Safety

Even the most hardened motoring enthusiasts - the type who wear their driving shoes to pop to the shops and who mutter under their moustaches about the woes of automatic gearboxes - rarely complain about cars with automatic parking programs, otherwise known as cars that park themselves. And that's because, no

I was utterly devastated to learn last night that my 2012 Ford Focus really is a lemon! At the time of purchasing it I explained how I had previously had a serious car accident and was looking for a car with power in sticky situations.

The Trend was sold to me as the latest in technology in "Powershift". Before the first service I reported a shudder and delay in acceleration or sudden acceleration when taking off between 1st and 2nd gear. I explained it didn't happen all the time. They test drove it and said nothing was wrong and gave me a lecture about how to drive the car properly, saying it was intuitively learning my driving patterns, and that they re-set the computer system back to factory settings, and I would have to drive less aggressive whilst it re-learned what ever it was supposed to be learning.

Less than a few weeks later it continued to do the same things. I had an independent mechanic look over it and he reported that it had a leaking transmission and to take it back to where I purchased it. I did. I again explained the issue, and was told the leaking transmission would be fixed under warranty and should resolve the matter. It did not. It still continues to do the same, sometimes worse than other times.

I have since received two letters from Ford about the transmission and had the clutch repaired a few weeks ago. They will not do anything else other than this. What I am angered with the most is that now in WA no non-Ford dealer will trade-in this model car. They are telling owners to take the cars back to Ford, as it has a known potential defect. I certainly could not sell it, in good conscience to anyone else, so I am stuck with the car. I can do nothing.

Whilst Ford Australia has stated that they will continue to repair the vehicle as issues arise, at no cost for the repair, for the next two years on an extended warranty, what happens when the warranty expires? And what happens if I don't want to take any chances? Who is to say that this issue won't happen when passing through an intersection? I don't feel safe to drive my car anymore. There are too many unknowns and Ford would never suggest it might be dangerous to keep driving. Do I risk my life or the lives of others on the road? I will never be able to sell this car. I have lost the money I have paid, the interest I have paid on the car, and the utter frustrations and waste of time it takes to go back every time there is an issue. Why should I?

I have joined the class action, but that is going to take years. In the meantime I am stuck with a lemon, and very angry that the ACCC laws that are there to protect me are not being enforced. I was told that Ford Australia would not compensate me at this time. All I want is for them to take the car back and refund me the cost of the car, including interest paid, or replace the car with a new one to the value of my car at time of purchase (plus interest lost). They seriously will do nothing. Are you able to offer any guidance?

I have 2015 Holden Colorado 4x4 auto with a steer vibration that can be felt through driver’s seat, a drone and vibration noise through exhaust, and an auto problem. I know Holden is having problems with these vehicles. I have years of experience in the trade, and am very concerned my problems won’t be fixed. Can you help?

When I take my hands off the steering wheel of my 2016 Kia Carnival it pulls to the left. I have had it back twice to the dealership and they have told me there is nothing wrong with it. They said it was a requirement of Australian safety standards for it to pull to the left to avoid head on collision. I don't feel this is right, I believe all cars and especially a brand new car should go straight has anyone else have this problem?

One of the world's only stretches of unlimited speed highways to be abolished in political tit-for-tat.A landslide victory to the Northern Territory Labor government in the recent state elections will see the abolishment of open speed limits on the Stuart Highway, despite evidence suggesting that less drivers were killed while limits were not restricted.Labor, led by chief minister Michael Gunner, had been outspoken about banishing the derestricted zones that it outlawed in its previous term in office.Open speed limits were abolished in 2006, but a 200km section north of Alice Springs was derestricted in 2014 by the incoming Country Liberal Party under chief minister Adam Giles, after it was found that more people died between 2006 and 2012 (307) when compared to the previous six years (292).Additional sections of the highway have been upgraded at a cost of $3 million and the limits removed, with plans in place to upgrade and derestrict 1,100km of highway from Darwin to Katherine.According to Liberal government research, no fatalities have been recorded over 11 crashes since the derestricted trial began in February 2014. The party was removed after just one term in office.A spokesman for the Labor Party has told MOTOR magazine that the limit would be reduced to 130km/h "imminently", and that the party did not agree that open speed limits meant a lower road toll.Research during the open limit trial suggested that the majority of drivers travelled at an average of approximately 140km/h.The move means that a handful of sections of Germany's autobahn network are now the only roads in the world where speed limits will not apply.Motorways in certain European countries including Austria, Bosnia, the Czech Republic and Denmark have 130km/h limits, while one section of road in Texas has a limit of 85mile per hour (137km/h).The incoming Northern Territory Labor government does, however, have some petrol in its veins; it's set to invest more than $15 million in motorsport in the next four years, including more than $7 million of upgrades to the Hidden Valley race track and drag strip complex - which hosts a Supercars Championship round each year - and $500,000 to the Finke Desert Race.

The hidden dangers and top tips for wet weather driving.

I have a motorhome and I'm looking to flat tow a vehicle, hooked up to a Ready Brute A-frame. I would prefer an auto as my wife will use it as an everyday drive when at home. There are not many vehicles that can be flat towed and most of the car dealers I have asked haven't a clue. One didn't even know what flat towing meant. What's your view?

I have recently purchased a 2013 VW CC V6 FSI 4MOTION with Active Cruise Control. I have noticed that when ACC is controlling the vehicle, as the car is coming to a completed stop, it makes a grinding/shuddering noise. It is not related to the DSG, as I can't replicate it when stopping normally. I took it back to the dealer and they have advised that it just requires a software update. Would this be normal? I have the car booked in at Volkswagen, but wanted some advice before going there?

I bought my son a new 2009 CJ Mitsubishi Lancer. He is now working fulltime in the city and I recently received two recall notices on the vehicle, the first being for the turn signal and lighting switch oxidation, and the second to replace faulty ETACS control modules that could result in loss of headlights and or wipers. I told my son to book it in with a Mitsubishi dealer near where he lives or works and he tried, but was told that neither dealer could do anything until November at the earliest. Still better than Penrith though, they wouldn't look at it until February. Now, maybe I'm being unreasonable, but isn't 2 1/2 to nearly eight months a bit long to wait for what is basically a safety Issue to be rectified? I tried calling Mitsubishi Customer Assistance Centre, but they basically washed their hands of any responsibility saying that as the dealers were independent businesses they had no control over how their service resources were allocated. I'm a bit miffed at this attitude, as I always thought that if you make the dang thing you have an obligation to support it, even if that means applying additional resources to fix any problems that occur as a result of the manufacturing process, in a timely fashion. I'd appreciate your advice and insight on this.

Keeping your car on the straight and narrow is not as easy as it seems.