NHTSA Complaint #10285194 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING CAR, LOST POWER, EVENTUALLY LOST ALL POWER. NO INDICATION PRESENT (RED BATT INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON) FORD SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR FORD CARS OF ALL MAKES, TRUCKS SEEM TO WORK BETTER. CAUSE WAS ALTERNATOR PUTTING OUT 0 CHARGE TO BATTERY. ALSO, FORD SERVICE MANAGER REVEALED ALTERNATORS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST ONLY 3-5 YEARS, DUE TO HEAT BUILD UP AND NO COOLING PROVISION FOR ALTERNATOR. THIS IS AN UNSATISFACTORY SAFETY ISSUE ON BOTH COUNTS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE BATTERY WARNING WORK RELIABLY IN ALL CARS, AND PROVISION/DESIGN CHANGE TO ENABLE ALTERNATORS TO COOL THEMSELVES AND LAST TO NORMAL EOL (5 YRS/100K MILES). LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTEDLY RISKS PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SAFETY AS I HAD NO EXTERNAL INDICATORS, BLINKERS OR BRAKE LIGHTS AVAILABLE AT 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY. *TR