NHTSA Complaint #10280910 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE PARKING LAMP AND TAIL LAMPS WERE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE'S POWER LOCK SYSTEM ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. SHE DISCOVERED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECK LID HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V411000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM;WIRING IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,300. UPDATED 11/06/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT LIT AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP PROPERLY. HOWEVER, A SHORT WHILE LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THE CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AS WELL. ALSO, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED 4 WIRES HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SEVERED, AND ALL THE OTHERS HAD BARE PATCHES WHERE THE INSULATION HAD RUBBED OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM, BUT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 11/10/09.*JB