NHTSA Complaint #10446122 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, A GROWLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THEN BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE DRUM. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE DRUM CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE GREASE IGNITING. THE CONTACT USED WATER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.