My prior post, # 69, should have the above subject line.<br><br>Stay tuned!

If I were you I'd suggest they take a part from one of their Foci sitting on the lot...be firm and keep going up the chain of command until you get satisfaction and that you won't leave until they do...It's inexcusable what they have done to you.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A FIRST NORHT AMERICAN PRODUCTION ZX3 BACK IN NOVEMBER, THERE WERE SOME FLAWS IN THE VEHICLE, BUT I TRADED IT IN ON A SONY LIMITED EDITION AND I WENT AND BOUGHT ANOTHER ZX3 THEY BOTH ARE FLAWLESS AND I RECOMEND THEM TO ANYONE.

Thanks for your replies. I already kind of know what I need to do next, but just wanted to see what the rest of you thought. Fortunately, my state (Maryland) has an automobile "lemon" law; unfortunately, the dealer gets four strikes before they are presumptively in violation of the statute. But I sent Ford a formal demand letter, via certified mail return receipt, that they fix the problem within 30 days, per the law. So we'll see what happens next. Yeah, not being to open your driver's door may seem like a trifle nuisance, but what IF my car were on fire or some other emergency occurred and I couldn't open it? And no, my ZX3 would not even pass a state vehicle inspection with the defective door latch. Watch out, fellow Focus owners: the dealer thinks that Ford knows that this may be a Focus-wide problem, hence the delay in sending out the part which is being "manufactured."

My car has been in the shop off and on almost a month and I only had it a week and half..I got it back and 2 days later it's back in the shop but I love my car still..I miss it! lol...I have a manual transmission...go figure..but I should have it the next couple days..but Ford compensated me for it too they paid my first month's rent and uped my warranty to the premium at no charge so I can't complain except I haven't got to enjoy my new car yet.

focusfa00, can you tell us what your ZX3's problem is? I would add that while your dealer is being pretty accomodating, don't get lulled into waiving whatever rights you may have under state lemon laws. You should find out if your state has a lemon law. Ask around, check out your state's web site, or call whatever consumer offices you can find. Under the typical lemon law statutes, you have to send a demand letter to the car manufacturer, via certified mail return receipt. The address is in the Focus owner's manual. <br><br>In Maryland, for example, your car is presumptively a lemon if it spends 30 or more days in the shop to fix a warranty covered defect, or, you go back to the dealer four or more times to correct the same warranty defect. <br><br>In my case, the dealer has already had three strikes, so the last pitch is coming up; and, I've sent my demand letter to Ford. My ZX3 has spent a total of five days in the shop, and frankly, if they hadn't given me such grief about getting a loaner, maybe I, too, might have been lulled into letting bygones be bygones. But I hate being taken advantage of. Don't let them do that to you.

The Ford troubleshooter...they have to call Ford and do this over the phone...anyways, they have replaced two parts of the slave cylinder..and there are 2 on the focus..now they are putting in a transfer box or a gear housing or something like that in the transmission..they have one more strike...it is 3 strikes in NJ or 30 or more days in the shop...My salesman is already hunting for an even trade just in case...So I am not worried about it right now...We will see and I will keep you posted...I should get it back today..and I can tell if it's fixed or not as soon as I put into gear...Later

There isn't going to be anything such as an "even trade", I would be highly suspicious of any Focus on the used car market right now.<br><br>If someone is selling a car that is at most a year old there has to be a reason such as:<br><br>1. The car had a lot of problems<br>2. The car got into a significan accident<br>3. The car was driven as a loaner, rental or demonstartor (and most likely abused by at least a couple of the drivers)<br><br>If it gets to that point insist on a new Focus even if you have to toss them some money to make up for the mileage you have on yours.