What 979 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Focus Bev

DRIVER WAS MAKING AN UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN INTO STOPPED TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET. AS HE WAS TURNING SOUTH (AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH) A NORTH BOUND VEHICLE STRUCK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE UNIFRAME WAS DAMAGE AND THE WHEEL WELL WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DAMAGING MOST OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

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AFTER STOPPING TO GET GAS ON I-80 AT A SERVICE AREA IN INDIANA WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND NOT RUNNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR IS A NEW VEHICLE, STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON IT. FORD DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY OFFERED NO PROOF, AND STATED THAT WE COULD NOT APPEAL THE CASE.

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THE FORD FOCUS STUTTERS AT STARTUP WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM THE CAR GETS WORSE. THE CAR WILL STALL AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. FORD HAS NO FIX THEY JUST TELL ME IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR. I HAVE TRIED PREMIUM FUEL NOTHING HELPS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS FIRST CAR AND I AM AFRAID FOR HER LIFE

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I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT SPEEDS OF 50MPH WHEN CAR LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. I WAS LEAVING A MALL PARKING LOT AND ACCELERATING WHEN THE CAR JERKED DANGEROUSLY AND STOPPED ACCELERATING CAUSING ME TO LOOSE SPEED AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PROBABLE CAUSE: TRANSMISSION FAILURE OR DISCONNECT.

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I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH 12 MILES ON IT.THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED AND LAGGED FROM STARTING POINT.COUPLE WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I WAS DOING 70 ON THE FREEWAY,IT DOWN SHIFTED TO 4TH GEAR.THE TRANS WAS IN D AND 4TH AT THE SAME TIME.I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID TO HAVE IT TOWED,IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE.WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS A FAULTY BATTERY,THEY REPLACED IT.THE TRANS CONT TO SHUDDER FROM STARTING, AND LAGS BETWEEN GEARS.A MONTH LATER,I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE TRANS SHOWED IT WAS IN D, BUT FIRST GEAR STARTED FLASHING.I TOOK VIDEO OF IT.I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING FORD.THE DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED THE TRANS.THE TRANS CONT TO SHUDDER AND LAG,I CALLED FORD FOR THE 3RD TIME.I WAS TOLD BY THE AREA MANAGER THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TRANS.I LET HER KNOW THAT I FEEL UNSAFE IN A VEHICLE WHERE THE TRAN SHUDDERS AND LAGS.SHE STATED TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WOULD PUT IN A FOR A "GOOD FAITH VEHICLE EXCHANGE".I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP,THEY REPLACED THE TRANS MODULE.STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.CALLED FORD TO FIND OUT STATUS ON MY EXCHANGE (I LET HER KNOW I WASN'T LOOKING FOR AN UPGRADE, I WANTED THE SAME CAR IN A MANUAL,WHICH IS A DOWN GRADE) WAS TOLD IT WAS DENIED.I ASKED FOR A REASON,THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ONE.I ASKED FOR HER SUPERVISOR.SHE CALLED ME AND STATED REQUEST WAS REVIEWED AND IT STANDS.I ASKED WHY IT DENIED, AND WHAT THEY CHECK WHEN MAKING DECISION.SHE STATED COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION BECAUSE ITS PROPRIETARY.SHE SAID I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANS WOULD REACT THAT WAY.SHE ALSO TOLD TO TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT,SEE IF THEY WILL TAKE IT AS A TRADE ON SOMETHING ELSE.THE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT IS 6 HOUR DRIVE,THERE IS SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS.CAR CURRENTLY HAS 5300 MILES ON IT.FIRST TIME WAS 2088 MILES, OCT 15.2ND TIME 3095 MILES,NOV 11,3RD TIME 5158 MILES, DEC 7.

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FRONTAL IMPACT, KNEE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT. CONTACTED STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE IN MOTION, HIGHWAY.

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EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT BEING A NEW CAR AND A NEW SYSTEM WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THIS IS JUST HOW THE CAR WORKS.. FAST FORWARD TO AROUND 20K MILES MY CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH.. IT WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY IT WILL SHUTTER, IT WILL STALL IT MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHILE INCREASING SPEEDS AND SHIFTING.. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND I DON'T DEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT OR PUTTING MY KIDS IN IT, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WILL TAKE 4-6 WEEKS FOR MY NEW CLUTCH TO ARRIVE BUT IT'S OK TO DRIVE MY CAR IT WON'T CAUSE ISSUES UNLESS IT STARTS TO STALL.. IF THIS CAR WAS TO STALL WHILE ON A FREEWAY OR OR GOING AT FAST SPEEDS THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PUT MINE AND MY CHILDREN'S LIFE IN DANGER.

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN 6 MOS. AGO. IT HAS HAD 2 RECALLS SO FAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM. IT JUMPS AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE. TWICE WHEN I HAVE STARTED IT THERE WAS A KNOCKING LIKE THE ENGINE HAD SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN I CHANGED THE GEAR THE KNOCKING QUIT. WHEN I RUN THE HEATER THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. I TOOK IT IN AND TOLD THEM I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND THEY DID THE RECALLS THEN TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT DO THE OTHER THINGS I HAD MENTIONED. I ASK THEM TO PUT ME IN SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400.00-$500.00 A MONTH PAYMENT. I BELIEVE FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CONTINUES TO SELL THEM SO WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY CAN CHARGE THEM MORE MONEY. I AM A 55 YEAR OLD WOMAN THAT DRIVES 120 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. WHEN I GET OFF WORK I DRIVE HOME IN THE DARK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR!!! FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE HESITATION. I PICKED IT UP AND NOW IT IS WORSE! WHEN I TURN THE CORNER IT DOES THAT JERKING THING NOW LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS . THE JERKING HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, TAKING OFF AND NOW EVEN WHEN YOU ARE TURNING. THE KNOCKING NOISE THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AND THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN IT WAS IN PARK AND I HAD JUST STARTED IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. WHILE AT A STOP ON AN INCLINE AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15.

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11/4/15 MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING IN HER WORK PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED A SMALL TEAR IN THE TIRE AT THE SEAM WHERE THE SIDEWALL JOINS THE TREAD. WE COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN THE TIRE WHICH COULD HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO THE BLOWOUT. IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY LOSING ALL AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT SIZE 215/55 R 16 93H | DOT NUMBER CNB3 WBPC 0615.

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TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2015 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND TWO PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,650.

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ON 2 OCCASSIONS WITH THE DASH INDICATOR INDICATING AVAILABLE BATTERY POWER, THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY.

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2015 FORD FOCUS HAS THE OPTIONAL POWERSHIFT SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLOWLY STARTING FROM LOW SPEED 20 MPH WITH LIGHT THROTTLE, THE ENGINE REVS TO 6000 RPM AND THE VEHICLE BARELY MOVES.THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND HAS RESULTED IN NEAR MISSES. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE SUDDENLY LOSES SPEED, BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL AT HIGH RPM (AGAINST THE REV LIMITER). ONLY BY MANUALLY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE, CAN VEHICLE SPEED BE RETURNED.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER HAS BEEN RE-FLASHED TWICE. FORD ENGINEERING HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. A DATA LOGGER FROM THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN USED TO RECORD THREE INSTANTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND MAKES THE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION, WE ARE USING ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THIS CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 26 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V436000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 11/06/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A MONTH AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 12/09/15. *JB

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WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION IS STUTTERING, GRINDING AND PERFORMING POORLY. FORD SAID THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE "I DRIVE TOO CAREFULLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY AND WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN GEARS UNLESS YOU 'FLOOR IT'".

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I RENTED THIS NEW 2015 FOCUS SEDAN FROM HERTZ AT MIAMI INTL AIRPORT TO DRIVE 280 MILES HOME TO OCALA, FL. THE ENTIRE WAY, THE STEERING GRABBED, SLIPPED AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STAYING IN ONE LANE, THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT IN A JERKY DANGEROUS MANNER. WE WERE LITERALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THE FOCUS BUT HAD TO IN ORDER TO GET BACK HOME THAT NIGHT. I WOULD NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER FOCUS 2015, AND I AM A FORMER DOT EMPLOYEE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

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I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY. WHEN I ACCELERATED THE GAS PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SLUGGISHNESS CONTINUED AS WELL AS HARD JOLTING FORWARD SHIFTS AFTER INITIAL ACCELERATION AND EVENTUALLY A FORWARD JERKING LOUD DOWNSHIFT NOISE WHEN STOPPING. THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUED, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO COVER IT.

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MANY OF THE FORD FOCUS ST 2015 MODELS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT GRILL POPPING OUT. THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT THE GRILL POPS OUT WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD THEN DAMAGE THE CAR, PUNCTURE TIRES, OR HIT OTHER VEHICLES, DRIVERS, OR MOTORCYCLIST WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE. AFTER SUBMITTING TO AN INSPECTION, OFFERING PHOTO'S, AND EVEN WEB LINKS TO 100'S OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM FORD HAS NO TSB OR STATED FIX. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN AND THE BODY DEPARTMENT FIND SOME WAY TO ANCHOR IN THE GRILL ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE AND RIDICULOUS FOR BRAND NEW VEHICLES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. MA 10/19/15 *CN

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VEHICLE IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BREAK MALFUNCTIONED. PARKING BREAK IS NEEDED TO BE ON DUE TO SLIGHT DECLINE INTO THE GARAGE. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH GARAGE WALL DAMAGING BACK LEFT LUMINESCENT LIGHTS, BUMPER, AND TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE GARAGE WALLS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF CONCRETE AND ONLY DAMAGE VISUALLY PRESENT IS PAINT TRANSFER FROM THE VEHICLE TO THE WALL. ANY SOONER AND THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY AS GROCERIES FROM THE STORE WERE RECENTLY UNLOADED FROM THE CAR.

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP BEFORE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD LIKE I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS GOING OVER A MAN-HOLE COVER; THE LAST TIME I WAS GOING OVER THE RAIL TRACKS. IT SHOCKED ME AS I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND THE WHEELS JUST SPUN FASTER. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE IN FRONT AND DIDN'T HIT ANY CAR IN FRONT OF MINE.

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I TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN FROM A 2012 FORD FIESTA, WHICH AFTER THREE YEARS HAD BECOME A ROLLING DISASTER, FROM THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION TO THE ALWAYS-DYING BATTERY AND TWO RECALLS. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THE 2015 FOCUS WAS REDESIGNED AND MUCH BETTER. I'LL ADMIT IT DRIVES MUCH BETTER, IS ROOMIER, AND NO JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION LIKE THE FIESTA'S "AUTOMATED MANUAL" TRANSMISSION DID. BUT NOW WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS HOT, I SMELL AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, ALMOST LIKE A GASKET, RUBBERY TYPE SMELL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BRAKES, ENGINE OIL, WHAT. I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT. ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID WITH JULY THEY WERE SHORT OF HELP WITH VACATIONS, AND SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAD 500 MILES ON IT, I HAD "PLENTY OF TIME" ON THE WARRANTY, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY SAID TO LET IT BREAK IN AT LEAST ANOTHER 500 MILES. SO FAR I'VE NOT HAD SMOKE, STARTING OR STALLING PROBLEMS LIKE OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. I HAVE BROKEN IN LOTS OF BRAND NEW CARS IN MY LIFETIME, AND NEVER, EVER HAD A BURNING SMELL. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE USUAL NONSENSE OF "WE'LL ESCALATE THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER," AND LIKE THE FIESTA, NOTHING. ....UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF THE COMPLAINT HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED. THE LOCAL FOR DEALER PERFORMED A THOROUGH CHECK OF THE VEHICLE AND ADJUSTED THE CLIMATE CONTROL. UPDATED 11/17/15. *JB

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