# 2003 FORD FOCUS — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `501918` · 2004-10-17 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** FOCUS
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
- **Miles at failure:** 21,565
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
FORD FOCUS 2003  LOUD CRACKLING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING...  NEXT CAR DROPPED AND BARED TO THE RIGHT..OFF ROAD  TRIED TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, AS A RESULT THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS ON COMING TRAFFIC..VEHICLE AND CAR, IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC COLLIDED..  SENDING VEHICLE BACK TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A GUARD RAIL.....  COMPLAINT:  THE AXLE BROKE LANDING CAR ON FENDER, WHILE DRIVING, NEWLY PURCHASED CAR ON SEPTEMBER 24, ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 3, 2004..  ATTORNEY CONTACTED SAID THEY NEED PROOF OF THE AXLE BRAKING BEFORE ACCIDENT...  THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR CLEARLY INDICATES WHAT HAPPENED...THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE THAT CAME OFF STILL HAS THE AXLE ATTACHED TO IT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE IT WAS PICKED UP OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER ACCIDENT...I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE..WHICH REALLY WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN..
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*