NHTSA Complaint #747737 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2001, THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON BEGAN TO COME LOOSE. SPECIFICALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN TURNED SLIGHTLY, AND WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE WHEN TURNED SHARPLY. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WOBBLING AT THE BASE -- I.E., THE POINT WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN ENTERED THE DASHBOARD. I DROVE TO TED BRITT FORD (WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR) AND LEFT THE CAR FOR SERVICING. ON TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2001, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT TED BRITT (JIM KIEFER OF THE BROWN TEAM) CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY BY THE MANUFACTURER. I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO EXPLAIN THAT THE BOLTS TO THE STEERING COLUMN HAD NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED, AND HAD SIMPLY COME LOOSE OVER TIME. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. I NOTE THAT THE CAR HAS BETWEEN 19,000 AND 20,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM TO MANIFEST ITSELF. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT 2000 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGONS HAVE NOT YET PUT 19,000 + MILES ON THEM, SO THIS PROBLEM (IF GENERAL TO ALL OR MANY FOCUSES) MAY STILL BE LATENT IN MANY CASES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS INCIDENT.*AK