NHTSA Complaint #10556919 — 2005 FORD FOCUS

DRIVING ON ROUTE 209 APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR. I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DASH. IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEY, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION THE STARTER BEGAN TURNING OVER. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOOLS TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. THE STARTER TURNED OVER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, AND HORN ALL BEGAN ACTIVATING. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY MECHANIC FOR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES OF THE WIPERS HEAD LIGHTS AND HORN ALL ACTIVATING WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, SOMEONE STOPPED AND HAD SOME TOOLS UNHOOK THE BATTERY.MECHANIC SHOWED UP ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HIS SHOP, AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE DASH PANELS HE SAYS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH COST A SHORTWHICH MELTED ALL THE WIRES TOGETHERUNDER THE DASH AND GOING BACK TO THE TAIL LIGHTS.HE SAYS IT IS DUE TO THE SMALL WIRES THAT FORD USES AND THEY'RE HARNESSES AND THE WAY THEY TWIST THEM TOGETHER SO THEY WILL FIT INTO THE SMALL PLASTIC TUBE UNDER THE DASH. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A RECALL TO ATTACH THIS PROBLEM TOO. HOWEVER I REALLY THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DAMAGES. I'M CONSIDERING THIS CAR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR