NHTSA Complaint #10191868 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WE WERE DRIVING OUR CAR (A 2000 FORD FOCUS) AND HAD JUST PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, AS WE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WE HEARD A POPPING SOUND, BUT NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I COULD DECIDE IF IT WAS THE CAR. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER MY WIFE WAS GOING SOMEPLACE WITH THE CAR AND WHEN SHE HAD BACKED UP WE HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. UPON INVESTIGATION WE FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND A SHARP POINTED END OF WHAT WAS LEFT WAS POKED OUT INTO THE TIRE, THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW, BUT COULD HAVE IF WE WERE TRAVELING AT ANY SIGNIFICANT SPEED. THE COIL SPRING SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED BY A CLAMP AND A CUP SHAPED PLATE, BUT THE PLATE WAS NOT CUP SHAPED AT ALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT AND AN UNSAFE THING THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. FORD HAS A KNOWN BAD TRACK RECORD WITH SPRINGS, AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL. FURTHER, OTHER MODELS OF FORD SHOULD BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF THEY ALSO HAVE THIS ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SPRING BASE PLATE. *TR