NHTSA Complaint #10683649 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

2013 FORD FOCUS WAS GOING 35 MPH, SAW A LATE 1990'S FORD RANGER STOP SHORT IN FRONT OF A FIRE STATION AND TRIED TO BRAKE. COULDN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE FORD RANGER. THE DRIVER OF THE FOCUS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO SPEAK TO THE OTHER DRIVER AND THE ENGINE OF THE FOCUS CAUGHT FIRE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER. FIREMEN WERE ACROSS THE STREET AND CAME OVER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WITH ALL OF THIS, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CALLED FORD TO ALERT THEM OF THIS ISSUE. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND WITHIN 1 BUSINESS DAY I WAS CONTACTED BY CUSTOMER CARE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST AND WERE VAGUE ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WERE AND HOW LONG THE PROCESS WOULD TAKE. WHEN I TRIED TO INQUIRE FURTHER, THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT MY INTENTIONS WERE. I MENTIONED WERE ARE NOT TRYING TO SHAKEDOWN AND SUE FORD, WE SIMPLY WANT ANSWERS.THE INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM, TOTALED THE FOCUS AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH ME TO GIVE FORD THE VEHICLE, BUT FORD IS NOT COOPERATING. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE SINCE THE ORIGINAL FOLLOW-UP AND WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED IN ORDER FOR STATE FARM TO GIVE FORD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. FORD HAS STOPPED COOPERATED AND THEY HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS AND FORD IS DRAGGING THIS PROCESS OUT AS LONG AS THEY CAN. *TR