NHTSA Complaint #10043559 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WE HAVE HAD THE IGNITION FREEZE UP ON US THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE LAST TIME BEING YESTERDAY. THE FIRST HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MI. (I CAN'T FIND THE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS, BUT IT IS ON FILE AT HARROLD FORD IN SACRAMENTO, CA). THE SECOND OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAD A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES (NOVEMBER OF 2002). NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES, AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. EACH TIME, WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TRAPPED IN A PARKING GARAGE AT A MED CLINIC WITH A VERY SICK BABY. THE SECOND TIME WE WERE TRAPPED FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND IN LAKE TAHOE BEFORE THE CAR COULD BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE REPAIRS REQUIRED ON THIS SAME EXACT ITEM, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A DESIGN FLAW. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $150 PER OCCURENCE TO FORD TO FIX IT AND AAA HAS TO ASSUME THE COST FOR TOWING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING US UP, IF WE ARE STRANDED OUT OF TOWN (WE HAVE A AAA PLUS MEMBERSHIP). THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS SAME THING HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ON THEIR FOCUSES? I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE INVESTIGATED. *LA