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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Multiple inquiries unusual for NHTSA
April 2, 2002
BY ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA
DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Federal regulators have opened four separate defect investigations into the 2000 and 2001 Ford Focus that concern problems with engine compartment fires, faulty air bag deployment and rear-wheel bearing failures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation said it received several complaints involving engine compartment fires on the driver side in the area of the battery.
The agency said its preliminary look into the 2000 Focus fires began March 2 after NHTSA heard from both individual Focus owners and the insurance industry.
A separate investigation examines the potential loss of vehicle control, after a reported 21 incidents of rear-wheel bearing failures in the 2000 Focus.
In two other investigations, NHTSA is looking at 2000 and 2001 Focus compact cars for air bags that deploy at low-speed crashes and bags that cause fires after inflating. The air bag investigations cover 575,000 of the 2000-2001 model year vehicles.
It is unusual for NHTSA to open four preliminary investigations into a vehicle simultaneously.
"We are aware of the investigations and are cooperating fully with NHTSA," said Ford spokesman Todd Nissen. "But because these are ongoing investigations, it is premature to speculate on the outcome."
The Focus, one of Ford's best-selling vehicles, has been recalled several times for a variety of problems. Last November, for example, Ford recalled 279,646 of its 2000 and 2001 Focus compact cars because of a similar rear-wheel problem that threatened to cause wobbling. That problem was due to corrosion from road salt used to melt snow and ice.
After opening preliminary investigations, NHTSA will begin a data exchange with automakers over the reported problems. Then depending on the findings by the agency, the investigation could lead to an engineering analysis or even a product recall.
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Multiple inquiries unusual for NHTSA
April 2, 2002
BY ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA
DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Federal regulators have opened four separate defect investigations into the 2000 and 2001 Ford Focus that concern problems with engine compartment fires, faulty air bag deployment and rear-wheel bearing failures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation said it received several complaints involving engine compartment fires on the driver side in the area of the battery.
The agency said its preliminary look into the 2000 Focus fires began March 2 after NHTSA heard from both individual Focus owners and the insurance industry.
A separate investigation examines the potential loss of vehicle control, after a reported 21 incidents of rear-wheel bearing failures in the 2000 Focus.
In two other investigations, NHTSA is looking at 2000 and 2001 Focus compact cars for air bags that deploy at low-speed crashes and bags that cause fires after inflating. The air bag investigations cover 575,000 of the 2000-2001 model year vehicles.
It is unusual for NHTSA to open four preliminary investigations into a vehicle simultaneously.
"We are aware of the investigations and are cooperating fully with NHTSA," said Ford spokesman Todd Nissen. "But because these are ongoing investigations, it is premature to speculate on the outcome."
The Focus, one of Ford's best-selling vehicles, has been recalled several times for a variety of problems. Last November, for example, Ford recalled 279,646 of its 2000 and 2001 Focus compact cars because of a similar rear-wheel problem that threatened to cause wobbling. That problem was due to corrosion from road salt used to melt snow and ice.
After opening preliminary investigations, NHTSA will begin a data exchange with automakers over the reported problems. Then depending on the findings by the agency, the investigation could lead to an engineering analysis or even a product recall.
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