NHTSA Complaint #756267 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED THIS FORD FOCUS IN MARCH 2001. IN MAY 2001 I WENT BACK TO PHIL LONG FORD BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY. PERIODICALLY I WOULD BE DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR WOULD ACT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT PHIL LONG THAT I SPOKE WITH AT THIS TIME WENT WITH ME FOR A TEST DRIVE IN THIS CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HE SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THEY COULD EXPERIENCE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR. I TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS SLIPPING, SKIPPING, AND TWICE WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE CAR LOST POWER. HE TOLD ME WHAT I HAD SAID DID NOT MAKE SENSE AND UNLESS THEY COULD EXPERIENCE THIS MALFUNCTION THEY COULD ONLY GUESS IT WAS ONE OF THE COMPUTERS IN THE CAR ADJUSTING FOR A ROAD CONDITION. THIS SERVICE REP DISMISSED ME AS BEING A STUPID WOMAN. TODAY, DECEMBER 31, 2001, I WENT TO MY CAR AT 7:00AM THIS MORING TO GO TO WORK AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. I MANAGED DRIVING AT 2MPH TO PHIL LONG FORD WHERE I SAT FOR 2 1/2 HOURS BEFORE THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS A BROKEN CABLE. I AM SO FURIOUS WITH PHIL LONG FORD I FILED A COMPLAINT VIA E-MAIL WITH FORD MOTOR CO. AS I THOUGHT MORE ABOUT THIS SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY I REALIZED HOW FORTUNATE I WAS THAT THE CABLE BROKE WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE I LIVE. SUPPOSE THIS HAD (AND IT PROBABLY HAS TO OTHERS) OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG. SUPPOSE THIS HAD HAPPENED ONE OF THE TWO TIMES THIS CAR LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG A VERY BUSY ROAD? I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY LOSING AT LEAST ONE VACATION DAY FOR WORK POSSIBLY TWO OR MORE DAYS BECAUSE PHIL LONG CAN NOT GIVE ME ANY GUARANTEE WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE FIXED BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE ON FORD AND PHIL LONG FORD PART.*AK