NHTSA Complaint #10820582 — 2006 FORD FUSION

WHILE REVERSING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK THE OTHER DAY, THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT EASILY, BUT I WAS TOO NERVOUS TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY AFTER THE INCIDENT, AS THERE WAS NO INDICATION THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. I DROVE DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD WITH MY FLASHERS ON UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD CALL MY HUSBAND. WHILE I WAITED FOR HIM TO COME GET ME, I KEPT THE CAR IN IDLE AND RAN THE HEATER. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN, AND THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT ACCOMPANIED THE FAILURE. (SEE ATTACHED.) THE DASH SAID "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" AND THE OIL, EMISSIONS, AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. WE CALLED AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP BUT MAN THERE HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND TOLD US TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR HAS OVER 100,000 MILES, BUT I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WELL. I HAVE ALSO HAD THEM TELL ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE AIR-CONDITIONER IN THESE CARS TO JUST TURN ON RANDOMLY TO COOL THE ENGINE, WHICH MINE DOES FREQUENTLY. MOREOVER, THE BATTERY IN THE CAR NOW IS THE THIRD ONE I'VE HAD. BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKES TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN I START THE CAR AND PARTICULARLY WHEN I REVERSE. THIS NEW PROBLEM OF STOPPING UNEXPECTEDLY IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HATE TO GIVE UP MY FUSION BECAUSE WHEN IT'S RUNNING CORRECTLY, IT'S A GREAT CAR; HOWEVER, THIS LAST INSTANCE IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. IF I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO FRIENDS OF MINE WHO OWNED FORDS. I WILL BE CALLING FORD AND ASKING THEM ABOUT THROTTLE BODY AND PCM PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS HAVE NOTED IN THEIR COMPLAINTS.