NHTSA Complaint #10066297 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3, MY TAIL END STARTED TO SWAY OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME. THEN I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I THEN PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE SITUATION AND NOTICED MY WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED FORD FOCUS RECALLS AND DISCOVERED THERE TO BE ONE ON THIS ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT PAT & DAN'S DELBALSO FORD DEALERSHIP IN KINGSTON, PA. THEY REFERRED ME TO FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER SPEAKING TO FORD, I MADE A RETURN CALL TO DELBALSO FORD AND THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME. THEY MADE ME WAIT ABOUT A WEEK FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND THEY MORNING OF, I MADE A CALL FOR THEM TO GET MY CAR WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. AS A RESULT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET TO COLLEGE WHICH IS ABOUT 20 TO 30 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF THIS AS WELL. I MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE MY PROBLEM RESOLVED BY CONTACTING THE FORD MANUFACTURERS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR RECALL HAD BEEN CANCELLED. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEY WERE JUST BEING "NICE" AND ASSISTING THEIR CUSTOMERS BY PERFORMING THE "WARRANTY PROGRAM" AND THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR RECIEVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHEN OWNERSHIP CHANGES AND ALL WARRANTY INFORMATION IS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS LIABLE FOR ALL RECALL INFORMATION TO BE SENT OUT. I WAS NEVER MAILED NOR BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS WARRANTY PROGRAM SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN WRONGED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT. THE PEOPLE AT FORD MOTOR CO. HAVE BEEN VERY RUDE AND OBNOXIOUS OVER THE FACT THAT THEY ARE "EXEMPT" FROM ASSISTING ME WITH MY PROBLEMS. I FEEL SINCE I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM THAT THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HELP ME. WHEN I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE THAT THEY KNEW OF AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED.*AK