NHTSA Complaint #10898116 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

WE HAD PURCHASE A 2004 FORD FOCUS AND WE HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS NOW. FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICE THAT THE CAR OVERHEATS WELL THE NEEDLE WILL SHOOT UP TO THE HOT AND YOU CAN HEAR THE FAN/ENGINE WHATEVER OTHER COMPONENTS RUNNING LOUD AS IF ITS REVVING THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN SCARED A FEW TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD ALSO STALL LIKE ITS ABOUT TO GO OFF AND A COUPLE TIME IT HAS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. WONDERING IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE? THE OVERHEATING HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IT HAPPEN DURING A SHORT DRIVE OR LONG DRIVE LIKE 12 TO 16 MILES. IT ALSO SEEMS TO DO IT A LOT WHEN I'M AT HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WHEN YOU SIT THERE FOR 3 LIGHTS TURNS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CARS I NOTICE IT OVERHEATS THEN. ALSO, ALWAYS OVERHEATS WHEN I GO TO COSTCO TO BUY GAS. DUE TO THE LONG WAIT FOR MY TURN TO PUMP GAS IT OVERHEATS THEN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER OF THE WEATHER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN COOL IN THE MORNINGS AND IT HAS DONE THAT AND ALSO DONE SO DURING HIGH NOON. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE IT DURING NIGHT TIME. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE? WE BOUGHT THIS FROM A PRIVATE PARTY SO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL WE WOULD BE CONTACTED. RECENTLY I CAN START THE CAR UP GO ONE BLOCK FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR WILL OVERHEAT. VERY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS.