NHTSA Complaint #10043520 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5, IN THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS FAILED. DASH LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INAPPROPRIATELY. I BEGAN IMMEDIATELY TO MOVE FROM THE LEFT TRAFFIC LANE TO THE RIGHT TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE. BEFORE I WAS COMPLETELY OFF OF THE EXIT, THE CAR DIED. I SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND TRAVEL A COUPLE OF MILES TO A SAFE PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CAR AGAIN DIED. THE CAR WAS CUTTING OUT, DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD PEG OUT AT 140 MPH (TRAVELING AT 35), ETC. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2000. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY, MELTED HEATER SWITCH, ALONG WITH THE WIRING HARNESS BURNING UP NEAR THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR. WIRING WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AT THE ALTERNATOR. ALSO THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR AND HEATER SWITCH. THE CAR STILL HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE! WHAT INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING WITH WIRING ISSUES? WHY IS FORD NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. AFTER BEING A "FORD MAN" FOR 50 YEARS, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD CAR. THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE CONDESCENDING AND DISRESPECTFUL. IT IS TIME THEY ARE MADE TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT DANGEROUS. *LA