NHTSA Complaint #10088800 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2004 MY SON & I WERE TRAVELING IN THE CITY OF MADISON, WISCONSIN IN A SPEED ZONE OF 30 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER & DIED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BATTERY. SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE & TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN - IT CONTINUED TO NOT START BACK UP; HOWEVER, WE STARTED SMELLING GAS & WE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO TRAFFIC ALL AROUND US. FINALLY A POLICE OFFICER CAME & ASKED US TO IMMEDIATELY GET OUT OF THE CAR - THERE WAS GAS POURING OUT ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT APPEARED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. IN DECEMBER 2003 I HAD THE RECALL OF THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE POLICE OFFICER INDICATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU TURNED THE IGNITION - GAS STARTED POURING OUT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE OF $84.00 TO THE DEALERSHIP. I ALSO LOST A FULL TANK OF GAS WHICH COST ME $17.00. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP & THEY DIRECTED ME TO FORD CUSTMER RELATIONS. I SPOKE WITH AN ANTHONY ON 08/30/04 @ 7:22AM (CST). HE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP COULD BE REPLACED AGAIN THAT IT WAS A WARRANTY BY FORD. HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE OTHER EXPENSES OF TOWING, RENTAL CAR (CURRENTLY WITHOUT A CAR & CANNOT GO TO WORK) , REPLACEMENT OF GAS LOST - HE SAID FORD DOES NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF REIMBURSING THESE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON INDICATED THAT WAS NOTHING THAT FORD COULD DO ABOUT THIS. MY GREAT CONCERN IS THAT MY SON & I INHALED A LOT OF GAS FUMES - WE COULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN UP IN THE CAR (ACCORDING TO THE POLICE OFFICER) - AND FORD IS NOT BE HELPFUL IN THIS MATTER AT ALL. I FEEL THAT THE 2000 FORD FOCUS IS NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE. PLUS I THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE COIL ON THE CAR & YOU CAN'T GET THIS REPLACED BECAUSE THE COILS WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL DECEMBER 2004. THIS SEEMS NOT RESPONSIBLE OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AT ALL. *AK