NHTSA Complaint #10250695 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 FORD FOCUS WITH 40K MILES ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH. I HEARD/FELT A VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THE MUFFLER WAS COMING LOOSE. THEN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE SO I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED. THE COST TO REPAIR IT WAS $500. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2007 FORDS FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM 07V270000 WITH WHEELS COMING OFF BUT THAT WAS FOR FRONT WHEELS OF REAR WHEEL DRIVE CARS. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR THE 35K MAINTENANCE IN SEPTEMBER AND HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, OR HAD ANY SERVICE DONE TO THE CAR SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAID IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH JUST 40K MILES TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF FAILURE AND SAW NOTHING, PARTS MELTED, ETC TO INDICATE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BEARING FAILURE. THE FLAT BED DRIVER STOPPED AND PICKED UP THE WHEEL AND IT WAS REATTACHED TO THE SPINDLE. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IT THOUGH I CAN NO LONGER TRUST IT. I WAS PLANNING TO DRIVE TO FLORIDA WITH MY DAUGHTER TO TAKE HER TO COLLEGE IN 4 WEEKS SO IT WAS A MERCY IT FAILED NOW RATHER THAN COMING DOWN A STEEP HIGHWAY IN KENTUCKY DOING 75. I WILL HAVE TO GIVE HER MY OTHER CAR TO KEEP AS I CANNOT TRUST THE FOCUS. *TRW