2004 Ford Focus Seats Problems

PASSENGER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF: TSB 04B16. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER SEAT AND HEATING MECHANISM. FORTUNATELY ONLY A PURSE WAS INJURED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THE SEAT DAMAGE. THE CAR ALSO SMELLS OF SMOKE. THE EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND AWFUL.

WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND IT IS MOVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS SUDDENLY DISENGAGING, MOVING BACK AND SO LEAVING MY DRIVING POSITION COMPROMISED, AS MY FOOT MOVES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND MY ARMS ARE SUDDENLY OUTSTRETCHED REACHING FOR THE DRIVERS WHEEL SO THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT THIS POINT. *TR

HEATED SEAT PAD IN BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND BOTTLED WATER POURED ON SMOLDERING SEAT. FUSE FOR HEATED SEATS HAD TO BE PULLED, FUSE DID NOT BLOW ON ITS OWN. FORD TRAVELLING ENGINEERS INSPECTED SEAT AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT AS CAR IS 16000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. ADVICE FROM FORD WAS TO CLAIM THROUGH OWNERS COMPREHENSIVE AND LET INSURANCE COMPANY RECOVER MONEY FROM FORD. AFTER SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR DRIVER'S SEAT AND INSPECT PASSENGER SEAT. PARTS ARE ON ORDER, OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED IN MY POSESSION. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED. AFTER IT WAS ON FOR 30-40 MINUTES A SMOLDERING SMELL WAS DETECTED. THE FOAM LIQUEFIED AND CAME THROUGH THE SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES AND THE SEAT WAS REPLACED. ON THE THIRD FAILURE MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *NM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT HEATER/COOLER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE JANUARY. SHE WAS TOLD TWICE THAT THE PARTS WERE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS DID NOT COME IN. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE AS A SOLE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT OF A 2005 FORD FOCUS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND REAR-ENDED BY A FOUR DOOR 1995 DODGE INTREPID AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATLEY 50 MILES PER HOUR. MY DRIVER'S SEAT COLLASPED IN THE COLLISION WHICH JERKED MY NECK AND BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT. AS A RESULT MY THORASIC SPINE, CERVICAL SIPNE WAS SO INJREUD AS TO CAUSE MY NECK AND BACK INCLUDING MY BOTH ARMS TO SUFFER A DEGREE OF PARALYSIS, AND INJURY TO THE UPPER SPINAL CORD. *AK

MY HUSBAND JUST PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS WAGON AND THE BACK SEAT HAS NO HEADRESTS. THIS MAKES IT USELESS BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF HEAD/NECK INJURIES SHOULD A CRASH OCCUR. SUCH A SIMPLE THING WOULD HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE!*AK