SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report: December 16, 2003
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


       1-6368                                             38-1612444
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                   One American Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48126
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



         Registrant's telephone number, including area code 313-322-3000






<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events.
----------------------

     In  connection  with a debt  securities  offering  in Europe by Ford  Motor
Credit Company,  scheduled to settle December 17, 2003, the following disclosure
was included in the related offering document:

     As disclosed in Ford Credit's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended  September  30,  2003,  Ford  is  conducting   negotiations  with  Visteon
Corporation,  its largest supplier and former automotive components  subsidiary.
Conclusion of such  negotiations  could be imminent.  Any agreement with Visteon
likely would require Ford to incur a significant  non-cash  charge in the fourth
quarter of 2003.









                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated.

                                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
                                            -------------------------
                                            (Registrant)


Date:  December 16, 2003             By: /s/ S. P. Thomas
                                             -------------------
                                             S. P. Thomas
                                             Assistant Secretary









                                       -2-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO", "cik": "0000038009", "assigned-sic": "6159", "irs-number": "381612444", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-06368", "film-number": "031058128"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE AMERICAN ROAD", "city": "DEARBORN", "state": "MI", "zip": "48126", "phone": "3135949876"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE AMERICAN ROAD", "city": "DEARBORN", "state": "MI", "zip": "48126"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        Date of Report: December 16, 2003
                        (Date of earliest event reported)

                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

       1-6368                                             38-1612444
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                   One American Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48126
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code 313-322-3000
Item 5.  Other Events.
----------------------

     In  connection  with a debt  securities  offering  in Europe by Ford  Motor
Credit Company,  scheduled to settle December 17, 2003, the following disclosure
was included in the related offering document:

     As disclosed in Ford Credit's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended  September  30,  2003,  Ford  is  conducting   negotiations  with  Visteon
Corporation,  its largest supplier and former automotive components  subsidiary.
Conclusion of such  negotiations  could be imminent.  Any agreement with Visteon
likely would require Ford to incur a significant  non-cash  charge in the fourth
quarter of 2003.

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated.

                                            FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
                                            -------------------------
                                            (Registrant)

Date:  December 16, 2003             By: /s/ S. P. Thomas
                                             -------------------
                                             S. P. Thomas
                                             Assistant Secretary

                                       -2-