NHTSA Complaint #10059226 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE LOST POWER, NEARLY RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE TACHOMETER WOULD SUDDENLY RACE UP TO 7000 AND THE WHEELS LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, AFTER 15-30 SECONDS OR DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR, THE VEHICLE RE-ENGAGES AND THE WHEEL POWER WAS RESTORED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FORD WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS INSTALLED TWICE. THE ENGINEERS REVEALED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE SPEED SENSORS AND INPUT SHAFT SENSORS. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE LOSS LASTED 10 SECONDS, THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO 2ND GEAR, THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ACTIVE. THIS PROBLEM RETURNED TWO MORE TIMES. ON ONE OF THE INCIDENCES, THE TACHOMETER HAD GONE OVER 7 THEN DROPPED. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTERMITTENTLY. *SC