NHTSA Complaint #10648392 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

1.ENGINE FADES OR LOSES POWER RAPIDLY DURING EXECUTION OF FREEWAY- SPEED TURNS (OFF RAMPS FOR EXAMPLE) WITHOUT BRAKING; I HAVE GONE FROM 50 TO 20 MPH WITHIN 1-2 SECONDS WHILE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SEMI (VERY DANGEROUS). THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED AND TYPICAL PARTS REPLACED FOR SMOG CHECK A FEW MONTHS AGO AND PASSED SMOG CHECK WITHOUT COMMENTS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 100K AND HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO BORROW MY CAR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP (SERRAMONTE FORD) WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO I PAID 150 DOLLARS FOR A CAN OF FUEL ADDITIVE AND LOST USE OF THE CAR FOR 8 HOUR EVEN THOUGH I WAS ASKED TO DROP IT OFF START OF MORNING. 2. NOW IT STUTTERS OR HESITATES DURING HIGH ACCELERATION (IE PASSING LANE OR GOING UPHILL) ON HIGHWAY; THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER RELIABLE ESP. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO RAPIDLY INCREASE POWER. I HAVE READ OF POSSIBLE CONNECTION RELATED TO EITHER A FUEL PUMP OR DEBRIS FROM THE FUEL TANK INNER COATING/MATERIAL COMPOSITION DEGRADING OVER TIME. *TR