NHTSA Complaint #11297542 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE RELAY (R11) RESPONSIBLE FOR SWITCHING ON & OFF THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT ONE OF THE PINS IS STUCK IN THE FUSE BOX & IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF THE BOX. INITIALLY, THIS STARTED WITH INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE--SOMETIMES AT STARTUP & OTHER TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CORROSION WAS MISSED WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. NOW, THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL DUE TO THE COMPLETE CORROSION OF THE PIN. THIS HAS LEAD TO SEVERAL UNSAFE SITUATIONS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE & OTHER CARS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE ME WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS STOP WORKING. I'VE HAD TO DRIVE WITH HAZARDS INSTEAD OF HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT TO ENSURE OTHERS COULD SEE ME WHILE I MOVED MY CAR FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. I NEARLY HIT A DEER I WAS UNABLE TO SEE DUE TO MY HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS MAKE & MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE PRESENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES.