NHTSA complaint: 2000 FORD FOCUS — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PLEASE LOOK INTO THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF THE 2000 FORD FOCUS. MY SON AND HIS FRIEND WERE KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON 12/8 IN DETROIT, MI. EARLY THAT MORNING, THEY STRUCK A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE CAR EXPLODED (BACK OF THE ENGINE FIRE). EARLIER, IN THE SUMMER OF 2004, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR HOME, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND GONE IN THE HOUSE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. I CAME OUT TO GO TO DINNER WITH MY WIFE...THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WHEN I GOT OUT, I FOUND GAS SPEWED ALL OVER THE STREET. I HOSED DOWN THE AREA, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BILL BROWN FORD-LIVONIA, MI. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, AND I WAS ASSURED THAT ALL WAS WELL. NOW, 5-6 MONTHS LATER, THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE ACCIDENT (HITTING THE HYDRANT) WASN'T MY SON'S DOING. HOWEVER, THE SPEED AT WHICH THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED (EST. AT 35 MPH) SHOULDN'T HAVE RESULTED IN A FUEL LINE BREAK AND FIRE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT REPORT NUMBER (DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT) IS [XXX]. THE VIN NUMBER OF THE CAR IS [XXX]. THE SERVICE RECORD AT BILL BROWN FORD WILL NOTE A LONG HISTORY OF FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE ISSUE NOTED ABOVE (GAS ON THE STREET). MORE THAN ANYTHING I WANT TO PREVENT ANOTHER TRAGEDY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation