NHTSA Complaint #10437286 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

ON MAY 9, 2011 MY CAR WENT FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO BILL WILCOX'S CHARLON FORD AGENCY OF RIDGECREST, CA. AFTER $1725 REPAIRS, I EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN MILEAGE, DROPPING FROM 30-31MPG TO 25-26 MPG, A 17 TO 18 % DROP. THAT BEGAN IMMEDIATELY, WITH THE INITIAL PURCHASE OF GAS - IN VISALIA; AND, IT WAS LATER CONFIRMED WAS CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER USE OF A TORCH ON A SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO ROB HOLBROOK'S AUTO CREW IN CLEARFIELD, UTAH, CHECKED FOR UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE AND EVIDENCE THAT CHARLON FORD'S REPAIRS CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. HE IS A LICENSED SAFETY INSPECTOR FOR THE STATE OF UTAH. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO THAT MAIN CROSS MEMBER, WHERE THE ATTACHMENT FOR THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT IS AFFIXED TO THAT PORTION OF THE SUB FRAME, WAS CONFIRMED. THE SUB FRAME WAS QUITE DISTORTED, BOWED IN AND OUT, AND EXHIBITED EVIDENCE THAT THE MOUNT HAD BEEN REMOVED BY USE OF A TORCH SO THE REAR DOG BONE MOTOR MOUNT COULD BE REPLACED. DEFORMATION OF THAT CROSS MEMBER AND RESULTANT CHANGES TO THE SUSPENSION WERE THE REASONS FOR LOW MPG AND TIRE WEAR BECAUSE OF IMPROPER CAMBER. BILL WILCOX, STATED TO CALIFORNIA BAR THAT TOE-IN WAS ONLY ADJUSTED WHILE THE CAMBER WAS OVERLOOKED OR COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. BUT, THE USE OF A TORCH TO THIS UNIT IS NOT CALLED FOR - UNLESS IT IS TO REPLACE THAT UNIT. LEAVING THE SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IN THAT CONDITION, LEADS TO A STRESS POINT THAT COULD LEAD TO CRACKING AND TEARING, AND COULD PREMATURELY CAUSE RUSTING WHICH WEAKEN THOSE ATTACHMENTS TO THE SUSPENSION. IF REPAIRS ARE MADE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT IT AND SURROUNDING STRUCTURES BE RETURNED TO PROPER DIMENSIONS. BUT PROBLEMS ARISE WHEN IMPROPER HEAT AFFECTS STRENGTH AND CREATES PERMANENT SOFTNESS AND INCREASING BRITTLENESS. THE CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A NEW ALIGNMENT PERFORMED - AT A COST OF $851.74. *TR