NHTSA Complaint #10157044 — 2006 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD FOCUS ON 12/3/05, IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. ON THURSDAY MAY 3, 2006, IT CAUGHT FIRE IN MY CARPORT. THE MILEAGE IS BETWEEN 2,000-3,000 MILES, I BELIEVE. I ARRIVED HOME FROM A MEETING AT A LOCAL BANK, HAVING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE CARPORT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND ENTERED THE HOUSE. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY STRANGE NOISES OR ODORS. MY HUSBAND ARRIVED HOME ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER. HE BEGAN TOOTING THE HORN ON HIS VEHICLE TO GET MY ATTENTION. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, HE YELLED "GET YOUR KEYS." I COULD SEE FLAMES UNDER MY CAR AND SMOKE SEEPING OUT THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I THREW HIM THE KEYS AND RAN FOR THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE ENTERED MY FOCUS GOT THE ENGINE STARTED AND BACKED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE CARPORT AND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. AS HE BACKED UP THE VEHICLE, FLAMING PARTS BEGAN FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR ONTO THE CONCRETE FLOOR. HE GOT THE CAR BACKED UP ABOUT 10 FEET AND THE ENGINE QUIT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HE EXITED THE CAR AND TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH BUT HE GOT IT OPENED. THE FLAMES WERE ABOUT A FOOT HIGH AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AREA ON THE LEFT SIDE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH THE EXTINGUISHER. WE THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES ON THE PIECES THAT WERE LYING ON THE CARPORT FLOOR. BOTH CONTINUED TO SMOKE FOR SOME TIME BUT THE FIRE DID NOT RE-IGNITE. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED AND WE FELT IT SAFE TO APPROACH THE VEHICLE, WE COULD SEE THE CHARRED REMAINS AND MELTED PARTS. IN RETROSPECT I REMEMBER ON TWO OCCASIONS SEEING THE BATTERY ICON LIGHTED ON THE DASH WHILE A SAT OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WAITING FOR THE BANK TO OPEN WITH THE CAR IDLING AND THE RADIO ON. BOTH TIMES I REVVED THE ENGINE AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT. *NM