NHTSA Complaint #10150401 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

NEEDED TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED WITH ONLY 37,340 MILES ON THE CAR. NOTICED BURNING SMELL COMING FROM CAR ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN STOPPING ON HILLS. IT SEEMED THAT HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, STOPPING ON A HILL, AND THEN DRIVING OUT OF 1ST GEAR FOR SOME REASON BURNS OUT THE CLUTCH. SO THE CLUTCH WORE OUT AND I HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $924.96. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE WAY I DRIVE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 34 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT; CLUTCHES SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO SOON. HOW DO I PREVENT THE SAME THING FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? *NM