NHTSA Complaint #10069651 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

ON NOVEMBER 9, 2002 WHILE DOING ERRANDS I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF 2002 FORD FOCUS (5 MONTHS OLD). IT WAS A WET AND RAINY DAY AND THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGING-UP. I HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO DEFROST THE LIGHT MIST ON THE WINDOWS, AS THE DEFROST BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK. THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK I DECIDED TO PULLED OVER AND CALL FOR FORD ROAD SERVICE. BY THE TIME I WAS GIVING THE REP. MY LOCATION PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FROM THIER HOMES TO MOVE THIER CARS. I TOLD THE REP. THE CAR IS ON FIRE. I HUNG-UP AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I RAN BACK TO MY NEW CAR AND WATCHED AS IT BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTEMENT SAID THE ENGINE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I PULLED OVER JUST IN TIME. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL. FORD ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. I AM WAITING FOR FORD MOTOR TO TAKE CAR OF EVERYTHING. I TOLD THEM IN A FAX I SENT LAST WEEK THAT I WANT THAT "BLUE OVAL" SERVICE THEY CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT - MAYBE SOMEDAY. THANKS, DENISE KEYES