NHTSA Complaint #10070328 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

PROBLEM STARTED IN MID-FEBRUARY 2003. WHEN THE FAN SPEED LEVEL FOR THE HEAT IS TURNED TO THE 3RD POSITION THE FAN NOISE DROPS DOWN & THEN A VERY ACRID BURNING ODOR IS EMITTED. CAN NOT PUT THE LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE 2ND LEVEL DUE TO THE BURNING (WIRE?) ODOR AND CONCERNED THAT A WIRE IS BURNING. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEATER SWITCH WHICH HE PROCEEDED TO ORDER BUT WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE ITEM IS BACKORDERED DUE TO A HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS PART. WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED YET & NOW AM CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FORD DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR TSB, I HAVE CALLED THE NHTSA, & I'VE CHECKED THE ALLDATA.COM WEBSITE WITH NO LUCK. I SUPPOSE, GIVEN THE PROBLEMS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH THE REAR TIRES, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A MINOR PROBLEM, HOWEVER I DON'T THINK SO. MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS THAT I DEFINITELY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO THE VIBRATION OF THE WHEELS & HOW WOBBLY THEY FEEL. WE HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES OFTEN BECAUSE THEY CUP. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME OR ANY DIRECTION YOU CAN POINT BE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR