NHTSA Complaint #10824264 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

2001 FORD FOCUS WITH 146K MILES. ADULT DRIVEN ONE OWNER AND WELL CARED SINCE NEW. NOTICED CLUNKING SOUND SO TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES TO THE FORD DEALER. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THEY CAN'T FIX AS ENTIRE SUBFRAME IS ROTTED AND "I WAS ONE POTHOLE FROM THE ENGINE FALLING OUT". IT APPEARS THAT DEALERS USE THIS LINE AS I FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME WORDING. HOW CAN YOU RECALL THE ESCAPE AND WINDSTAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT THE FOCUS? BECAUSE FOCUS OWNERS DON'T HAVE THE SAME MONEY THAT THOSE OTHER HIGHER END CARS HAVE? I WAS DRIVING MY NEW BABY AROUND IN THIS CAR AND THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT THAT ONE MORE POTHOLE OR BOTH OUR LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN ENDED! ALL IT TAKES IS AN INTERNET SEARCH TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE SUBFRAME IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT JUST RUST AWAY IN 14 YEARS! CLEARLY THE DESIGN OR MATERIALS USED WERE AT FAULT FOR THIS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED!