NHTSA Complaint #10128737 — 2005 FORD FOCUS

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZXW SE 4 DOOR STATION WAGON, VIN [XXX] FROM SCARFF FORD IN AUBURN, WASHINGTON. WHILE RETURNING FROM OUT VACATION A BLACK PLASTIC PIECE OF VENT MATERIAL ABOUT TWELVE INCHES LONG FELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH AND LODGED BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WITH A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY I WAS ABLE, FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT TO REACH AND DISLODGE THE OBSTRUCTION. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO AVOID A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY, JULY 13, 2005 I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SCARFF FORD AND THEY REINSTALLED THE PART AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS INCIDENT COULD REPEAT ITSELF WITH OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS AND HAVE A FAR WORSE OUTCOME. ONE THING I DID NOTICE WAS WHILE THE ''VENT PIECE'' HAD PROVISIONS FOR FOUR ATTACHING SCREWS, THERE APPEARED TO BE ONLY ONE IN USE. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY TO BLAME, BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)