NHTSA Complaint #10217711 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

TRUNK LATCH FAILS TO CATCH 95% OF THE TIME. TRUNK KEY FAILS TO TURN LOCK MOST OF THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING TO THIS FAILURE. I BELIEVE THE TRUNK LOCK MATERIALS ARE CORRODING JUST LIKE THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS WHICH WERE RECALLED. THE TRUNK LOCK SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING MATERIALS. I REQUESTED DEALERSHIPS PERFORM REPAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD HEADQUARTERS HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL . WHY? NHTSA SHOULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THE CONSEQUENCE OF A FAILED TRUNK LOCK/LATCH IS THAT THE TRUNK DOOR WILL POP OPEN -- ALLOWING THINGS TO FLY OUT OF THE TRUNK AND FLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC ENDANGERING OTHERS AS WELL AS BLOCK REAR WINDOW VISION. THIS COULD CAUSE FATALITIES TO BOTH THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND NEAR BY VEHICLES. . THE HUBCAPS HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF IN PIECES DURING COLD WEATHER WHILE PARKED (IE., THE HUBCAPS WERE NOT STRUCK BY EXOGENOUS ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE). THIS IS CLEARLY THE FAULT OF SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING MATERIALS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES AT HEADQUARTERS HAVE STATED THIS TO ME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE HUBCAPS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. EXOGENOUS MATERIALS CAN HIT THE UNPROTECTED TIRES, CAUSE A BLOW OUT. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY FOR SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS. I COULD TAKE A WILD GUESS THAT THE WHEEL WELLS -- ON MY CAR -- REPLACED DIRECTLY BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING FROM THE WARREN PLANT -- DID NOT LOOK AT THE STRESS AND HAIR LINE CRACKS HE FAULTY WHEEL WELLS PLACED ON THE ORIGINAL HUB CABS. IT'S TIME TO FINISH THE JOB! FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES HAVE STATED TO ME THAT THE 2000 YEAR MODEL (THE FIRST YEAR THIS VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS) MANUFACTURED IN THE WARREN PLANT DID NOT PERFORM THE NECESSARY QUALITY CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT THESE MATERIALS FUNCTIONED IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES. *TR