2000 Ford Focus complaints

I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS FROM CARMAX IN MIAMI FL DURING THE LAST WEEFK OF JANUARY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE I EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND. I LOST 12 HOURS OF WORK, BEEN LATE AND BEEN LEFT STRANDED BY THE FORD TWICE. I HAVE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN LOANERS AND AM CURRENTLY STILL IN ONE (4MONTHS LATER). I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I DO NOT HAVE AND AS A RESULT I DO NOT WANT IT ANYMORE. I WANT SOMETHING ELSE.I NO LONGER WISH TO DO BUSINESS WITH CARMAX AND WANT THEM TO PURCHASE THE CAR BACK FROM ME. HOWEVER I AM NOT UPSIDE DOWN AND DO NOT FEEL THAT IS FAIR SINCE I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR ABOUT 14 DAYS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I NEED HELP!*AK

FORD FOCUS 2000 IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT START CAR....BIG PROBLEM. *AK

I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION SWITCH DRILLED OUT OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS LAST YEAR SINCE THE KEY WOULD NOT EVEN ENTER. LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER I HAD TO GET THE SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN SINCE I COULD NOT TURN IT.*AK

OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS.THE MOST RECENT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. IT STARTED WITH STALLING OUT OCCASIONALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN AND USUALLY WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE GAS IN THE TANK. ABOUT A MONTH AGO OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER WE FILLED THE TANK WITH GAS. SINCE THEN WEMORE FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED HESITATION PROBLEMS AND STALLING. TWO WEEKS AGO OUR CAR STARTED HESITATING BADLY WHILE IDLING, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE AND THEN IT WOULD STALL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE TANK.IT ALSO HAS POWER SURGES MAINLY AT LOW SPEEDS. WE CALLED THOMASON FORD AND LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AND THAT WE RECIEVED A LETTER FROM FORD REGARDING THE FUEL PUMPBEING DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE FUEL FILTERS TO BECOME CLOGGED. WE TOOK OUR CAR IN TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE CAR IS WORSE THEN WHEN WE TOOK IT IN.*AK

SECOND IGNITION KEY CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT ON AUTO W/LESS THAN 28,000 MILES. BOTH WERE EXPENSIVE OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIRS AND OCCURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. APPEARS YOU HAVE ABOUT 150 COMPLAINTS RE: THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? *AK

WHEN THE HEAT IS ON (MAINLY) I GET A BURNING SMELL INSIDE MY CAR AND LOOKS LIKE SMOKE IS INSIDE ALSO. WAS CHARGED FOR THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC AT ONE PLACE WHO SAID IT MIGHT BE UNDER WARRANTY, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS CHARGED $120 FOR THEM TO SAY MY EMISSIONS CAN OR SOMETHING WAS CLOGGED. STILL WASNT THE PROBLEM AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BURNING IS COMING FROM.*AK

MY KEY GOT STUCK IN MY IGNITION, BUT I FINALLY GOT IT OUT BUT THEN COULD NOT INSERT KEY. HAD TO GET IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD BY TOW DRIVER THAT WAS HIS 4TH PICKUP THAT WEEK OF THE SAME TYPE CAR AND SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO GET IT FIXED MYSELF.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIFT OFF THE ROAD. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE FAILED.*AK

ON THE FORD FOCUS THE DOOR LOCK EITHER DON'T LOCK OR YOU CAN'T GET THEM TO UNLOCK. THE LOCK ON MY CAR WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL ON THE BACK PASSANGER SIDE.

WHILE DRIVING EMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED LIT THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THAT VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS THAT IS EXPERIENCE 2 ISSUES THAT RELATE TO SAFTEY RECALLS. FORD IS SAYING THEY WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO THE CAR HAVING A BRANDED TITLE, THEY WILL ONLY ADDRESS EMISSIONS RELATED ISSUES.*AK SINCE THESE ARE SAFETY RELATED (FUEL PUMP AND REAR BEARING), IS THERE ANYWAY TO HAVE FORD CORRECT THESE ISSUES? I CAN NOT EVEN BUY THE PARTS MYSELF FROM ANY PARTS STORE ONLY FROM FORD.

WASHED CAR AT LOCAL CAR WASH, AND CAR RAN FINE. GOT HOME TO DO FINISHING TOUCHES AND KEPT CAR RUNNING. LOW ON FUEL, A LITTLE UNDER THE 1/4 LINE, BUT RAN FINE. WENT BACK OUT ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING, AND CAR WOULD NOT START. ALL THE LIGHTS AND DINGING WOULD COME ON, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. FOR 2 DAYS MY CAR SAT IN THE PARKING LOT NOT STARTING. I WOULD GO OUT IN THE MORNING TO TRY AND START IT, AND IT WOULD ALMOST START, BUT WOULDN'T. I HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN IT GOT THERE, THEY CALLED ME AND ASKED WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. THEY GOT THE CAR OFF THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THEY ARE KEEPING MY CAR OVER NIGHT TO TRY AND START IT IN THE MORNING. I FEEL REALLY DUMB NOW AND BAD FOR WASTING THEIR TIME. WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM BE?

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS. ANOTHER PERSON FLAGGED THE CONSUMER TO STOP HER DUE TO FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP FOUR TIMES.*AK

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WAGON THAT I PURCHASED IN NOV OF 2003 BURNED IN MY WORK PARKING LOT WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO WARNING, NO SUSPICIOUS NOISES OR PROBLEMS. I DROVE TO WORK, PARKED IN THE LOT, WALKED IN, AND AS SOON AS I LOGGED ON TO MY COMPUTER SECURITY WAS CALLING TO INFORM ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR BURNED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA COMPLETELY WITHIN 15 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SECURITY SAID FROM THEIR VIDEO THAT IT ALSO SHOWED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE FLAMES SHOT UP OVER 10 FEET WITHIN MINUTES OF THE FIRE BEING NOTICED. WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED I REFUSED TO BUY IT WITHOUT A WARRANTY SO THE DEALERSHIP GAVE US A 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY (AND WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED) BUT NOW THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ANYTHING BUT THE EASYCARE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. WE FIND THIS STRANGE SINCE WE HAVE HAD 2 "WARRANTY" REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE SINCE THE PURCHASE AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTION BEFORE. THE INSURANCE COMPNAY HAS ASKED THAT WE GO TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS EVENING ONE MORE TIME TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT BEFORE THEY PAY IT AND WE LOOSE MONEY AS WELL AS HAVING OUR PREMIUMS GO UP. ONE OF MY OTHER BIG CONCERNS IS THAT OUR OTHER VEHICLE IS ALSO A FORD AND IT HAS DEPRECIATED BY SOME 10,000 DOLLARS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT IN JUNE OF 03 NEW SO WE CANNOT TRADE IT IN ANYWHERE OR SELL IT WITHOUT BEING SO UPSIDE DOWN AS TO HURT OURSELVES. I PERSON

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE DID NOT START. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FORD FOCUS ZX3 2000 - LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHER FOCUS OWNERS, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY FOCUS TOWED BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT FIT ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION - COST TO ME IS $225 +$75 TOWING ON A FLAT BED. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS - THE CAR JUST WILL NOT START. FORD REFUSES TO COVER OR LOWER ANY COSTS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS FOCUS OWNERS. I HAD A VOLKSWAGEN GOLF FOR 11 YEARS BEFORE I SOLD IT TO BUY A FOCUS. I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP PSUEDO RECALL IS ANOTHER GREAT RIP OFF. I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE FAULTY FUEL PUMP IN THE 2000 FOCUS. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT HAVING THIS PROBLEM FIXED (MY CAR IS SPUTTERING) THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $75 TO CHECK IT OUT AND IF I CAN'T PROVE IT'S THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 16,500 MILES ON IT. TOO MANY RECALLS TO EVEN REMEMBER. GREAT PRODUCT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, FORD! *AK

2000 FORD FOCUS...PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2000.....PRESENTLY HAS 30,350 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THREE OF THE FOUR AUTOMATIC WINDOWS BREAK WITHIN THE PAST TEN MONTHS. THE FIRST ON BROKE IN JUNE, POSSIBLY JULY 2003 (BACK LEFT WINDOW), THE NEXT ONE TO BREAK WAS THE BACK RIGHT WINDOW, AND TODAY , APRIL 30, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS BROKEN. MOTOR STARTS TO GRIND AND THEN STOPS RESPONDING TO THE ON/OFF BUTTON AND WILL NOT MOVE THE WINDOW...WHICH THEN SLIPS ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. SINCE MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT HAVING THREE DIFFERENT WINDOWS MALFUNCTION ODD. I DO NOT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ROLL THE WINDOWS UP AND DOWN AN UNUSEUAL NUMBER OF TIMES...IN FACT, I SELDOM ROLL DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS AND ONLY USE THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WHEN GOING TO THE BANK, OR SUCH THINGS. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WITH ALL OF THE RECALLS AND OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THAT THIS IS NOT YET ANOTHER ONE. *LA

WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN MY IGNITION, IT WILL NOT TURN. I CANNOT UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL OR START MY CAR. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED, AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND SKID TO A STOP. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED FOR $300. I'VE SEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER WITH THE HOPE THAT FORD WILL RECALL AND REIMBURSE ME.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED. *AK

KEY CAN BE INSERTED INTO IGNITION, IGNITION CYLINDER FROZEN, UNABLE TO TURN KEY AT ALL. TOWED TO GARAGE. REPLACED WITH NEW CYLINDER. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS WAS THE 4TH FOCUS THAT HE HAS TOWED THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. TODAY WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME MY KEY WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION. I PLAYED WITH IT AND GOT IT TO GO IN BUT THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS IT IS A COMMON ONE AMONG FOCUS OWNERS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FOR THESE CARS CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THEY HAVE CAUSED.*AK

DURING A AUTO COLLISION THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A DIVIDER WITH MY FRONT END AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. *AK

CAR CUT OFF AT INTERSECTION IN PHILADELPHIA, IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND ACTED AS IF IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, IT WOULD GO ABOUT 4 BLOCKS AND SHUT OFF AGAIN. I DID THIS 5X BEFORE I ACTUALLY GOT HOME. ALSO, THE INTERIOR DASH AREA WAS VERY HOT. I ALMOST CALLED THE FIRE DEPT., BUT THERE WASN'T A FIRE. INVESTIGATION DATE CLOSED 1/16/04 PER NHTSA AND VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME 2/16/04. I WAS NOT TOLD OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASE. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. MY 2D PAYMENT IS DUE MAY 1ST TO AMERICREDIT.*AK

IGNITION CYLINDAR FROZE, RENDERING THE KEY UNABLE TO BE TURNED. TOWED TO HAVE FIXED AND CYLINDAR WAS REPLACED WITH NEW FORD PART. THIS IS THE 2ND CYLINDAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR...THE 1ST TIME THE KEY WAS STUCK AND WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE CYLINDAR. TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED, IT HAPPENED A AGAIN WHERE THE CYLINDAR FROZE. THE TUMBLERS ARE OF AN INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND IT IS UNLIKELY THERE IS A PERMANENT REMEDY WITHOUT A DESIGN IMPROVEMENT.*AK

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD PROGRAM 03N01 POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING IN MY 2000 FOCUS. IT SAYS THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHILE GOING AROUND CORNERS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP FILTER. MY CAR DID STALL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TAKING A RIGHT ON A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE DOWN TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY CAR HAD A "BRANDED" OR REPAIRED TITLE, I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I THEN CONNECTED FORD DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE. I RECEIVE A CALL A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEY STILL STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR ME. I MADE A POINT TO TELL THEM THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OCCURRED IN THE FRONT, FAR AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUMP FILTER IN THE GAS TANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID ONLY RECALLS WITH A S IN THEM, FOR SAFETY, CAN BE DONE ON REPAIRED VEHICLES. I AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT A CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF A DEFECT PART IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM DISPUTING THE FACT THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN N RECALL INSTEAD OF AN S. I HAD A RECALL REPAIR PREFORMED ON THE CAR A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. I THINK IT MY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH REROUTING THE BATTERY CABLE. HOW CAN THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE BE A GREATER RISK THAN A CAR THAT ACTUALLY STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHO DESIGNATES THE TYPE OF RECALL THAT A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS CATEGORIZED AS AND WHY THEY MADE THIS ONE A N AND NOT AN S RECALL. JUST BECAUSE A CAR HAS A REPAIRED TITLE AND HAD BEEN INSPECTED AS SAFE FOR TH

DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES IN INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE ROAD AND IS NOW BEING SERVICED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS SAFE FOR ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM?*AK PLEASE LET ME KNOW? BEST WISHES JUDAH.

THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH . VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER, WHICH WAS THE SECOND REPAIR FOR THE SAME PART.*AK

2000 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND HAS HAD TO BE REPARIED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. EACH TIME I AM STRANDED AND NEED TO BE TOWED. ONCE I PAID $700.00 AND THIS CURRENT FIXING WILL BE $450.00 AT THE DEALER. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED AND HESITATED. WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 40-45 MPH THE VEHICLE SURGED AND STALLED AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED. *NM *MR *SC THE WORKED HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A 75. CHARGE TO PERFORM A TEST ON THE FULE PUMP. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER ,SO HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING TO A STOP. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED AFTER BEING REPAIRED. PH THE VEHICLE WAS SIDE SWIPED IN CHICAGO WHERE THE SALES DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO FLORIDA WHERE IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BARELY DRIVEN, AND HAD ONLY 10 MILES ON IT WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION. THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *SC THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. *PH ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MAY BE NEEDED IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. RECALL# 03V482000 *SC *JB

FORD FOCUS IGNITION MINE HAS LOCKED UP TWICE THE FIRST TIME IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN THE SECOND TIME I PUT THE KEY IN AND IT WOULDNT TURN .I AM NOW WATCHING A LOCKSMITH FIX IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS SHOULD'NT THERE BE A RECALL TO FIX IT?? *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER. ALSO, AT 54,000 MILES BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY STAYED ON, EVEN IF THE BRAKE PEDAL HASN'T BEEN DEPRESSED. RECALL 03V482000 WAS ISSUED FOR FUEL SYSTEM, AND RECALL 00V411000 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS . HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THROUGH THE DEALER REPS, BUT NO RECALL? THERE IS OVER 200 REPORTS ALONE ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE INCIDENT.*AK

THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, PROHIBIITING THE REMOVAL OF THE KEY AND PROPER SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS NO IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK THE CAR WITHOUT THE KEYLESS REMOTE, AND THERE IS NO AN EXTREMELY HIGH CHANCE OF THE CAR BEING STOLEN.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *AK

PROBLEM IS THAT I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN, WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT. UPON FUTHUR INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE DOOR LATCH ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO BE AT FAULT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERINS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICALS WITH NO RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY VERY UNSAFE AS TO MY SELF AND MY FAMILY, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERVIERLY INJURED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CAR IN MY LIFETIME AND NEVER HAD A DOOR LATCH FAIL. NOR DID THE CHILD RESTRANT LOCKING SYSTEM ON THE LATCH WORK AND IT WAS ENGAGED.

2000 FORD FOCUS: 1/04 AND 3/04 THE IGNITION LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN; IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED IN 1/04 AND SECOND OCCURENCE BLAMED ON "WORN" KEY. HAD TO PAY FOR NEW KEY. ON 1/04 SERVICE MANAGER HIT THE KEY WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND RELEASED THE CYLINDER. WILL SEE IF KEY IS THE PROBLEM ON SECOND INCIDENT.

FIRST IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO IGNITION, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF FINAGLING, IT FORCEFULLY LET ME PUT IT IN (WE WERE ON VACATION AND NOT NEAR HOME) NOW THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. I DON'T WANT TO FORCE IT BECAUSE THEN I PROBABLY CAN'T GET IT BACK IN, AT LEAST THIS WAY I CAN DRIVE. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TUMBLERS ARE LOCKED ON AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $89.00 AN HOUR FOR LABOR, $100+ FOR PARTS AT 2-3 HOURS OF LABOR, SO THAT IS A GRAND TOTAL OF $350 TO $420 FOR A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. MY FOCUS IS 4 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING SO ABSURD AS THIS. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE LOCKSMITH CAN DO IT FOR 98.00 FOR PARTS AND 20.00 FOR LABOR, WHICH HE SAID TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES. GO FIGURE, LOOKS LIKE FORD HAS A REAL RACKET ON REPAIRS, I THINK THEY ARE CROOKS. I JUST HAD IT IN FOR FUEL PUMP RELATED INSSUES AND THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT HAS BEEN OVER 3 MONTHS WAITING ON PARTS TO FIX THIS RECALL - AGAIN, A BUNCH OF CROOKS, WHEN IT'S COMING OUT OF THEIR POCKET!*AK

IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TAKE MY KEY THEN AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING TO GET THE KEY TO FIT THE KEY DID FINALLY GO IN THEN IT WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR AND STILL HAD NOT SO I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TRANSFERED TO THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR. THE DEALER TELLS ME THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THIS HAPPENING AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. AFTER ALL THE FORD FOCUS HAS HAD SO MANY THIS ONE SHOULD ADDED A LONG WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS.*AK

THE IGNITION OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS FROZEN REPEATEDLY ONLY TO START WORKING AGAIN SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. IT RECENTLY HAS NOT STARTED WORKING AGAIN AND I AM HAVING TO PAY $200 TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED. THIS I DISMISSED AS SIMPLY ONE OF THE DOWN SIDES OF BUYING A USED CAR. HOWEVER, AFTER SEARCHING FORUMS ONLINE AND SPEAKING WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 2000/2001 FORD FOCUS MODELS. THE PERSON WHO CAME TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT HE RESPONDS TO 10-15 CALLS A WEEK DUE TO THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. I WAS DIRECTED TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE BY ONE OF THE INTERNET FORUMS AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND HOW MANY DEFECTS HAD BEEN SITED WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR MAKE/MODEL HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT AMOUNG THEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM OCCURING WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR AS WELL. I JUST HOPE TO NEVER BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE ASAP AND MY IGNITION SUDDENLY DECIDES NOT TO TURN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL RAIL PUMP ASSEMBLY. *AK

IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LEAK FLUID (PAID TO FIX THAT), I GET A LETTER ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP TAKE IT IN AND GET THAT FIXED ON THE WAY TO WORK STRAIGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP ONE OF THE GUYS I WORK WITH COMMENTS ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOW NOT GO OFF AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT GO ON (PAID TO FIX THAT), THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF! I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY AND THE WHEEL JUST FELL OFF THEN SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY GETTING IT ON A TOW TRUCK AND GETTING IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEN THE TECHNICIAN KEPT ASKING ME WHAT I HIT. REPEATEDLY I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND HE FINALLY SAID THAT THAT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED UNLESS I HIT SOMETHING (PAID TO FIX THAT), NOW I GET IN MY CAR TO GET ME SOMETHING TO EAT AND MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. *AK

I BOUGHT A 2000 FORD FOCUS ON MARCH 11 OF 2004 FOR MY DAUGHTER, I ASKED FOR A REPAIR TO BE MADE ON THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM BEFORE BUYING THE CAR, IT WAS SURGING AND HESITATING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T DO THIS THE NEXT DAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT, ON MARCH 31 MY DAUGHTER PULLED IN TO JACK IN THE BOX, PARKED HER CAR, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD THROWING HER INTO A CONCRETE WALL, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHEILD SHATTERED, THE FRON BUMPER IS TOTALLED, MY DAUGHTER HAS A THIRD DEGREE BURN ON HER RIGHT FOREARM RESULTING FROM THE AIR BAG. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO START IT. HOWEVER, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK