NHTSA Complaint #763886 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 65MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL 2 LANE ROAD, THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED HARD RIGHT. COUNTER STEERING HAD NO EFFECT ON RECOVERY. THE CAR WAS AT ABOUT 90 DEGREES WHEN IT IMPACTED THE CURB AND WAS LAUNCHED OVER A 10 FOOT CULVERT. THE FORD FOCUS THEN ROLLED 5 TIMES LANDING ON 3 WHEELS. THE 4TH WHEEL AND SUSPENSION (FRONT RIGHT) WAS FOUND APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE VEHICLE. EVIDENCE SHOWES THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOSE, INDICATED BY EXCESSIVE WEAR AND GROOVING TO THE SPINDLE WHERE THE LOWER BALL JOINT MOUNTED. OTHER EVIDENCE SHOWS THE RIGHT SIDE HALF-SHAFT HAS A CLEAN BREAK AT THE SPLINES (SPLINE WAS STILL INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE HALF SHAFT WAS OTHER WISE NOT DAMAGED AND LAYING IN THE FIELD). THE 2001 ZX3 S2 WAS TOTALED. I HAVE PICTURES WHERE NEEDED. *AK