NHTSA Complaint #10958854 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: ENGINE STOPPED AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE ENGINE CEASED RUNNING. IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, THANKFULLY APPROACHING STOP SIGN. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ALSO RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED, WELL-MAINTAINED, AND HAS APPROX. 94,000 MILES. VERDICT FROM FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC: VACUUM PURGE VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE VACUUM FORCE THAT RESULTED DAMAGED/WARPED FUEL TANK, AND DAMAGED THE FUEL PUMP. THE PURGE VALVE, FUEL TANK, AND FUEL PUMP ALL MUST BE REPLACED. COST: THE COST OF REPAIRS IS OVER $2000, PLUS TOWING THE CAR, AND THE NEED FOR MY FAMILY TO GET A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. MISC: THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM AND THIS COULD PROVE EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU LOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE ENGINE DIES SUDDENLY.