NHTSA Complaint #10153184 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SEDAN UPON EXITING THE PARKWAY SATURDAY EVENING MARCH 18, 2006, I HEARD A LOUD THUD FROM WITHIN THE FRONT END, LIKE SOMETHING HAD SNAPPED. NOTHING LOOKED TO BE WRONG. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO EMANATE A LOUD HIGH-PITCHED GRINDING NOISE AND THEN A LOT OF SMOKE. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SUSPENSION SPRING SNAPPED OFF THE STRUT AND GORGED A DEEP TROUGH OR GROOVE IN MY TIRE. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE WAS BRAND NEW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE, NO DOUBT THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BLOWN AND SENT ME CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL. MY MECHANIC PUT THE CAR UP ON A LIFT SO I COULD TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS. MY MECHANIC IS MAKING THE REPAIRS TODAY. HE REPORTS THE STRUT SPRING BROKE IN THREE SEPARATE PLACES. THE FRONT TIRE IS DESTROYED AND RENDERED TOTALLY USELESS. THE ODOMETER READING IS 66,662 MILES. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE RETAINED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR PHYSICAL INSPECTION. I AM SENDING MY PHOTOS AS AN ATTACHMENT WITH MY E-MAIL MESSAGE TO THE NHTSA AT THEIR FOLLOWING ADDRESS: [email protected] I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE MAKE OR MODEL AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1965. YOU WILL OBSERVE THAT A NUMBER OF IDENTICAL MECHANICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THE FORD FOCUS STRUTS AND SPRINGS ARE POSTED BY OTHERS AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE. *JB THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FRONT STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT COIL SPRING TO BREAK INTO THREE PIECES. UPDATED 04/04/06. *JB UPDATED 05/25/06*JB