NHTSA Complaint #10310358 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH A THEORETICALLY WORKING PARKING BRAKE, I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ONLY ONCE AS I WAS BUSY AND COULDN'T DO IT MYSELF. NOW THAT I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS AND TIME I WENT TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW, SO I CONTINUED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THE REAR DRUM BRAKES. WHEN I TOOK THE DRUMS OFF THEY WERE TIGHT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED SO I DOUBLE CHECKED AND MADE SURE ALL THE BRAKES WERE DIS-ENGAGED. I CONTINUED TO WORK ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP ASSURES ME THEY REPLACED THESE BRAKES BEFORE, HOWEVER THE SHOES WERE WORN AND CRACKED DOWN TO BARE METAL AS IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY PARK BRAKE APPEARED TO BE ENGAGED. I DOUBLE CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WASN'T, I HAD SOMEONE WATCH THE BRAKE AS I ENGAGED AND DIS-ENGAGED THE BREAK AND IT WORKS FINE, COME TO FIND OUT THE SPRING/WIRE FOR THE PARKING BREAK IS TO SHORT FOR THE CAR'S HUB, ABOUT TWO INCHES INFACT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN I TALKED TO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE WHOLE BREAK ASSEMBLY. SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW WITH THE PARKING BREAK ENGAGED AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY BUILT IT THAT WAY AND I HAVE TO PAY THEM TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS ENGINEERED THAT WAY. IF I BROKE IT OR IT'S WEAR AND TEAR I UNDERSTAND, BUT I BOUGHT A CAR TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL OFF THE LOT NOT SO I CAN BRING IT IN AND PAY FOR THEM TO FINISH BUILDING IT PROPERLY AFTER I OWN IT. I CANT AFFORD THEIR OUTRAGEOUS PRICES FOR THIS WORK SO I DIS-ENGAGED THE CABLE AND AM NOW DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY BRAKE, THANKS FOR THE SAFETY FEATURES FORD. *TR