NHTSA Complaint #10257248 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2008', I EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER ALONG WITH THE DASHLIGHTS GOING HAYWIRE. I THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT DO WHAT I DESCRIBED TO THEM. APPROX. 1 WEEK LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THEY CLEANED SOME GROUND WIRES BUT STATED THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD FIND, THE SAME THING HAPPENED A FEW DAYS LATER, I CALLED MY MECHANIC, AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT I SHOULD SEND IT TO THE FORD DEALER. I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I STATED THAT THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. AFTER APPROX. 1 WEEK, THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE ALTERNATOR DROPPED TO 11.5 VOLTS. I ADVISED THEM TO REPLACE WITH A NEW ALTERNATOR. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY WERE SURE THAT IS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. ON OR ABOUT 1/2/09, I EXPERIENCED THEY SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND ADVISE THEM I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS NOT THE $ 550.00 ALTERNATOR THAT I PAID FOR. I AGAIN REITERATED TO THEM THAT IT HAS TO BE DRIVEN, TO HAVE THE SYMPTOMS OCCUR. SINCE I HAD THE NEW ALTERNATOR INSTALLED I ONLY PUT ON 325 MILES. MY SERVICE MANAGER KORY FOSTER WITH GOSCH FORD IN HEMET, CA HAS ONLY CALLED ME TWICE SINCE 1/2/09. WHEN HE CALLS HE HAS ALWAYS STATED THAT HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING AND HE DOES NOT NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HE HAS NOT HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I HAVE TOLD HIM EVERYTIME I HAVE SEEN HIM AND WHEN HE CALLS TO DRIVE IT ! IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STALL OUT. THE LAST TIME HE CALLED ME WHICH WAS LAST WEEK SOMETIME, THAT I COULD COME GET MY CAR IF I NEEDED IT. I ADVISED HIM TO KEEP IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED. *TR