NHTSA Complaint #748800 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

THERE IS NO WAY TO SECURE THE HATCH WHEN TRANSPORTING LONG ITEMS & THUS EXHAUST FUMES ARE SUCKED BACK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT RECOMMEND DRILLING A HOLE FOR THE HOOK ON A BUNGEE CHORD TO HOLD THE HATCH DOWN & REDUCE FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE DRILLING OF A HOLE FOR A HOOK MAY INVALIDATE THE WARRANTY. THIS, I FEEL, IS A HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERN SINCE IT IS COMMON FOR ME TO SEE HATCH VEHICLE TRANSPORTING COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, LIKE 2 X 4'S FROM THE LOCAL HOME CENTER & OTHER ITEMS AS WELL. THE HATCH REMAINS COMPLETEWLY OPEN.