NHTSA Complaint #10313371 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

1) TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITH TO "ON" ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTW 2) TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON CAUSED THE REAR HATCH TO OPEN UNCOMMANDED. 3) I REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE HATCH AND DISCONNECTED THE WIPER MOTOR AND LATCH UNLOCK SOLENOID CONNECTORS. THEN, TO FIND THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM, I INSPECTED THE WIRE BUNDLE IN THE AREA OF THE HATCH HINGE AND FOUND SEVERAL WIRES FRAYED AND BROKEN. SO TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS APPARENTLY SENT A SIGNAL (SHORT) TO THE LATCH SOLENOID. A FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. HIS HATCH WOULD POP OPEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO START THE CAR. TWO DEALERS TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT BE OF ANY HELP UNLESS I PAID AT LEAST $350 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. REMEBER THE CHYSLER MINI VAN HATCH RECALL? I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE TOYOTA SUA HEARINGS AND DECIDED TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS AND SEE IF YOU WOULD REVIEW AND CONTACT ME AS MR. LAHOOD SAID YOU WOULD. I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY AND UNDERSTAFFED. I DO NOT BLAME YOU AS SOME ARE INTENT UPON. I SPENT MY LIFE AS AN A&P MECHANIC AT AMERICAN AIRLINES AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY. THANKS FOR READING AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PS FORD HAS HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER MODEL YEARS OF THE FOCUS. *TR