NHTSA Complaint #10146274 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

STARTING APPROX. 7 MONTH'S AFTER I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM JACK BYRNE FORD IN MECANICVILLE, NY I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING (FEBURARY OF 2004). I WOULD PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION - NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON AND SO WOULD THE HEAT BLOWERS AND I WOULD ALSO GET SOME DINGING. BUT, THE CAR FAILED TO START. I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 4 - 5 TIMES. EACH TIME I HAD GONE THROUGH AN EPISODE OF THE CAR NOT STARTING AND THEN WHEN IT FINALLY STARTED I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS I SHOULD HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN SEE FIRST HAND - HOW THE IGNITION DOESN'T TURN OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 2 DOZEN TIMES. EACH TIME FORD WOULD RETURN THE CAR TO ME AND IT WOULD RUN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS PROBLEM FREE. THEN SURE ENOUGH IT WOULD START AGAIN. ANYHOW, THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS AT A FRIENDS HOUSE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN - AGES 6 AND 3 MONTH'S. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THANK GOD I WAS AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE AND I WASN'T STUCK OUT IN MY CAR IN DECEMBER IN THE COLD WITH MY CHILDREN!! I APPRECIATE THAT FORD WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPT TO MAKE A CORRECTION - BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FEEL LIKE MORE SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I MEAN I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THIS. I WOULD HATE TO FEEL LIKE I WOULDN'T EVER WANT TO OWN A FORD AGAIN. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD WRITE A MORE AGGRESSIVE LETTER - BUT AT THE MOMENT THE CAR IS STARTING - SO I AM NOT FEELING HOSTILE!! PLEASE ASSIST.*JB