NHTSA Complaint #10071036 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

ON OCTOBER 10TH 2003 I WAS DRIVING IN THE FORD FOCUS 2000 WAGON FROM NEW YORK CITY TO CLEVELAND, OH, ABOUT 500 MILES. IT DROVE WELL FOR ABOUT 300 MILES, BUT STARTED TO CHOKE AND SPUTTER ON HILLS, LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. I WAS HOPING I WOULD MAKE IT TO CLEVELAND FOR REPAIRS, BUT IT STALLED OUT ON ME GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR 60 MILES OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AND LIMPED INTO THE NEAREST TOWN AND FOUND A FORD DEALER IN ASHTABULA OH. HE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER AND REPAIRED IT. IT DROVE FINE FOR THE REST OF JOURNEY INTO CLEVELAND. BUT I THEN HEADED TO NEW YORK CITY A FEW DAYS LATER, AND AGAIN AFTER 200 MILES, IT STARTED SPUTTERING ON HILLS. THEN OUTSIDE OF BINGHAMTON, NY IT STALLED AGAIN. I AGAIN RESTARTED, AND TERRIFIED OF A FATAL ACCIDENT, I CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE FROM VERIZON WIRELESS. THEY GOT A TOW TRUCK TO GET ME TO A GARAGE, BUT THEY WERE CLOSED. THE NEXT MORNING, I WAITED FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE CAR, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE STALLING PROBLEM. I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY INTO NEW YORK CITY TERRIFIED, AND ALMOST STALLED OUT AT THE FOOT FO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. IT WAS AFTER 5:00 PM SO THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. SO I AM PLANNING TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. BUT THEY SAID THAT UNLESS THEY CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I ALSO CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THERE IS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AT NHTSA. I AM HOPING TO GET BY UNDER THE LEMON LAW IN NY, BUT FEAR THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL CLAIM THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMPLAINT.