NHTSA Complaint #10160217 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IN 2001 AND FEEL AS IF I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP FOR RECALLS AND REPAIRS THAN I HAVE DRIVING IT. IN MARCH 2003, I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER AND REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IT AGAIN BEGAN TO HESITATE, SURGE, AND STALL (ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, WHICH I NOW CANNOT RUN AND I LIVE IN TENNESSEE WHERE THE TEMPERATURES ARE REGULARLY IN THE 80'S AND 90'S). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD BEFORE WHEN THE RECALL WAS APPARENTLY FIXED. THEY SAID TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL OR WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY FIXED ONCE AND IT'S ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. I WILL NEVER AGAIN PURCHASE AN AMERICAN-MADE CAR IF THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS THE WAY THEY DO. *JB