NHTSA Complaint #11110638 — 2014 FORD FOCUS

TODAY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN I WAS IN A PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR ON TO TURN ON THE AC. I THOUGHT I BUMPED THE WIPER STALK HANDLE WITH MY KNEE. BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF, IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I CHECKED MY MANUAL TO MAKE SURE I WAS DOING IT CORRECTLY. I WAS. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE THINKING IT WOULD STOP THE WIPERS, IT DIDN'T. SOMETHING WAS WRONG, SO I KNEW I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONLY 5-10 MILES AWAY AND THE WEATHER WAS NICE. HOWEVER, I FELT RIDICULOUS HAVING TO SQUIRT WATER INTERMITTENTLY ON MY WINDSHIELD WORRYING THAT THE WIPERS MIGHT DO DAMAGE TO MY WINDSHIELD IF I CAN'T TURN THEM OFF. I DID TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL NOON TOMORROW AND THEY CAN'T TURN OFF THE WIPERS EITHER, BUT TOLD ME IT WON'T DAMAGE MY WINDSHIELD. THE DIAGNOSTIC COST WILL BE $125.00 BEFORE ANY REPAIR IS DONE. I GOT A RIDE HOME FROM THEM. WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE IF THE WIPER PROBLEM I JUST ENCOUNTERED, ANY OTHER FORD FOCUS SE 2014 OWNERS HAD. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS OF FORD FOCUS, 140,000 2012 MODELS AND ALSO 2013 MODELS. NONE FOR 2014. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I JUST SAW THERE HAVE BEEN 89 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND IT INCLUDES FORD FOCUS 2012, 2013, AND 2014 MODELS, ETC. THIS SHOULD BE A FORD RECALL ITEM AS THE WIPER PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED ON SUBSEQUENT MODELS. I LOOKED UP THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR FOR PARTS, REPLACEMENT, & LABOR AND IT'S PRICEY. I LOVE MY 2014 FORD FOCUS SE AND NEVER EXPECTED TO ENCOUNTER A WIPERS SAFETY MALFUNCTION LIKE THIS. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE IN A SEVERE RAINSTORM WITH THUNDER, LIGHTENING, AND HAIL WHAT A DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SAFETY ISSUE THIS COULD PRESENT.