NHTSA Complaint #10335650 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 POWER CUT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE I SAT IN VEHICLE WITH AIR CONDITIONING RUNNING; SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION IMMEDIATELY AND PULLED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR IGNITION TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON ALL BY ITSELF. THE CAR BEGAN TO RUMBLE AND SMOKE SPEWED FROM UNDER THE HOOD EVERYWHERE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GRABBED MY TWO DOGS FROM THE BACK SEAT. I RAN INTO THE LAWN CARE BUSINESS AND ANNOUNCED "MY CAR IS ON FIRE -- CALL 911." TWO EMPLOYEES CAME OUT, ONE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER; THE OTHER ASKED ME FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHO JUMPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO TURN THE CAR IGNITION OFF--THE CAR IGNITION WENT OFF BUT TURNED ON AGAIN EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAD BEEN REMOVED. HE PULLED THE HOOD LATCH SO THE OTHER EMPLOYEE WITH THE EXTINGUISHER COULD USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN THAT PERSON OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES SHOT EVERYWHERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE EXPLODED WITHIN 2 MINUTES HAD THE EMPLOYEES NOT USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SPRAYED THE VEHICLE WITH ADDITIONAL FIRE RETARDANT AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS "TOTALED." *TR