NHTSA Complaint #10236949 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH DESIGN FLAWS IN MY 2007 FORD FOCUS SSE: (1) .BECAUSE OF WHERE THE DOOR LOCK IS LOCATED, JUST ABOVE THE DOOR HANDLES (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) ALL THE DOORS WILL LOCK AT TIMES AND YOU DON'T REALIZE IT WHEN YOU OPEN, GET OUT, THEN CLOSE THE DOOR. MOST OFTEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING WITH THE KEY NOW LOCKED INSIDE. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH THIS LOCK WITH YOUR FINGERS OR HAND WHILE OPENING THE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DESPITE NOW KNOWING WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMPLETE NUISANCE AND DANGEROUS IF CHILDREN WOULD HAPPEN TO BE LEFT IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DOORS LOCKED AND NO SECOND KEY ON HAND. (2). THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE AUTOMOBILE IS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "AUDI EFFECT" WHERE THE CAR ACCELERATES ON OCCASION WHEN BRAKING. THIS I ALSO ASCRIBE TO A DESIGN FLAW: THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE PLACED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND AT A RELATIVE CLOSE HEIGHT TO ONE ANOTHER. AFTER TAKING THE DEFENSIVE POSITION, IN A POTENTIAL BRAKING SITUATION, IF YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE QUICKLY AND HARD, THE CAR ACCELERATES. THIS TAKES YOU COMPLETELY BY SUPRISE AND IT TAKES TIME TO RESPOND. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE SAME WAY FOR 45 YEARS, WITH MANY VEHICLES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. LUCKILY THE CAR SAT MOST OF THE WINTER BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY AND NO ONE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ON SNOW COVERED OR ICY ROADS. I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE END OF APRIL IN A VISIT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT BY SERVICE MANAGER STEVE LOVALVO. I WANT TO BRING BOTH OF THESE DEFECTS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I HAVE LEASED A LEMON THAT HAS PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND PRESENTS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHER DRIVERS ALSO. *TR