NHTSA Complaint #10145612 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WERE DAILY USE. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR IT TO BEGIN LEAKING, DRIPPING ON THE CARPET AND EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE RUBBER PAD ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS, BUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH UTILIZES THE SAME FLUID RESERVOIR AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM, SO THE BRAKES COULD BE AFFECTED BY A LEAKING CLUTCH. ON MY VEHICLE, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MYSELF. WHEN I WAS UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED A DRIP FROM THE DRAIN HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING- THE SLAVE CYLINDER IS LEAKING, TOO. THESE ARE NOT "CONSUMABLE" PARTS OF A CAR. THE SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH INDICATES THAT EITHER THEY ARE WOEFULLY UNDER-ENGINEERED, OR THE SEALS THEY USED ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BRAKE FLUID. BECAUSE OF THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF BRAKE FLUID, HAVING IT DRIP INTO THE CARPET AND PADDING OF THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR IS A BIT OF A CONCERN. ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A MAJOR SHORTCOMING THAT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *NM