I worked as a salesman for a few months at the beginning of 2007 for Phil Long Ford, Motor City, in Colorado Springs, CO. While working there I purchased a brand new 2007 Ford Focus ST. The car had less than 1000 miles on it and I was driving to the lot one night to update our inventory so that i would know how to direct customers to a particular product if need be. I was upset and crying while driving, my wife had just left me the day before; shortly after getting out of the Army and serving 2 tours in Iraq. I was within a mile of the dealership and felt a bump. I thought I had hit a pothole in the road. Within minutes thereafter my car stalled. I restarted the engine and began to proceed towards the dealership. It stalled a couple more times before reaching the service department area where I parked the car, left a note on the windshield that there was a problem and then called a cab to come and pick me up. Come to find out, I had ran over a small object such as an animal or roadcone and punctured the radiator. The car sat o the lot for a few weeks before my insurance adjuster came out and looked at it. He gave me a quote, I had the car towed to a mechanic who replaced the radiator with an aftermarket one. The car seemed to be fine except for the fact that the check engine light would come on and go off periodically. I took the car back to the dealership the week before last and they charged me for a diagnostic test because they said it was my fault. They said that there must be an exaust leak in the cylinder head getting into the coolant causing the problem and the car was miss firing on cylynders 2,3,&4. They said that the car needed a new head and gave me an estimate of $3,000. I carried the car back to the mechanic who replced the radiator, he did a compression test on the cylinder head and said there was no leak. He replaced the spark pluges and put a genuine ford part thermostat on the car. He test drove the car for over 100 miles and said it was running fine. I got the car back from him Saturday October 13th, drove it less than 40 miles and now the check engine light is back on. The mechanic at ford who was in charge of the diagnostic test reported to my insurance company that it was my fault so they said they wouldn't pay. If I go and have the check engine light turned off Phil Long's service department will charge me again. The problem is that I have a 2007 Ford Focus that has engine problems and I feel I have nowhere to turn. The car has less than 8,000 miles on it and I am very displeased with Ford. My wife and I have 4 vehicles, all fords and I am beginning to feel uncomfortable about owning a ford. I feel that they should fix my car, hassle free and it is that simple. I need the car for transportation to and from work, doctor's visits, and to take care of my family. I am a disabled Iraqi war veteran and feel cheated. I am to the point that I am considering taking this complaint to the highest level necessary in order to get the problem fixed. My check engine light may go off tomorrow and come back on again. I can't afford to keep renting cars while mine is in the shop being worked on as if it were some great mystery. I want my car fixed. Had I known that I had hit an object and continued to drive it I would consider that negligence on my behalf but that was not the case. I only drove it less than a mile after hitting what I thought was a pothole in the road. I demand that something be done to solve this problem whether it be give me another car or fix the one I have. I don't feel I should be spending anymore of my own money on diagnostic test or repairs. If ford is willing to solve this problem I will be satisfied, if not, I will tell my experience to everyone I know. Someone please assist me in getting my car problem resolved.

Sincerely,
Steven Lamonds
719-638-6844