Brake Drum Wheel Cylinder problems of the 2007 Ford Focus

There are two recurring problems that really concern me: 1) transmission/powertain light has flickered on-and-off and then goes off completely. Initially I assumed it was a fuse or electrical problem. There have been several episodes, the scariest to date on 2-20-12 the car seemed to "lose gears," shuttered a little, and suddenly felt it was going to stall out on a short incline. My 15 year old daughter (with learner's permit) was at the wheel. It was frightening as the car felt it would roll backward with traffic stacked up behind her. 2) brakes: on two ocassions since I have owned the car (3. 5 months) the brakes, when applied (normal fashion) completely went to the floor without functioning: there was nothing there. A couple of minutes later, and only after pumping the brakes a few times, did the "brake function return. " my mother had warned me about this - she also provided me with a file folder of all repairs she had made on the car. Twice; she had the master brake cylinder replaced! she complained to the Ford dealer in her hometown, who "brushed it off" and assured her there would be no further problems. In the last 3 weeks, the brakes failed again - and again, my 15 year old was at the wheel. I cannot tell you how frightening this was - if NHTSA is aware of multiple complaints about a design failure; why hasn't Ford issued a recall to make the necessary repairs?.