NHTSA Complaint #11265880 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AT FREEWAYS SPEEDS (APPROXIMATELY 65MPH), MY CAR'S ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON, AND BOTH THE ENGINE AND BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. WHILE STILL MOVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, I COULD NOT GET THE CAR ENGINE TO TURN BACK ON OR GET THE TRANSMISSION TO RE-ENGAGE OUT OF NEUTRAL, AND THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT JAMMED, AS IF THERE WAS A POWER FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM; I COULD NOT GET THE PEDAL TO MOVE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST WITHOUT POWER TO AN OFF-RAMP (I WAS STILL TRAVELING >45 MPH ON THE OFF-RAMP), AND THEN USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP ONCE ON A SURFACE STREET. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, I TURNED IT BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RETURN. I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME ON SURFACE STREETS. FOLLOWING UP ON THIS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON; AN AUTO SHOP REPLACED THE EVAP PURGE VALVE ASSEMBLY AND OXYGEN SENSOR (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE) AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR STOPPED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, MAKING THE FUEL/AIR RATIO IN THE ENGINE TOO LEAN. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE BRAKES ALSO STOPPED WORKING. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHEN THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. IF THERE WERE OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, THIS WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I COULD NOT SAFELY ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. THE ENGINE STALLING WAS NOT PRECEDED BY ANY SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION OR BRAKING.