTING. 12-06-16 TOWED TO FORD. TCM MODULE CRASHED THE COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM, REPLACED TCM AND RE-PROGRAMMED SYSTEM. 01-10-17 WIPERS STILL COME ON WITH ENGINE OFF. W/RETURN TO FORD 01-17-17. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCHES WERE UNABLE TO LATCH OR UNLATCH IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10944151

TAKATA RECALL SO I WAS TOLD AFTER HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AFTER BOB LOWTH FORD SELLING ME IT THAT SOME PARTS ARE ON RECALL AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN I DON'T WANT TO PUT IN RISK IF ANYTHING HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER WEATHER HERE IN MN FOR INSISTENCE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT STARTED FEELING LIKE IT WANTED TO DIE OUT ON US EARLY MORNING AROUND 7:30 AM CENTRAL TIME SO I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT MY SMALL CHILDREN HAVE BLANKETS IN CASE WE DIE OUT IN -20 WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10944059

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP FOR ABOU 30 SECONDS THEN EXCISES TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 10944120

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,366.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE ISSUE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,595.

NHTSA ODI 10940201

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER-ASSISTED STEERING (EPAS) SYSTEM HAS A FAULT AND THAT SERVICE WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE REMEDY, AS PROVIDED IN THE MANUAL, IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE MODULE. WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAD NOT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE FAULT OCCURS. RECENTLY, THE EPAS SYSTEM NOTIFIED ME OF A FAULT AND IT WAS NOT REMEDIED UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR AND MAKE, HOWEVER, FORD HAS NOT PROVIDED A RECALL, AS THEY DID WITH THE 2012 FUSION AND FLEX. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT, WHEREIN THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BEAR THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT (UP TO $2000.00), ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE RECALL ON SIMILAR MODELS FROM THE SAME YEAR. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE DOOR WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT WAS USED TO SECURE AND PREVENT THE DOOR FROM OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,844. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10939270

PULLING TO A STOP LIGHT, AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED, IT JERKED REALLY HARD TWICE. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, WE DROVE OFF, IT WOULDNT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT HAD NO REVERSE. TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY PLACED A TCM ON IT WITHOUT TESTING IT FIRST, SAID IT WAS FINE, WE DROVE 3.5 HOURS AND WERE NOW A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS FROM HOME WHEN IT STARTED FEELING RESTRITCIVE WHILE DOING 75 ON THE INTERSTATE AT MIDNIGHT IN THE RAIN. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS ROAD NOISE, BUT THEN IT WOULDNT PULL THE CAR AT ALL AND WAS SLOWING DOWN. AT THIS POINT, IT HAD NO MOVEMENT FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN BOWLING GREEN KY, SPENT 3 DAYS IN A HOTEL FOR THEM TO LEAD US ON THAT THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR FORD TO FIX THE NOW NOT COVERED TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 47000 MILES ON IT. THEY EVEN TRIED TO SELL US A NEW CAR! THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER IN GREENWOOD INDIANA FOR POTENTIAL REPAIR. THEY DIDNT CHECK THE FLUID IN IT, THEY DIDNT CHECK THE FAILURE CODES, THEY JUST PUT A TCM ON IT AND SAID IT WAS GOOD TO GO, WHEN CLEARLY IT WASNT.

NHTSA ODI 10939027

I HAD PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY, OR WHILE TURNING A CORNER, A LOSS OF CONTROL WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 10938809

I HAVE TWICE RECEIVED AN ERROR WHEN STARTING THE CAR: "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING WHATSOEVER. THE ERROR WAS RESOLVED BOTH TIMES BY RESTARTING THE CAR, BUT I AM VERY NERVOUS THAT THE FAULT WILL OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WILL CAUSE A CRASH. I'VE BEEN SEEING THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON ERROR IN A RANGE OF FORD VEHICLES AROUND THIS MODEL YEAR AND HOPE THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED SOON.

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2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING CONTROL MODULE RECALL REPAIR ISSUES, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WINDSHIELD MOTOR MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 12, 2016, A SAFETY WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. WHEN HE TRIED DRIVING ABOUT 12 MILES HOME, HE HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2016 THE CONSUMER STOPPED BY A NON-FORD GARAGE. NO WORK WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, BUT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK, IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THREE WERE NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN MARCH 2016, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A WEAK BATTERY. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE DEALER STATED IT WAS THE FAULT OF THE ALTERNATOR NOT SENDING ENOUGH CURRENT TO THE MODULE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. ON JULY 4, 2016, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER USED THE OFF KEY PROCEDURE, TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, BUT THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10938149

LOST POWER STEERING TO VEHICLE, UNABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN DRIVEN OR WHEN GASING FROM A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 10938590

CAR AT STOP ENGINE REVS FROM LOW TO HIGH, IF YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE WILL DIE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE IN MOTION. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL JUST DIE WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS DEFAULT IN DESIGN WAS $889.18 AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THAT IS AN EGREGIOUS CHARGE FOR A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS CARE. PER THE INTERNET RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE. FORD SAYS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TAKE IT UP WITH NHSTA SO THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING.

NHTSA ODI 10937983

2012 FORD FOCUS FUEL GAUGE READING ERRATIC, SPECIFICALLY INDICATING FULL WHEN NEAR EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM IS ACCOMPANIED BY EMISSIONS CHECK ENGINE CODES PO420 AND PO456. THIS PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED IN TSBS AS EARLY AS 2013 AS AN "EVAP PURGE VALVE" FAILURE. FALSE FUEL LEVEL INDICATION MAY CAUSE DRIVERS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND BECOME STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI 10937991

FORD RECALL#16S30 - ITS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR FOR DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT. ITS BEEN A FEW MONTHS THE RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT UPON CHECKING WITH FORD, I AM HEARING THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE TILL MID OF YEAR 2017. SINCE ITS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL SO I AM EXCESSIVELY CONCERNED FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY HERE. REQUESTING NHTSA IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION HERE TO HELP ME EXPEDITING THE RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED AT THE EARLIEST. PLEASE HELP.. THANK YOU! *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 10937271

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY WHERE I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AND IT DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUE OF THE IMPACT

NHTSA ODI 10937091

MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T LATCH CLOSED. I TRIED TO REMOVE THE LATCH ASSEMBLY AND GAVE UP HOURS LATER. AFTER I PUT THE DOOR PANEL BACK TOGETHER I CHECKED THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR TO MAKE SURE I HAD THE TRIM PANEL ON CORRECTLY. WHEN I TRIED TO CLOSE THAT DOOR IT WOULDN'T LATCH EITHER. WHEN I PUT THE VIN IN ON YOUR WEB SITE THE ONLY RESPONSE I GOT WAS: "FOREIGN SERVER RESPONDED WITH AN ERROR." *TR

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ON 10/14/16 MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND HER CAR. I WALKED OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD JUST FILLED THE GAS TANK AND CONFIRMED THAT SHE DOES NOT TOP THE TANK OFF. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A YELLOW PLASTIC RING WHERE THE FILL HOSE IS ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK. THAT RING IS CRACKED AND GAS SEEPS OUT FROM THERE. WE FOUND THAT IT DOESN'T LEAK IF SHE HAS LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS SO SHE USUALLY KEEPS IT THAT WAY UNTIL I HAVE A CHANCE TO PULL THE GAS TANK OUT.

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