NHTSA Complaint #10225441 — 2006 FORD FOCUS

ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, MY VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. ON THE 20TH OF APRIL, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS; TOP SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. AS A RESULT, WE CHOSE TO RETURN HOME IMMEDIATELY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. ON THE 21ST, AROUND 10:15 A.M., I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES, THE ENGINE BEGAN CUTTING OUT COMPLETELY AND THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR. I GOT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND PULLED INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. I FOUND A NEARBY STORE FROM WHICH I COULD CALL HOME. WHEN I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE DUE TO SMOKE. I RETURNED TO THE STORE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. BY THE TIME I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE, THERE WERE VISIBLE FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. *TR