NHTSA Complaint #10221611 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER IN JANUARY 2004 FROM MR. FRANK M. LIGON, DIRECTOR OF SERVICE ENGINEERING OPERATIONS OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE LETTER STATED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROGRAM 03N01 (ENGINE STALLING IN 2000-01 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES) CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES "MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL COMPLETELY...AS A RESULT OF CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTERS."..."FORD IS OFFERING TO REPLACE YOUR VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP (PARTS AND LABOR), AT NO COST, IF YOUR VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS...VALID FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE, WITH NO LIMIT ON MILEAGE." ...I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ABOVE FOREMENTIONED SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 FOCUS, AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, ORIGINALLY STATING THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THIS PROGRAM, BUT CALLED BACK LATER AND ULTIMATELY CHANGED THEIR MIND. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN WAS THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS NO LONGER "OPEN." SINCE THE COMPANY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PARTICULAR SAFETY CONCERN, CONFIRMED THE LETTER BEING SENT AND MY VEHICLE FITTING THE PROGRAM 03N01 GUIDELINES OF MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND TIMELINE (10 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE), AND HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE, AS STATED IN THEIR LETTER, ...I WOULD LIKE TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE ...AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS RUNAROUND THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS GIVEN ME. I GOT THE LETTER, HAD THE PROBLEMS AND SAFETY ISSUES AS STATED IN THAT LETTER, IT HASN'T BEEN 10YRS, SO WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE! *TR