NHTSA complaint: 2001 FORD FOCUS — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. SHE HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL# 03V482000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE AT A LOCAL GAS STATION SHE SAW A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE COMPONENT WAS INSTALLED. YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER-SIDE HEAD LIGHT FAILED. SHE PULLED OVER TO A LOCAL STORE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. MINUTES LATER SMOKE ENGULFED THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN FLAMES ERUPTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CUT THE BATTERY CABLES. A FIRE FIGHTER SPECULATED THAT THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #: 02V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). UPON CONTACT SHE WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING CORRESPONDENCE TO THE MANUFACTURER THAT EXEMPLIFIES THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS . THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation