NHTSA Complaint #10104651 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. IT APPEARS THAT THEY WILL FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THEY CANNOT HELP AT THIS TIME. I ASSUMED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR THAT IT WAS SAFE AND RELIABLE. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I WAS WRONG. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANY CAR IN MICHIGAN WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE THE RECALL WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE TIRE WAS SHAKING AND ALMOST FELL OF THE CAR. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED DURING THE RECALL. THE THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MY DAUGHTER NOTICING A LOUD HUMMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TWICE AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR (68,000) THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP ME AT THIS TIME. I ADVISED THEM THAT THE REPAIR WAS ONLY 20,000 MILES OLD. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS DOES NOT MATTER TO THEM. IF FORD HAD CORRECTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, IN MY MIND, IT SHOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN EVERY 20,000 MILES. IF FORD IS JUST REPLACING THE PART WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN PART, IT WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. I WOULD HATE TO SEE A DEATH OCCUR BECAUSE THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS NOT FIXED CORRECTLY. FORD IS ALSO STATING THAT WE MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE WE DID NOT 'PAY' FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THANK YOU.