2000 Ford Focus complaints

THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN 4 TIMES NOW FOR REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. MY OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE ACTUATOR IN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR WENT OUT THAT ALL THE LOCKS AND WINDOWS FREEZE UP IN THE LOCKED POSITION IT THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE AT WHEN IT DIES. NOT THE KEY, MANUALLY OR REMOTE WILL WOR. THIS TO ME IS A SAFTEY ISSUE, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOCKED INTO YOUR VEHICLE WITH NO WAY OUT.

MY FOCUS (MANUFACTURED OCTOBER 1999) HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH RUSTING PAINT. THE FIRST, REPORTED IN JULY WAS COVERED UNDER THE 36K BUMPER-2-BUMPER WARRANTY. THE LATEST (REPORTED JANUARY '03), WILL NOT BE. MY ZTS SEDAN IS RUSTING ON THE REAR TWO DOORS ON THE INSIDE ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR (WHERE THE METAL IS CRIMPED). WITH LESS THAN 3-4LBS OF FORCE, I CAN TAKE OFF PORTIONS OF METAL. THIS IS NOT GOOD BUSINESS OR ENGINEERING! IN TWO YEARS, I WILL HAVE A HOLE IN MY DOOR AND I WILL BE SENDING FORD THE REPAIR BILL AND IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY FORD.

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO GEAR WHEN BACKING UP THE CAR IT GRINDS THE NON-DRIVERS SIDE FLOODS EVERYTIME IT RAINS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NO GOOD BOTH BACK DOORS MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THERE ARE DENTS ON THE NON-DRIVERS SIDE BELOW THE DOORS ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN DRIVING CAR SOMETIMES JUMPS INTO GEAR.. (SCARY) AND OTHERS I ASKED THE CAR DEALER BEFORE BUYING THE CAR IF THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS.. HE SAID.. MICHELE, WE DO NOT SELL CARS THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENT. AFTER SOME OF THESE PROBLEM HAD OCCURED I CHECKED THE VIN# AND IT SAID THAT THIS CAR HAD ATLEAST 12 PROBLEMS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT

BAD BRAKES, LEAKING TRANSMISSION X 2 REPAIRS, NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBS, ONE "ACCIDENT", DAMAGE REPAIRED AT FORD EXPENSE, BAD TIRE, NOISE FROM FRONT RT SIDE, "SURGE" PROB, CAR SEEMED TO "STICK" IN A GEAR. I DON'T HAVE MY FILE WITH ME BUT I KNOW THERE IS MORE.

DAUGHTER'S FORD FOCUS STARTED SPEWING SMOKE VIA THE HEATING VENTS. THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HOOD WAS OPENED AND SMOKE AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BEHIND BATTERY. I CAN SAY THAT FORD NOR THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HERE IN CLARKSVILLE, TN HAVE DONE A [XXX] THING TO HELP. STATE FARM INSURANCE SENT A SUBROGATION CLAIM TO FORD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. I BEGGED JENKINS AND WYNN (DEALERSHIP) TO ALLOW US TO TRADE THE CAR BACK IN FOR A DECENT CAR....THEY REFUSED. THEY KNOW WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP THE CAR IS. I ACTUALLY LEFT THE CAR ON THEIR DOORSTEP WITH THE KEY AND TOLD THEM I DID NOT WANT THE CAR...FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS. NO HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS 2000 FORD FOCUS ON 11/13/00. WE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JANUARY 2001 AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/25/01 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 8/01/01, 1/11/02,7/09/02, AND 2/13/03. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, GRINDING WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. ONE OF THE TIMES IT WAS TAKEN IN WE HAD COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 4TH GEAR. EACH TIME THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/30/03 FOR ROAD NOISE AND WOBBLING IN THE WHEEL. THE TIRE ALMOST FELL OFF ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME WE WERE ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS. WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THIS AND IN FACT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL HE LOOKED UP OUR VEHICLE IN THE COMPUTER. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: FOUND RELATED DAMAGE BECAUSE OF RECALL AS FOLLOWS, LEFT DRUM, SPINDLE AND BEARINGS REFACED RIGHT DRUM R & R RIGHT SPINDLE. REAR SHOES REPLACED PARTS FOR RELATED DAMAGE. THIS IS THE INFORMATION STATED ON THE INVOICE. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO BEEN ON SO WE ASKED THEM TO ALSO FIND OUT WHAT THAT PROBLEM WAS. THEY FOUND GROSS LEAK FOUND AT EVAP MANIFOLD LINE. REPLACED LINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL RECALL

I HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT 7 TIMES DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH MY NEW FOCUS. THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 6700 MILES, ALONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THINGS GOT WORSE FROM THERE. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE ROOF, THE FUSE ON THE FAN/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MELTED, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, THE FABRIC ON THE SEATS CAUSED ME TO GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. FORD'S LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS AS WELL DURING THESE REPAIRS. I ULTIMATELY TRADED IN MY CAR FOR A COMPETITOR'S CAR AND I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER NOW.

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY WIFE'S FORD FOCOUS WINDOWS THE WINDOWS FALL OFF TRACK OR JUST FALL DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL UP FOR NO REASON. OUT OF 4 WINDOWS RIGHT NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE IS DOWN INTO THE DOOR WILL NOT ROLL UP AND THE PASSENGER REAR IS ALSO THE SAME. THE DRIVERS REAR WINDOW WE ARE AFRAID TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD TO CATCH IT FROM FALLING AND NOW WE HAVE BEEN USING TAPE. THAT IS 3 WINDOWS OUT OF 4 GIVING US PROBLEMS. WE DO NOT WANT TO TRY THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW. WE ARE HAVING A THOUGH TIME AND IT SEEMS ABNORMAL FOR THE WINDOWS TO GIVE US PROBLEMS

I PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS IN APRIL 2000. AT THAT TIME I OPTED FOR THE 3 YEAR/36000 COVERAGE. LATER IN THAT YEAR I WAS INVOLVED IN THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RECALL AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. LAST WEEK MY LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT-AND AS THE MECHANIC SAID "I'M SUPRISED YOUR WHEEL DIDN'T COME OFF". I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY PROTECTION (VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES) I WAS NO LONGER COVERED, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDED IN TRYING TO OFFER ME EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR MY CAR. I FEEL THAT SINCE THEY "TRIED" TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T -THAT THEY SHOULD STILL BE RESPOSNSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THERE IS NO REASON A WHEEL BEARING SHOULD FAIL AFTER ONLY 40,000-ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD BETWEEN 12-15,000 MILES ON THE CAR AT THE TIME OF INITIAL RECALL/REPAIR.

MY CAR STARTED BY LOSING POWER AND THE THE ENGINE WOULD RACE UP IN ANY GEAR. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD DIM ALONG WITH THE RADIO AND THE HEADLIGHTS. THEN ON OCT 31 2002, THE GAGES WENT CRAZY. I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED FORD AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD RUN A TEST TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TEST AND I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT AFFORD IT. SINCE THEN I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO THE STORE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE AND BACK. NOW THE ENGINE IS STALLING AGAIN IN ANY GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I AGAIN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD IF THEY COULD RUN THE TEST TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH CAR AGAIN THEY REFUSED. I JUST NOW WROTE A E-MAIL TO FORD. I JUST WANT MY CAR THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 49000 MILES TO RUN. FORD IS OFFERING A LONGER WARRANTY ON THE NEWER FOCUS WHY NOT OFFER IT TO US THAT OWNER THE PIECE OF JUNK OLDER FOCUS.

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT THREE TIME BECAUSE OF NOISE AND IT'S BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO WEEKS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE WORKING ON IT OR IF THEY ARE REPAIRING OTHER THINGS OR WHAT. I HAVEN'T HAD HEAT THROUGHOUT THE COLDEST PART OF THE WINTER. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK AND THE PAINT IS PEELING. THE CAR HAS LOCKED UP NOT LETTING ME START THE ENGINE TWICE, THEN JUST OUT OF THE BLUE IT DECIDED TO START. I TRIED TO TURN IN AND THE CAR DEALER AT FORD SAID HE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT, DIDN'T WANT IT. WE BOUGHT IT AUG. 9 2000-FORD CREDIT, SIMPLE INTEREST 6.5 --FIRST PAYMENT SEPTEMBER $456.99 A MONTH THEY SAY WE OWE TOO MUCH TO TRADE IN ???THIS MADE NO SINCE. NOW I KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN OUT TO SEA USNAVY FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT I'M A NERVOUS WRECK ABOUT THIS CAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THERE HAS BEEN IS SO MANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE FIXED THEM OR NOT

ENGINE STARTS TO STALLS WHEN COMMING TO A STOP. THEY CLAIM IT NEEDS A NEW CYLINDER HEAD.

SINCE AT LEAST APRIL 2003 THE BACK RIGHT PASSAGNER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT RISE OR LOWER NOR WILL THE LOCK ON THE DOOR LOCK FROM THAT SEATING POSITION. THE DRIVER ONLY CAN DO IT. WHILE IN NM DRIVING FROM KY TO AZ, MY 2000 SE BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. AS I DROVE AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, AS IF NO GAS WAS GETTING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DIE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR UPWARDS OF 2 HOURS, START THE CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES FROM NM TO AZ; OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I CALLED THE 1800 FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT SEND A TOW FOR ME. A COMMERCIAL TRUCKER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO FOLLOW ME TO THE NEXT TOWN TO A FORD DEALER. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO LOOK AT MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AROUND NOON, AS HE HAD 6 OTHER FOCUS OWNERS IN HIS SHOP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I DECIDED TO PRESS ON TO AZ WHILE DRIVING UNDER 55 MPH ON I-10. THE CAR SAT IN MY GARAGE FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE I DROVE IT AGAIN. IT IS STILL DOING IT'S DRIVE AND DIE AND I AM CONCERNED NOW MORE THAN EVER WITH THE NUMBER OF RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE WHAT THE DEAL IS.

CAR IS ONLY 2YRS,8MO. HAVE CURRENTLY EXPENDED OVER $4000.00 ON REPAIRS. PROBLEM WITH SEALS ALLOWING FUMES IN CAR FROM OTHER VEHICLES RUNNING BESIDE MINE. THE NOISE AND WIND SHEAR LEVEL IS VERY UNSATISFACTORY. SQUEAL NOISE AND THUMPING FEELING FROM PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL. HESITATION ON ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. POOR QUALITY ON PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP FROM MANUFACTURER

I DRIVE 25000 MILES A YEAR TO AND FROM WORK APPROXIMTLY 115 MILES A DAY AND 70% OF THAT IS ON OPEN INTERSTATE HIWAY. STOP AND GO IS LESS THAN 20 MILES A DAY. TIRES COMPLETELY WORE OUT AT 41000 MILES. TIRES STARTED HUMMING AT 10 TO 15000 MILES. I CONSTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT END AND TIRE NOISE. I PUT A SET OF GOODYEAR AQUATRED TIRES ON AT 41476 MILES. THEY ALSO STARTED HUMMING, SO THE FRONT END WAS LINED UP. THIS DID NOT STOP THE TIRES FROM HUMMING. NOW CAR HAS 80000 MILES, TIRES ARE SCARMING GO DOWN THE ROAD FAST OR SLOW. FRONTEND SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLANKING OR THUD TYPE NOISE. JUST RECENTLY TURING LEFT GETING OFF INTERSTATE IT FELLES LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT IS CHANGING GEOMITRY. CAR TURNS LEFT VILENTLY - MUST CORECT STERING. THIS WILL HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS CAR IS EXTMLY DANGERAS. WHEN DRIVEN ON ICE AND SNOW, IT WILL BRAKE LOSE WHEN GOING STARIGHT FOR NO REASON AND START TO SPIN OUT. BRAKES WORE OUT AT 45000 MILES. $400 TO FIX FRONT BRAKES ONLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO PUT BRAKES AND TIRES ON A CAR AT LESS THAN 50000 MILES. MORE LIKE 65 TO 75000 MILES.

THIS IS A COPY OF THE LETTER I SENT TO FORD PRESTIGE FORD GARLAND TX ATTN: [XXX] DEAR [XXX] RE: FORD FOCUS 2000 VEHICLE ID# [XXX] I BECAME A CUSTOMER OF PRESTIGE FORD 5 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY 98 ESCORT. I WAS PLEASED WITH THE CAR, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE 2 YEARS I HAD IT ONLY THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. FEB 28TH 2000 I MADE THE STUPIDEST DECISION IN MY LIFE TO TRADE IT FOR A BRAND NEW FOCUS 2000 -I WAS IMPRESSED OF THE REVIEWS OF BEING THE EUROPEAN CAR OF THE YEAR IN 1999. WELL DURING THIS 3 YEARS I HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO FORD FOR SAFETY RECALLS DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS. IN 3 YEARS I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES 3 TIMES (THAT'S ACTUALLY ONCE A YEAR) REPLACE ROTORS TWICE SOMETHING GOT MESSED UP LAST AUGUST WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE STARTER I HAD TO HAVE THAT FIXED. THERE'S ALWAYS NOISE WITH THE BRAKES, I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL YOUR STAFF OR THE ONE ON 75 CAN TELL ME IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" FIRST IT WAS "METAL BRAKES" NO PROBLEM THAT'S NORMAL AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS YOU CHANGED IT TO A "KNOWN PROBLEM"??? I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW MY DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT THIS STUPID CAR, I SURE DID MADE A BIG MISTAKE WHEN I DECIDED TO BUY IT. ALSO I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT REALLY SEEMS NOT TO BE A BIG BENEFIT SINCE IT HASN'T HELPED A BIT, I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THIS REPAIRS. AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS ARE THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALL FOR NO REASON. WHEN WE ARE AT 1/4 OF A TANK OR AT 1/2 A TANK THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER OR STALL FOR NO REASON.

I PURCHASED A 2000 FOCUS SE ON JUNE 5, 2001 WITH 23,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY 3YR./36,000.I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE API COMPANY AT THE COST OF $1,069 TO COVER 6YR./60,000.I THOUGHT I'D BE PROTECTED. WRONG ! THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD HORRENDOUS BRAKE DUST BUT THE WORST WAS YET TO COME. IN DECEMBER 2002, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING AND BEGAN TO NOTICE A ROUGH IDLE. WELL, IT'S COLD IN BUFFALO, NY SO WE THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED MORE TIME TO WARM UP. BY EARLY MARCH WE EXPERIENCED STALLING PROBLEMS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER STALLING AT 45MPH WE HAD ENOUGH. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BASIL FORD. WITH ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED AND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 1/29/03. FORD WANTED ABOUT $1,700.00 TO REPLACE IT. WELL, WE THOUGHT IF FORD WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR THAT THE API EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD. ANOTHER ERROR IN JUDGMENT ! API SAID THERE WAS CARBON IN THE CYLINDER AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER. FINALLY, AFTER THREATS TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALER OR SEEK LEGAL ADVICE TO REMEDY, BASIL REPLACED THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR $400.00. WHO EVER HEARD OF A CRACKED HEAD AT 32,000 MILES ? WE HAD ONLY PUT ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON IT ! ALSO THE KEYLESS ENTRY ON THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD ONLY WORK ON OCCASION AND THE KEY NEVER DID WORK ON THE TRUNK (TOLD THE LOCK NEEDED REPLACEMENT) WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IF WE WANTED FIXED. SINCE THE INSPECTION WAS COM

I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT STAN MORRI FORD IN TRACY, CA AND THOUGHT OTHERS SHOULD KNOW OF MY PLIGHT (AND PERHAPS THIS WOULD MAKE A COMPELLING CONSUMER AFFAIRS STORY). A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS COMMUTING IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ON I580 WHEN, FOR NO REASON, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY. I WAS THROWN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I WAS "MOVED" ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO LAND IN A SHALLOW DITCH JUST EAST OF THE SANTA RITA ROAD EXIT. AFTER REGAINING MY COMPOSURE AND COUNTING MY BLESSINGS MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR, I WAITED FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND FINISHED MY DRIVE HOME, SHAKEN, CONFUSED AND VERY RATTLED. UPON MY ARRIVAL HOME, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY (AAA) AND STAN MORRI FORD. AAA OPENED A CLAIM, BUT COULD DO NOTHING AS THERE HAD BEEN NO REAL ACCIDENT. GARY RIGGS (SERVICE MANAGER AT STAN MORRI FORD) ASKED ME TO COME IN. OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, STAN MORRI FORD (IN CONJUNCTION WITH FORD CORPORATE) HAS INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE. THEIR FINDINGS, BASED ON DATA FROM THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER, WAS THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN "INVOLVED IN A LATERAL COLLISION" AND BOTH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND STAN MORRI FORD HAVE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSE TO HELP ME. PICTURES TAKEN BY MYSELF AND AAA CLEARLY SHOW NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE PURCHASED FOUR DIFFERENT CARS FROM STAN MORRI FORD. AS A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BETTER TREATMENT. I AM

THE TUMBLERS IN MY IGNITION FAILED AND THERE WERE 4 OTHER FORD FOCUSES THAT HAS BEEN TOWED IN TO A FORD PLACE FOR THE SAME REASON. THE KEY WON'T GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LOCK AND KEY SYSTEM IN MY CAR. I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS INGNITION SWITCHES FOR THE TUMBLERS FAILED .. MY BATTERY CABLE STILL GET CORRODED AND I THOUGHT THEY RECALLED THOSE AS WELL BUT THEY DON'T LOOK CHANGED AT ALL. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND THE CAR SHAKES A LOT NOW THAN BEFORE. IN MY OPINION, THIS CAR IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PIECE OF CRAP. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 3 YEARS AND IT DRIVES LIKE I'VE HAD IT 10 YEARS. MY MOM HAS A BRAND NEW SUV BOUGHT IT THE SAME YEAR I BOUGHT MINE. HERS HAS MORE MILES THAN MINE DOES AND HERS IS DOING FINE.

PROBLEM STARTED IN MID-FEBRUARY 2003. WHEN THE FAN SPEED LEVEL FOR THE HEAT IS TURNED TO THE 3RD POSITION THE FAN NOISE DROPS DOWN & THEN A VERY ACRID BURNING ODOR IS EMITTED. CAN NOT PUT THE LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE 2ND LEVEL DUE TO THE BURNING (WIRE?) ODOR AND CONCERNED THAT A WIRE IS BURNING. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEATER SWITCH WHICH HE PROCEEDED TO ORDER BUT WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE ITEM IS BACKORDERED DUE TO A HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS PART. WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED YET & NOW AM CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FORD DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR TSB, I HAVE CALLED THE NHTSA, & I'VE CHECKED THE ALLDATA.COM WEBSITE WITH NO LUCK. I SUPPOSE, GIVEN THE PROBLEMS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH THE REAR TIRES, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A MINOR PROBLEM, HOWEVER I DON'T THINK SO. MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS THAT I DEFINITELY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO THE VIBRATION OF THE WHEELS & HOW WOBBLY THEY FEEL. WE HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES OFTEN BECAUSE THEY CUP. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME OR ANY DIRECTION YOU CAN POINT BE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE KEY SWITCH KEEPS LOCKING UP AND YOU CAN NOT TURN THE KEY. IT HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR SHOP FOR REPAIR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES AND THE DEALER COVERED THE FIRST 2, AND I PAID FOR THE NEXT 3.

EXTREME AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS AND RECALLS, VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE. IN ADDITION TO LISTED PROBLEMS, SEVERE REAR TIRE CUPPING AT 7000 MILES, MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO LOOSE REAR WHEEL BEARING. POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING, A/C STILL NOT FIXED CORRECTLY COLD LASTED FOR ABOUT A MONTH DRIVERS DOOR LOCK WONT LOCK INTERM. REAR TRUNK LATCH WONT RELEASE FROM INSIDE CAR. FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC, CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON A BRIDGE. MAF SENSOR FAILURE, CAUSED DRIVER TO BE LIMITED TO 15 MPH ON FREEWAY TILL NEXT EXIT. VHEICLES RADIO STUCK ON WITH KEY REMOVED CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN---HAPPENED TWICE AND WAS FIXED. VEHICLE IS A LEASE DUE BACK FOR RETURN IN AUGUST. CANT WAIT TO BE RID OF THIS HEADACHE BUT FEEL SORRY FOR WHOEVER BUYS IT... I WOULD STILL LIKE FORD MOTOR CO TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE LEASE PAYMENTS MADE FOR THE AMOUNT OF DOWNTIME AND TIME VEHICLE SPENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS......THANKYOU

THE COMPLAINT DEALS WITH THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR LOCK.I TOOK IT INTO MCCOTTER FORD WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM.THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $300 TO FIX IT AND THIS IS WITH THE EXPENSIVE WARRANTY PACKAGE. WE COULD NOT AFORD THIS,SO MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THAT CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS CANNOT BE SAFE, WHAT CAN WE DO.THE CAR HAD BETWEEN 50 AND 60 THOUSAND MILES ON IT,THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM IS IN TITUSVILLE FLORIDA. THIS OCCURED IN 2002

NOV 2002 TOOK TO DEALER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM, TOLD THEM IT WAS SLUGGISH AND GAS GUAGE DIDN'T ALWAYS REGISTER. I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME IT WAS MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG, COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TOOK TO NEIGHBORHOOD DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM REPLACED FUEL FILTER. HAD ALL THIS WORK BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN FEB 2003. NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP. JUNE 27TH STARTED CAR AND ENGINE DIED. IT THEN WOULDN'T START AGAIN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD FORD DEALERSHIP. WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND STRONGLY SUGGEST NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL REPAIR. SO THE CAR WAS LEFT THERE FOR REPAIRS. AFTER LISTEN TO THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I STARTED TO INVESIGATE THIS MYSELF AND FIND 67 CASES LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE COMMON STATEMENT WAS THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE DIES OUT. ON CAR HITTING A PARK VEHICLE AND SEVERAL NEAR MISSES ON THE HIGHWAY. 2000 FORD FOCUS ENGINE SPUTTERS AND THEN STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE HEARD AND READ HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE FUEL PUMP FAILURES AND AFTER MANY NICE BUT INEFFECTIVE ANSWERS FROM FORD I FEEL THAT SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED SERIOUSLY OR DIE TO THESE FAULTY AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS FUEL SYSTEMS. MY DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON THIS TELLING ME FUEL FILTER AND I FEEL KNOW WELL IT WAS MORE AND LIKE THE FUEL PUMP. IT SEEM THAT THE GAS GUAGE NOT

WHILE COMING HOME FROM A HOUSE WARMING IN TUCSON, AZ ON 06/21/03 ME, MY 2 NIECES,AND MY DAUGHTER WERE ON THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY COMING OUT OF TUCSON WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER, THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 25 MPH WE HAD TO CROSS 3 LANES TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY WITH OTHER CARS COMING AT 65 TO 70 MPH WE ALMOST GOT HIT ON THE LAST LANE BEFORE EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CAR THEN SPUTTERED THE REST OF THE WAY OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO START IT AGAIN. AND CONTINUE HOME BUT WE USED FRONTAGE RD ALL THE WAY. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON THE FREEWAY ANYMORE. SOMETIMES IT DOES WANT TO START AT ALL. THE DOOR ON PASSANGER SIDE ALSO DOESN'T UNLOCK WITH POWER BUTTON. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT. I FEEL SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SERIOULY INJURED UNLESS THEY FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG HERE.

I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT IS A FILTER OR SWITCH THAT KEEPS THE OIL LEVEL IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN TURNING RIGHT. MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN I MAKE RIGHT TURNS. I HAVE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY AND STILL OWE ON THIS CAR..FRANKLY I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT IN! HAS LOT OF REPAIR NEEDS TOO MUCH MONEY. I HAD ALL OF THE RECALL WORK DONE ALSO

FLANGE BRAKAGE ON THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY. THE PIPE BREAKS AT THE FLANGE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE SIDE OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CAUSEING A SPUTTING SOUND AND EMITTING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE AUTOMOBILE. IT ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH (3) SENSORS. I CALLED THE SERVICE AND PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THREE LOCAL DEALERS AND WAS TOLD BY ALL THREE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PART BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ONE INSTALLED WITH A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE PART. BUT IF THIS IS COMMON WHATS TO SAY AFTER A YEAR IT WILL BREAK AGAIN? THE PART IS NOT WELL MADE AS IT'S MADE OUT OF COPPER WITH A SMALL WELD AT THE FLANGE. I HAVE BEEN TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS GROUP SITES AND FOUND SEVERAL HAD SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS MATTER. JOHN GARNER

AT THE END OF FEBRUARY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE STEERING LOCKING UP MY FORD HAS NEVER RAN THE SAME SINCE OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER SENT A MECHANIC OUT TO DO A REPORT ON MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING WAS EVER RESOLVED NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS CAR THAT SEEMS TO BE THE NEXT FORD JOKE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND THANKS TO A POSSIBLE STEERING KNUCKLE PROBLEM IN WHICH WAS WORKED ON PREVIOUSLY TO THE ACCIDENT IT LOOKS LIKE FORD REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER SELLING TO A REPUTABLE COMPANY.

LET'S SEE, WHERE SHALL I BEGIN. WITHIN MONTH OR TWO OF PURCHASE OF 2000 FOCUS SEDAN IT WAS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THE FRONT A PANEL TRIM. IT TOOK 3 TIMES TO FINALLY GET THAT RIGHT. ALSO LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE (WAS A 1-1.5 HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH APPEARED IN WINDSHIELD). THE WINDSHIELD HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE ADJUSTING THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AROUND THE BASE, APPARENTLY FROM SLIGHT PRESSURE OF MIRROR. AND JUST RECENTLY, AUGUST 2003, I'VE NOTICED WATER DROPS FLYING UP FROM ABOVE THE DASHBOARD. NOT SURE IF WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING AROUND THE BOTTOM BASE OR MAYBE A.C. HAVEN'T HAD IT CHECKED YET, BUT IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK FOR OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET. IT WAS IN SHOP IN LATE 2001 OR EARLY 2002 FOR THROTTLE PROBLEMS. WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL THE ENGINE WOULD RACE BETWEEN 2.5 AND 3000 RPMS. FORTUNATELY I NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL DURING THAT TIME. LATE 2002 THE TRUNK LOCK MECHANISM APPARENTLY BROKE PREVENTING THE TRUNK FROM SHUTTING PROPERLY. IT WOULDN'T LATCH AT ALL. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR COVER RECALL FIXED. AND ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE FUEL GAUGE HAS READ EMPTY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE IN THE TANK. AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK NOTHING ELSE CAN GO WRONG, IT HAPPENS. ME AND MY WIFE WERE SHOPPING THIS MORNING ON LABOR DAY SATURDAY. WE GOT IN THE CAR AND I WENT TO START IT. MY KEY SOMEHOW WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION COMPLETELY, NO MATTER

ENGINE STALLS THEN RESTARTS. OCCURS UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. OCCURS IN WARMER WEATHER VS WINTER. DEALERS TEND TO INDICATE FUEL PUMP OVER HEATING AS PROBLEM. FUEL PUMP IS IN GAS TANK COOLED BY 12+ GALLONS OF FUEL. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS RIGHT LONG SIDE FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK HAS TEMP INSULATION ON SIDE THAT FAVORS FUEL TANK. THE MASS OF THE FUEL TANK HAS TO EXCEED OPERATIONAL TEMP SPEC OF FUEL PUMP TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANOMALY.

STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE. SUDDENLY IN AUGUST, ALL POWER SYSTEMS/COMPUTER TYPE ITEMS BEGAN TO FAIL -- POWER LOCKS, TRUNK RELEASE. THEN, CAR BEGAN (AND STILL DOES) TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE WHEN STOPPED/IDLE UNTIL IT WOULD SHUTDOWN. ALSO, THE RADIO/CD PLAYER WOULD SHUT OFF. CHECKED FOR TSBS FOR THE VEHICLE MODEL & YEAR AND FOUND AT LEAST 15. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (WORLD FORD SANDY SPRINGS) WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. ONLY OFFICIAL FORD RECALL NOTICES, NOT EVEN NTSA RECALL NOTICES, WOULD BE HONORED. ON TOP OF THIS, WE WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY $90 PER COMPLAINT BATCH (THE TSB LIST WAS BATCHED IN TO 3 MAIN AREAS)FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES AND IF ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE RELATED TO A RECALL, THE $90 WOULD BE REFUNDED AS APPLICABLE. I EXPRESSED THAT IF FORD ISSUED A TSB AND THE NTSA ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE, THEN I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR WORKED ON.

PURCHASED FORD FOCUS SE IN MAY OF 2002 WITH 13,260 MILES. WE DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD. SOON AFTER BRINGING THE CAR HOME, WE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS VERY WOBBLY, AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING--TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BRAKE NOISE, AS FOR THE TIRE NOTHING IS WRONG-THE SERVICE DEPT. TEST DROVE AND DIDN'T NOTICE A THING. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AFTER THAT FOR WOBBLY TIRE-STILL SAME ANSWER NOTHING IS WRONG. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SEVERAL RECALLS. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP-BUT THE NEXT TIME MY TEENAGED DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK WHEN SHE WAS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION-HAD IT TOWED AGAIN, THERE WAS A PIECE OF MATERIAL (FROM THEM FIXING THE IGNITION PROBLEM) THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. OUR LATEST EPISODE WITH THIS CAR IS OUR TRIP FROM WA-VIRGINIA. THE CAR WAS FINE ON THE WAY THERE, EXCEPT FOR THE WOBBLE IN THE TIRE IN WHICH WE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED YET AGAIN. BUT ON OUR WAY BACK WE STARTED EXPERIENCING SPUTTERING AND SURGING OF THE CAR, WE WOULD PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERY 20 MILES (THINKING IT WAS FROM THE HOT WEATHER), WE WOULD GET ANOTHER 20 MILES IN AND SAME THING UNTIL FINALLY WE DROVE THROUGH CHICAGO, IL AND IT WAS WORSE, SO WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ON TO AN ON RAMP--WALKED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO USE A BUSINESS'S TELEPHONE TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEY FOUND US A TOW TRUCK BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T

HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST THAT COATS ON THE WHEELS,ESPECIALLY THE FRONT WHEELS,I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR.IN ORDER FOR THIS CAR TO LOOK DECENT I HAVE TO GET ON THE GROUND ON MY HANDS AND KNEES USING A SOLVENT AND WATER ALONG WITH A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE AND A BRUSH AND SPONGE AND LITERALLY CLEAN THESE WHEELS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.A SIMPLE DRIVE THROUGH A CAR WASH WILL NOT CLEAN THIS BRAKE DUST ADEQUATELY.I HAVE CALLED FORD THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS COMPLAINING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND OF COURSE THEY DENY IT!THE LAST CALL I MADE A CONSUMER REP FROM FORD READ FROM A BULLETIN THAT THEY PUT OUT INSTRUCTING OWNERS AS TO HOW TO CLEAN OFF THE BRAKE DUST.IF THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT WHY ARE THEY PUTTING IT IN BLACK AND WHITE TO BE READ? I AM DISGUSTED WITH THEIR ATTITUDE AND WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT FEEL FRUSTRATED THAT THEY WILL ONLY "LAUGH"AT ME.ANY ADVICE?I WILL GLADLY TAKE PART IN ANY CLASS ACTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF???

AT 148 MILES TOLD FORD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANS, DID NOT BELIEVE ROAD TESTED FRO 2 MILES AND HAD CAR FOR DAY AND A HALF. SAID THEY DESIGNED TRANS TO SLIP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT IN THAT CONDITION AND REPEATEDLY CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE BACK AND QUESTIONED DEALERS ABOUT SLIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. TO SAY THE LEAST TRANS REPLACED. TRIM AND OTHER ITEMS FALLING OFF CAR AND FROD WOULD NOT REPLACE. MORE BRAKE JOBS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT. JUST GOT DONE PUTTING 600.00 INTO IT WHEN ENGINE THREW ROD AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF 3,700.00. FORD MADE A BAD CAR ND THEY KNOW IT , BUT WILL LEAVE US FOCUS OWNERS OUT TO HANG.

THE FORD FOCUS WE PURCHASED HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PART TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION/KEY PROBLEM HAS BECOME AN ISSUE AS THE LAST HEAD MECHANIC STATED TO MY HUSBAND FORD WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE PART BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER THE INITIAL WARRANTY. WE DISAGREE BECAUSE IT IS A FORD DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY PUT IN NEW AND HAS FAILED NOW FOUR TIMES. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE REPAIR "ADVISOR" OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD THE WORK DONE FOR THE PAST THREE REPAIRS. THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS HAVE OCCURRED: AUGUST 02 INSTALLED NEW LOCK CYLINDER AND REKEYED APRIL 03 INSTALLED NEW TUMBLER SEPTEMBER 03 REPLACE KEY SWITCH THE ABOVE DETAILS I HAVE TAKEN FROM THE INVOICE COPIES THAT I HAVE. HE EXPLAINED THE TOTAL COST INCLUDING TOWING AMOUNTS TO APPROXIMATELY $300.00. NOW LOOKING AT THESE REPAIRS, ALTHOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE KEY/IGNITION OCCURS, IT SEEMS THEY ARE REPLACING DIFFERENT PARTS. HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED AND SHOULD NOT REOCCUR....I HOPE HE IS RIGHT! THEY HAVE PAID THE TOTAL COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS AND HAVE ALSO PAID FOR TOWING OF THE VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS OCCURS AGAIN, HE STATED THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD DO.

ON OCTOBER 10TH 2003 I WAS DRIVING IN THE FORD FOCUS 2000 WAGON FROM NEW YORK CITY TO CLEVELAND, OH, ABOUT 500 MILES. IT DROVE WELL FOR ABOUT 300 MILES, BUT STARTED TO CHOKE AND SPUTTER ON HILLS, LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL. I WAS HOPING I WOULD MAKE IT TO CLEVELAND FOR REPAIRS, BUT IT STALLED OUT ON ME GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR 60 MILES OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AND LIMPED INTO THE NEAREST TOWN AND FOUND A FORD DEALER IN ASHTABULA OH. HE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER AND REPAIRED IT. IT DROVE FINE FOR THE REST OF JOURNEY INTO CLEVELAND. BUT I THEN HEADED TO NEW YORK CITY A FEW DAYS LATER, AND AGAIN AFTER 200 MILES, IT STARTED SPUTTERING ON HILLS. THEN OUTSIDE OF BINGHAMTON, NY IT STALLED AGAIN. I AGAIN RESTARTED, AND TERRIFIED OF A FATAL ACCIDENT, I CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE FROM VERIZON WIRELESS. THEY GOT A TOW TRUCK TO GET ME TO A GARAGE, BUT THEY WERE CLOSED. THE NEXT MORNING, I WAITED FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE CAR, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE STALLING PROBLEM. I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY INTO NEW YORK CITY TERRIFIED, AND ALMOST STALLED OUT AT THE FOOT FO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. IT WAS AFTER 5:00 PM SO THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. SO I AM PLANNING TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. BUT THEY SAID THAT UNLESS THEY CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I ALSO CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THERE IS AN ACTIVE INVE

FIRST ONE: IGNITION LOCKED. ONE NIGHT AFTER CLASSES, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO OR TURN THE IGNITION LOCK. I CALLED MY FORD WARRANTY AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED ME THAT HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS, AS HE HAD HAD MANY CALLS TO PICK UP CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SECOND ONE: AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM DRIVING TO THE STORE ONE SATURDAY, I PARKED AS USUAL AND TRIED TO PULL UP MY HAND BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT GO UP OR LOCK INTO PLACE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE LITTLE BUTTON YOU PUSH IN THE RELEASE THE HANDBRAKE WAS LOCATED ALL THE WAY INTO THE ASSEMBLY NOT ALLOW IT TO LOCK. I PLAN ON TAKING MY CAR IN NOVEMBER TO BE REPAIRED. MY FORD WARRANTY WILL COVER IT SINCE ITS A FEW THOUSAND MILES UNDER WARRANTY.

WHEN DRIVING CAR AFTER SO LONG THE ENGINE GETS HOT AND SPEED REDUCES. WHEN PUSHING ON ACCELERATOR TO TRY TO PICK UP SPEED, IT CONTINUES TO LOSE MORE SPEED AND STARTS JERKING. AFTER IT CONTINUES TO KEEP JERKING AND SPEED KEEPS GOING DOWN ENGINE SHUTS OFF, LEAVING ME SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN WITH TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO. WHEN CAR STALLS AND YOU TRY TO RESTART, IT TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. ONCE IT DOES START IT SHUTS BACK DOWN UNTIL IT SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS. HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. FORD REFUSES TO FIX EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. IT SUPPOSED TO BE SUCH A RELIABLE CAR BUT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT ACTS UP. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT I'M PAYING SO MUCH MONEY FOR TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN. I FIND THIS TO BE A SERIUOS PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE THAT HAS CHILDREN WOULD WANT THIS HAPPENING TO THEM AND FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, TELLING ME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT .

MY VEHICLE HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. IT GIVES NO INDICATION THAT THIS WILL OCCUR. IT CAN HAPPEN AT HIGH OR LOW SPEED. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHAT IS STRANGE TO ME IS THAT IF THE ENGINE SITS THEN IT WILL START UP AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS FIRST OCCURED IN APRIL 2003 AND NOW IT OCCURING MORE OFTEN. ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT TO FIX OR WHAT CAN BE DONE. I REALLY LOVE MY CAR BUT GETTING STRANDED IS NO FUN.

STALLING,COUGHING,SPUTTERING

1)WE HAD TROUBLE WITH RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK STUTTERING NOTHING FOUND TO BE WRONG HAS ONLY OCCURED ONCE SINCE 2)TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHIRRING NOISE INTERMITENLY WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG ON BOTH OCCASIONS 3)REAR BRAKES ON TWO OCCASIONS HAVE MADE SQUEAKING NOISES FIRST TIME AT 34950 KM NEW SHOE PADS. SECOND TIME AT 41346 KM SHOES AND DRUMS SANDED 4MM LEFT ON SHOES HAS SQUEAKED ON ONLY ONE OCCASION SINCE 4)FRONT BRAKES DONE AT 24450 KM NEW PADS AND REPAIRED TWO ROTORS. SECOND TIME AT 41346 KM PADS SHOWN TO BE AT 6MM LEFT

BOTH BACK DOOR MECHANISMS FAILED DUE TO WHAT LOOKED TO BE CORROSION ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE DOOR TO FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING - MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FELL OUT OF THE CAR, LUCKILY SUSTAINING NO INJURY, ASIDE FROM SHEER TERROR. I ATTEMPTED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM FORD, BOTH DEALERSHIP AND FORD CREDIT, HOWEVER, I WAS GIVEN THE EXCUSE THAT BECAUSE I MISSED A SERVICE CHECK ON MY VEHICLE, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, IN PART OR IN WHOLE. I FAXED, EMAILED AND SNAIL MAILED LETTERS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE "MISSED CHECK UP", WHICH WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE LAST ONE, I AM NOW STUCK WITH HAVING TO REPAIR THE DOORS...OVER FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS IN PARTS FOR THE LATCH/MECHANISM INSIDE THE BOTH DOORS...AND LORD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THE EXPENSE IS FOR LABOUR.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT GRIEF WITH MY 2000 FOCUS. 1) MOST RECENTLY I HAD WAS TRAVELING AT 50 KM/H WHEN MY FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING DROPPED OUT OF THE FRONT END. I PHONED FORD REPEATEDLY AND EVEN THOUGH I DISCOVERED A PROGRAM COVERING MY THE COIL SPRINGS ON I WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND SAYING THAT I WAS OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM RECALL DATE BY A FEW MONTHS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS MADE AT THE WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT; WHERE OTHER PROGRAM RECALLS WERE COMING FROM. I ENDED UP IN A FIELD WHEN THE COIL SPRING BROKE, NARROWING MISSING THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I WAS THANKFUL THAT I HAD ESCAPED WITH MY LIFE BUT NOT TO BE COVERED BY FORD WAS A SLAP TO THE FACE. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS SITUATION AND I AM DETERMINED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS SITUATION. MY ALIGNMENT IS ALSO OUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW. 2) FOUR TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR, THE CAR HAS STALLED. TWICE ROUNDING A CORNER GOING ONTO A HIGHWAY AND 2 TWICE ON A STRAIGHT AWAY HIGHWAY. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN THE GAS GAUGE WAS BELOW 1/8 OF A TANK AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. OF COURSE I BLAMED MYSELF. BUT FOUR TIMES ? I BEGAN TO BECOME SUSPICIOUS WHEN THE CAR BEGAN CHUGGING UPHILL ON A RECENT LONG DISTANCE TRIP. I BARELY MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN I TOOK INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN SUDBURY ONTARIO THE SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THAT KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM THOUGH MOST OF THEM CAME IN UNDER WARRANTY. OF COURSE THE PROBLEM AT FIRST ONLY PRESENTED ITSELF WHEN

I PURCHASED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE FROM MERLIN MOTORS IN SASKATOON. PRODUCTION DATE - MAY 2/2000, STOCK NO. PP24941, R.O. NO. 155631. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY SOMEONE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. HERE IS A CHRONOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN OF REPAIRS. APRIL 17/01 - TOOK CAR IN BECAUSE DRIVER MIRROR VIBRATED BADLY WHEN DRIVING - SO BADLY THAT I COULD NOT LOOK INTO IT, IT WAS SHAKING THAT MUCH. ALSO, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE RELEASE INSIDE THE CAR. PARTS WERE ORDERED AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 32854. JUNE 19/01 - THEY CHECKED FOR DRIVER MIRROR VIBRATING WHEN DRIVING AND REPLACED DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR. THE ALSO CHECKED FOR TRUNK NOT OPENING FROM THE RELEASE INSIDE THE CAR, THEY REPLACED THE TRUNK STOP AND ADJUSTED. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 35222 JUNE 20/01 - THEY CHECKED FOR POWER STEERING LEAK AND REPLACED STEERING RACK AND SET TOE. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 37782?? (THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ERROR - I KNOW I DID NOT DRIVE 2, 560 KM IN ONE DAY!) I ALSO DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POWER STEERING AND DON'T RECALL WHY MY CAR WAS IN THERE AT THE TIME. SEPT 21/01 - THEY REPAIRED RATTLE IN RIGHT FRONT GOING OVER BUMPS, TIGHTENED ALL ASSEMBLE BOLTS IN FRONT END, REMOVED RIGHT CALIPER AND ROTOR, LUBED ALL BUSHING, ADJUSTED FRONT SPLASH SHIELDS, FOUND TIE ROD BOLT LOOSE AND TIGHTENED. THEY ALSO FIXED MOLDING ON WINDOW BELT, WHICH WAS LOOSE AND CHECKED INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND FOUND IT FLAWED - PART ON ORDER. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 43170. NOV 3/01 - WE WERE DRIVING IN SASKATOON WHEN

FORD FOCUS 2000 ZX3 IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BECAME JAMMED UNEXPECTEDLY. KEY ENTERS LOCK BUT LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE, AND SO CAR WILL NOT START. RESULTS IN STRANDED MOTORIST WITH NO WARNING SIGNS BEFOREHAND, HENCE SAFETY ISSUE. REQUIRES EITHER TOW TO REPAIR SHOP OR SITE VISIT FROM LOCKSMITH. MANY REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB, AND EVERY DEALER OR LOCKSMITH I CONTACTED HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V482000 CONCERNING FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND DEALER WON'T HONOR THE RECALL, CLAIMING NEED TO PERFORM FIRST A DIAGNOSTIC. CONSUMER PAID $75.00. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK

UPON PLACING KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN SWITCH ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. MECHANIC HAD NOT YET RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK