NHTSA Complaint #10036648 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS STZ. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS BACK IN I THINK MARCH. THE IGNITION FROZE, LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED AT WORK AND THE KIDS AT THE BABYSITTER. SHE HAD TO FIND A RIDE TO THE BABYSITTER AND THEN HOME. SHE THEN HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SKYLINE FORD IN SALEM OREGON. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN QUIET A FEW FOCUS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE WERE 100 MILES OVER THE FACTORY WARRANTY!! WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE FAULTY PART. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST. WE WENT TO GET ICE CREAM. THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE LEAVING THE ICE CREAM STORE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES. WE WERE ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM HOME. ALL THE WAY HOME THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS MELTED. WE CALLED SKYLINE, WHO COULD NOT GET US IN UNTIL SATURDAY. IT WAS 3 OR 4 DAYS. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO PAY $120 FOR A FAULTY PART!! THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR FAULTY BATTERY CABLES. WE ARE TOLD THAT IF FORD DECIDES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUAL CABLE, THEN WE WILL BE REFUNDED THE $120. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!! I WISH THAT I HAD NEVER PURCHASED THIS CAR. IT HAS REALLY HURT MY OPINION OF FORD PRODUCTS. *NLM