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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL 16S30 LETTER FROM FORD ON 10/6/2016. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER & WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE SIDE DOOR LATCH PROBLEM & TO CALL BACK IN APRIL, MAY OR JUNE OF 2017. LETTER SAYS IF THERE ARE SYMPTOMS TO CALL MY DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE, & HOW CAN THEY REPAIR IF PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL NEXT YEAR? NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. NOT ENOUGH SPECIFIC INFO PROVIDED. RECALL CAUSES MORE FRIGHT THAN IF I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH.

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AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER TO ENTER THE FREEWAY SOMETHING BROKE IN THE SEAT BACK AND THERE ISN'T MUCH SUPPORT ANY LONGER.

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THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND I'M AFRAID THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

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THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY, I HAVE TO RESTRAIN THE DOOR WITH A SEAT BELT IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO NOT OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL ON THIS MODEL FOR FORD FOCUS BUT THERE IS ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD DOOR LATCH ISSUES, THE FIRST WAS JUST UNDER A YEAR PRIOR FOR THE DRIVER DOOR, WHICH OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE LATCH AT THAT TIME WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLES EXTENDED WARRANT BUT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO REPAIR AT THE DEALER, I DO NOT HAVE ANY POLICE REPORTS, BUT WHEN THE SECOND LATCH FAILED I DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORDS MAIN 800 NUMBER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE PRODUCT WOULD BE REPLACED, UPON TALKING WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE, THE DEALERSHIP PROMPTLY TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700 TO HAVE THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT REPAIRED. AS OF RIGHT NOW THE DOOR LATCH REMAINS UN-REPAIRED AND I HAVE A SEAT BELT TETHERED TO THE REAR DOOR TO KEEP IT FROM OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. WHEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER SWITCH AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IT WAS LATER DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

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RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCHES. MY DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY'VE ORDERED AN EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT BUT SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE IT ARRIVES. AT THIS POINT I'M DRIVING WITH MY BACK DOOR LITERALLY TIED CLOSED. SINCE IT WON'T LATCH THE DOOR OPEN ALARM IS DINGING CONSTANTLY WHEN DRIVING. MY COMPLAINT IS FIRST OF ALL IF FORD KNEW THIS WHY AREN'T REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE? SECOND OF ALL I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING ME IN A CAR THAT IS SAFE WHILE WAITING ON PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE.

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MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR AND IS IN COLLEGE AWAY FROM HOME. SHE GOT IN HER CAR IN THE PARKING GARAGE AT HER APARTMENT, CRANKED IT, AND THE "STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT" MESSAGE LIT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THANKFULLY, SHE WASN'T DRIVING ANYWHERE WHEN THIS OCCURRED OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TELL US THAT IT'S GOING TO COST $2,000 TO REPAIR!!!!! NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!

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THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2012 FORD FOCUS GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY, ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING, BUT THEN IT CAME BACK ON BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO STOP. USUALLY IT GOES OUT AS I BEGIN TO MOVE MY CAR AWAY FROM ITS PARKING PLACE. I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, RESTART IT AND HOPE THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. ONE TIME THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY IN SPITE OF MY STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, AND I HAD TO DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. NO FUN.

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STEERING ASSIST QUIT WORKING DURING STARTING OF VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO TAKE CAR FOR SERVICE. CAR VERY VERY VERY HARD TO STEER. TAKING CAR FOR SERVICE TOMORROW. STILL DRIVING THE CAR.

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I WENT TO FORD LATE SEPTEMBER FOR MY CAR STALLING AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AGAIN. MY TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY FAILED ONCE ON A 2012. FORD FIXED IT AND THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND FORD SAID MY FUEL TANK HAD COLLAPSED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY $2K TO REPLACE IT. I'D NEVER HEARD OF FUEL TANKS NOT LASTING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT FORD HAS RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE WHICH IS A PRECURSOR TO A RECALL. I AM NOT SURE WHY FORD WOULD NOT COVER A FAULTY FUEL TANK AND I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN MY CAR CAN STALL OR LEAK FLAMMABLE LIQUID OR FUMES. I'VE READ THAT OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIRS REPLACED TWICE OR MORE SO I AM NOT CONFIDENT FORD ACTUALLY HAS A SOLID FIX TO THE ISSUE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR.

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SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2012 FORD FOCUS WITH ITS "DUAL CLUTCH" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. IT JERKS, HESITATES, HAS REAL TROUBLE SHIFTING IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES, MAYBE THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MOSTLY, THEY RESET THE COMPUTER OR PUT IN THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS EACH TIME. NO REAL SOLUTION HAS EVER BEEN PRESENTED TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CAR. THE CAR JERKS, DOWNSHIFTS, UPSHIFTS HORRIBLY. THIS HAPPENS FROM 1ST GEAR THRU 3RD GEAR. THIS CAR IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE DRIVEN AND I AM STUCK WITH IT BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT HELP. PLEASE HELP NHTSA TO BRING THIS HUGE PROBLEM TO LIGHT. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO GET LAWYERS INVOLVED TO GET FORD'S ATTENTION...

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO TROPICAL FORD IN ORLANDO FL FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH, WHICH JOB HAD TO BE DONE 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN 90 DAYS. AFTER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON THE 2ND ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE MYSTERIOUSLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK AND SOME OTHER SENSORS INSIDE THE TANK AND RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT HE COULD SHOW ME ALL THE GAS TANKS THEY HAD REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD A PILE OF THEM IN THE BACK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM AND THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT THEY WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ASSIST OR TAKE CARE OF THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WHICH CAUSES YOUR CAR TO STALL AND ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY. I CALLED FORD WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AND FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT COVER BY THE WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE WILLING TO DO REGARDING THIS MATTER. THIS ISSUE PUTS LIVES AT RISK WHEN A VEHICLE TURNS ITSELF OF WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY. THIS ISSUE IS PUTTING DRIVERS AND FAMILIES AT RISK. THIS ISSUE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016 AND I RECENTLY HAD THE REPAIR DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP MENTIONED ABOVE.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER LITTLE FORD GOING THROUGH A CORNER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NEARLY CRASHED!! SHE MANAGED TO LIMP IT TO THE FORD GARAGE AS I WAS OUT OF TOWN, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPAS HAD FAILED. THE EPAS FAILURE IS RAMPANT THROUGH A RANGE OF FORD MODEL VEHICLES AND THEY DON'T GIVE TWO HOOTS ABOUT OUR PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ENOUGH (WHAT!!) FAILURES TO WARRANT A RECALL ON THE 2012 FOCUS ALTHOUGH ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IT IS CURRENTLY THE REASON FOR A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN CALIFORNIA. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DOESN'T EVEN SAY "SORRY" JUST THAT FORD IS OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON A 2012 VEHICLE WITH ONLY 44000 MILES ON IT. STEERING GEAR REPLACED AT A COST OF $2009.00.

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TAKATA RECALL.CHRONIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE POWERPOINT TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH; SERVICES 6 PLUS TIMES IN 2 YEARS FOR THE SAME COMPLAINTS, THE DEALER UPDATES THE TRANSMISSION OR REPLACES THE CLUTCH THEN 3 OR SO MONTHS LATER THE SAME ISSUES ARISE. WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR CAR IS SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD THERE IS ERRATIC SHIFTING, BUCKING, HER KING, LURCHING FORWARD, HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC. THIS CAR IS CHRONICALLY UNSAFE!

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TWICE IN MID SEPTEMBER 2016 THE MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST SERVICE" CAME UP AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT WORK. THE SOLUTION SEEMED TO BE TURNING THE POWER OFF, THEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTART THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. A VISIT TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR, SHE'S 18 YEARS OLD AND IF THE STEERING FAILS WHILE SHE'S DRIVING, THERE MAY BE AN ACCIDENT. IF FORD RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY WON'T THEY RECALL THE FOCUS AND TAKE CARE OF THESE CUSTOMERS AS WELL?

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POWER STEERING FAILURE. STATIONARY, WHEN STARTING VEHICLE POWER STEERING WILL NOT OPERATE. HAVE TO RESTART A FEW TIMES TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO OPERATE.

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TAKATA RECALL. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) FORD RECALL FSA 15B22. MY VEHICLE WOULD STRUGGLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHENEVER I WAS DRIVING, SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE TCM TO GET REPROGRAMMED, AS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN JUNE 2016. IT SEEMED TO HELP WITH THE HARSHNESS OF THE VEHICLE'S SHIFTING, UNTIL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2016 WHENEVER I TRIED TO GET MY CAR TO REVERSE AND IT ACTED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN NEUTRAL. IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOW ON. THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE CORRECTLY, AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE CAR WENT NOWHERE. MY FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT UP TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, SO I DID. IT OVERHEATED THREE TIMES IN THE 45 MINUTE DRIVE UP, DESPITE CAUTIOUS DRIVING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD IN ANY WAY. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WOULD BE DIAGNOSED LATER THAT DAY (MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH) AND ANY NECESSARY PARTS WOULD BE ORDERED BY THE END OF THE DAY. I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM IN OVER 3 DAYS SO I CALLED FOR AN UPDATE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TCM AND IT NEEDS REPLACED, AS THE "REPROGRAMMING" THEY DID IN JUNE 2016 WAS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TCM IS HEAVILY BACKORDERED, SO THE FACTORY ISN'T EVEN SHIPPING OUR ANY TCM'S UNTIL NOVEMBER 4TH, WHICH MINE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE INCLUDED IN THAT SHIPMENT AND IT IS "HIGHLY LIKELY" THAT IT WILL BE CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS BEFORE I GET MY CAR FIXED AND RETURNED TO ME. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THEY ARE REFUSING TO PROVIDE ME WITH A SERVICE VEHICLE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS THAT MY CAR SITS AT THEIR DEALERSHIP AWAITING ITS PART. HOW AM I TO GET TO WORK? PICK UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL? GET GTOCERIES? I'M AN ONLY PARENT AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT A CAR.

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WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND I ACCELERATE IT JUMPS, JERKS AND SHAKES. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT MANY TIMES. IT CAN'T BE FIX. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR.

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I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET AND MY DOOR FLUNG OPEN AND NOW IT DOESN'T CLOSE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR LATCHES NEED REPLACEMENT. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIRING ALL FOUR DOOR LATCHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

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POWER STEERING SPORADICALLY COMES IN AND OUT ' USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS JUST STARTED AND WE ATTEMPT TO BACK OUT ' THE STEERING HAS NO POWER. STEERING WHEEL LOCKES WHILE DRIVING. FORD SERVICE RAN DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND NO ERROR CODES WERE PRESENT. THEY CAN NOT FIND A SOLUTION OR WHY THE PROBLEM IS EVEN HAPPENING

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TO OPEN AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD CLOSE OR OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,630.

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I TOOK MY 2012 FORD FOCUS TO GET FIXED AT WAYNE ACKERS FORD IN LAKE WORTH FLORIDA UPON DROPPING MY CAR OFF THE GENTLEMAN STARTED TELLING ME MY CAR ISN'T AFFECTED WHEN IT IS AND LATER ON SAYS I HAVE TO SEE IF IT'S UNDER WARRANTY THEN TELLS ME IT NEEDS TO BE AT 150K MILES THAT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL THE CAR IS STILL THERE I'M WATIING ON A RESPONSE.

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