NHTSA Complaint #10213194 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

TONIGHT (12/29/2007), FOR THE FOURTH TIME (SIX TIMES TOTAL), THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DIED, LEAVING ME STRANDED YET AGAIN. THIS TIME, I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN 12 DEGREE WEATHER FOR SEVEN HOURS. IT IS AMAZING I DIDN'T GET FROSTBITE - OR WORSE. I BOUGHT MY FOCUS IN 2002, WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. THE PRIOR OWNER HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE ON THE CAR - ONCE ABOUT 12,000 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) AND ONCE ABOUT 42,000 MILES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AT 58,000, 72,000 AND 102,000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 137,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE [XXX] IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN, AFTER BEING ASSURED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN ("IT'S BEEN REDESIGNED, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.") '!@#$%. THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT, AFTER TAKING $300-$375 OF MY MONEY EACH TIME, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES LATER, I'M HAVING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY WARRANTY THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR A LOUSY 12,000 MILES. WHAT IS PARTICULARLY AGGRAVATING ISN'T THE MONEY SO MUCH AS THE CAVALIER ATTITUDE FORD HAS THAT THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE." TELL THAT TO MY STILL-COLD BODY! YOU SIT FOR SEVEN HOURS IN A CAR, STUCK, UNABLE TO TURN THE HEAT ON, IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE DYING BEFORE FORD OWNS UP TO THIS PROBLEM? *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR