NHTSA Complaint #10075056 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

IN JANUARY 2004 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME (JANUARY, 2004) WAS ON THE I-355 TOLLWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE ROUTE 64 OFF-RAMP. THE LAST TIME (JUNE 8, 2004) I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, SPUTTERING OR GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE JUNE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CARS FOLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND ME ON A NARROW ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY COAST ONTO A SIDE STREET AND OUT OF THE MAIN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED AFTER A SHORT DELAY AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AS SUCH, THEY WOOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND PTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT FURTHER CONVERSATION WOULD BE "JUST GOING IN CIRCLES." I TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM THIS I WILL PERSUE THE MATTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS FOR MATTERS LIKE THIS.;\*AK