NHTSA Complaint #10155961 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH, LOUD HUMMING IN FRONT RIGHT AND BOTH REAR WHEELS AND LOUD REAR SQUEAKING ON BRAKING REVEALED, AFTER 4/20/06 INSPECTION, FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS IN OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2000 IN RIGHT FRONT AND BOTH REAR WHEELS. BOTH REAR CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING FLUID AND RIGHT BRAKE DRUM WAS FAILING. MANY OF THE FORD FOCUS VINS ISSUED DURING 2000-2001 MANUFACTURING YEARS HAD WHEEL-BEARING FAILURE ISSUES AND CONSEQUENT RECALLS. WE WERE INFORMED BY "MARIA" AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, TODAY THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT HAD A WHEEL BEARING ISSUE. HOW, THEN, COULD THREE OF OUR FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL? ULTIMATELY, FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS CAN LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE AND DETACHMENT LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. WHY ISN'T THE NHTSA ADDRESSING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH FORD, AS THE MANUFACTURER APPEARS TO BE SIDESTEPPING ITS ETHICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. WE SPENT OVER $1,000 ON THIS REPAIR. NINE MONTHS AGO, OUR FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILED, WHICH COULD ALSO HAVE LED TO A FATALITY. FORD ASSISTED US THEN, BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO HELP US NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT BECAUSE ON ONGOING TEAMSTERS STRIKE, MOST FORD DEALER SHOPS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO SERVICE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR SUPPLY NEEDS AT THE TIME WE SOUGHT SERVICE. WE SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR OF WHEEL BEARINGS, REAR DRUMS AND CYLINDERS/LINING. WHEEL BEARING SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. *JB