NHTSA Complaint #763634 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 25+MPH... THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND I HIT THE CURB (RIGHT TIRE/WHEEL HIT THE CURB), BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF (WHY????) AND BURNED MY ARM (REALLY BAD) AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. I DID NOT REPORT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT GEICO (INSURANCE COMPANY) HAD LOST (OR NOT RECEIVED) MY ONLINE APPLICATION SO I HAD NO COVERAGE AND THEREFORE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS MYSELF. NEW WINDSHIELD, AIRBAG, WHEEL... COST $3000+ I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN I STOPPED ON RED LIGHT (I JUST THOGHT I WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS...), THEN; YESTERDAY 06/28/02 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON HWY 192 AT APPROX. 45MPH AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER (NO WARNING) , I GOT SCARED AND HIT THE BRAKES AND PULLED OVER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN THE INTERSECTION. IT'S BEEN RAINING HERE IN FL ALMOST EVERYDAY, I AM GLAD THE ROAD WAS NOT WET WHEN IT HAPPENED... IT COULD'VE BEEN MUCH WORSE. MY CAR IS A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH ONLY 7500 MILES, SO IT'S NOT AN OLD CAR. AFTER SOME QUICK RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE NOW... AND MANY OF MY FOCALJET.COM (ONLINE FORD FOCUS CLUB) FRIENDS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SO, I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE READING THIS; WHEN WILL YOU (AND/OR FORD) DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? I'VE JUST FOUND OUT THAT I AM PAYING ($3000+, AND I ONLY MAKE MIN. WAGE) FOR AND SMALL ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED... SORRY, I AM REALLY UPSET, I ALMOST CAUSED A HIGH-SPEED/MULTIPLE-CAR ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF HWY 192 AND I AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. PLEASE HELP ! ! !*AK