NHTSA Complaint #10403625 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT IT IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS COMFORT, IF NOT SAFETY. MY WIFE AND I BOTH BOUGHT NEW 2007 FORD FOCUSES. SOON AFTER MY CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY (AT ABOUT 37,000 MILES IN FALL 2009), THE AIR RECIRCULATION FUNCTION ON THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT GOES ON, BUT THE AIR CONTINUES TO BE DRAWN FROM OUTSIDE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR THAT OPENS AND CLOSES A VENT DOOR HAD DIED. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $600 FOR THE MOTOR, PLUS THE LABOR COST OF REMOVING THE DASH TO ACCESS THE MOTOR. BECAUSE OF THE HUGE EXPENSE, I DECIDED TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. NOW MY WIFE'S CAR HAS THE DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM (AT 21,000 MILES). HER AIR RECIRCULATION BUTTON ALSO HAS STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS' COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR 2007 FOCUSES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR IN 2007 FOCUSES. I AM ASKING YOU TO INITIATE A RECALL, SO THAT PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM CAN GET THEIR CARS FIXED AND HAVE THEIR A/C WORK PROPERLY. *TR