I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK CAR FROM SERAMONTE FORD ON 7-4-2003. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE UNTIL FRIDAY, 2-6-2004. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN ON THE WAY COMING HOME FROM STONESTOWN SHOPPING CENTER. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN. N…
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I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK CAR FROM SERAMONTE FORD ON 7-4-2003. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE UNTIL FRIDAY, 2-6-2004. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN ON THE WAY COMING HOME FROM STONESTOWN SHOPPING CENTER. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN. NEARLY GOT HIT FROM THE BACK ONCE. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. MY WIFE WAS REALLY SHAKEN UP. . I WAS AFRAID TO USE THE CAR UNTIL TUESDAY, 2-10-2004. I STARTED DRIVING TO THE DEALER THAT MORNING AT 8:30 AM AND WHEN I ALMOST GOT INTO THEIR PARKING LOT THE CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THEIR LOT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WALKED OVER TO THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MAN NAMED CARL TO GO OVER TO THE INFINITY LOT TO SEE IF HE COULD CHECK ON THE CAR. IT WAS ABOUT 9:15 AM AT THAT TIME. CARL TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY REGULAR SERVICE MAN -KEVIN- WHO WILL BE IN AT 10 AM THAT MORNING. I WAITED 45 MINUTES AT THEIR LOT FOR KEVIN. KEVIN WALKED WITH ME OVER TO THE INFINITY DEALER'S LOT AND TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. MY CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE FORD DEALER'S SHOP AT ABOUT 11:30 AM. I WAITED THERE UNTIL 1:30 PM AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE LEFT AT THEIR SHOP OVER NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS AT THEIR SHOP SINCE 2-10-2004. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER RAY WERTZ THE NEXT DAY TO ASK IF HE HAS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE CHECKING ON IT STILL AND AN IMPORTANT PART HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY AND WILL KEEP ME INFORMED. THAT WAS WEDNESDAY, 2-11-2004. RAY WERTZ CALLED 2-16-2004, AND SAID THAT IMPORTANT PART TO BE HERE ON THURSDAY, 2-18-2004. MY WIFE AND I FEEL UNEASY ABOUT THIS CAR. SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE WOULD BE SCARE TO RIDE IN IT. SHE FEELS WE SHOULD GET A NEW CAR FROM SERRAMONTE FORD. PLEASE HELP THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058430
9,000 miles · Nov 6, 2003
Power Train
CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING, CAUSING THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK. THE CLUTCH CAME APART AND HIT THE BELL HOUSING. THEN, BELL HOUSING SEPARATED AND BROKE INTO THE RADIATOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10046512
7,894 miles · Nov 6, 2003
Power Train
2003 SVT FORD FOCUS: FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE. MULTIPLE CASES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO DEALERS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 15 BUSINESS DAYS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF BELLHOUSING CRACKING HOWEVER I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS A CASE WITH MY CAR, NO INFORMATION ABOUT THAT FROM DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10045601
1,024 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Power Train
REPLACED THE AXLE AND TRANSMISSION AND WAS PICKED UP ON 8/26/03. IT HAD EXACTLY 725 MILES. ON 9/5/03 IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE TRANSMISSION GETTING STUCK IN A FORWARD GEAR. IT HAD EXACTLY 1024 MILES. REMAINS IN THE SHOP TO THIS DAY. 9/12/03. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10038793
725 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Power Train
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS LX ON 7/23/03. IT BROKE DOWN ON 8/18/03 IN SPRINGGOLD, GA. WITH A BROKEN AXLE AND A BROKEN TRANSMISSION. SALE FORD REPLACED THE AXLE AND TRANSMISSION AND WAS PICKED UP ON 8/26/03. IT HAD EXACTLY 725 MILES. ON 9/5/03 IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE TRANSMISSION GETTING STUCK IN A FORWARD GEAR. IT HAD EXACT…
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I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS LX ON 7/23/03. IT BROKE DOWN ON 8/18/03 IN SPRINGGOLD, GA. WITH A BROKEN AXLE AND A BROKEN TRANSMISSION. SALE FORD REPLACED THE AXLE AND TRANSMISSION AND WAS PICKED UP ON 8/26/03. IT HAD EXACTLY 725 MILES. ON 9/5/03 IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE TRANSMISSION GETTING STUCK IN A FORWARD GEAR. IT HAD EXACTLY 1024 MILES. REMAINS IN THE SHOP TO THIS DAY. 9/12/03. *PH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. AFTER DOING THIS FOR THE FOURTH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE. *NLM *CB *NL…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. AFTER DOING THIS FOR THE FOURTH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE. *NLM *CB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10020310
600 miles · Apr 30, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN ONE OR TWO GEARS, CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OFF, TRANSMISSION TROUBLE LIGHT IN DASH COMES ON, THEN GOES AWAY, DEALER CHECKED ON 04/28/03 AND FOUND NO CAUSE CODE, DEALER PERFORMED FLUID PUMP CHECK AND TESTED OK, TRANSMISSION DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON 04/29/03. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016807
60 miles · Apr 25, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION MADE A "SHUTTERING AND FLIPPING" SOUND WHILE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
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