NHTSA Complaint #10049711 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 HATCHBACK MODEL WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM LAFRES FORD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYS ON. VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED AND VARIOUS PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED (DOCUMENTED ON ALL SERVICE REPORTS) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED OTHER PARTS BURNED AND REPLACED IN THE PAST, IE COOLING FAN HARNESS AND RESISTOR BURNT, BURN SMELL WHEN A/C IS IN USE OR THE HEATOR, REPLACEMENT OF BATTERY. (CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) I CONTINUALLY TAKE THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CORRECTED. (NO REIMBURSEMENT OF TOLL/BRIDGES AND DAYS OFF FROM WORK TO HAVE THIS CAR PROPERLY SERVICED, NO REIMBURSEMENT OF RENTAL CARS) WHEN I GET THE CAR BACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF AND TWO DAYS LATER IT IS BACK ON AGAIN. I PERIODICALLY CALL MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLING HIM THAT I JUST PICKED UP THE CAR AND WITHIN 24 HOURS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MY SERVICE ADVISOR TELLS ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING AND I COULD DRIVE AROUND WITH THE LIGHT ONINDEFINETLY ALTHOUGHT THE LIGHT IS A NUISANCE. ON 12/11/03 WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH WAS ALREADY ON, THE BATTERY LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR OF THE PROBLEM, IT WAS LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, HE STATED THAT WAS NOT A GOOD SIGN AND ADVISED ME TO SEEK SERVICE AT A FORD SERVICE STATION. TOOK CAR TO UNIVERSAL FORD. THE CAR BEGAN TO EMIT A BURNING SMELL I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER SERVICE STATIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS NO GOOD AND THAT THE HARNESS HAND BURNED AND ALL THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THAT IS TRULY AN UNSAFE CAR, THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAR CATCH ON FIRE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR BECOME A FATALITY OR OTHERS COULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE UNIVERSAL FORD DEALER SERVICE STATION.*AK