Page 58 of 74 · complaints 2,851–2,900 of 3,686

2000 Ford Focus complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 10, 2002OK

CAR STARTED STALLING BEFORE IT RAN OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD FIGURE OUT. THAT LASTED AS LONG AS THE WARRANTY DID. I PERSONALY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTERS EACH TIME. THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO STALL SENSE UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM ,THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I'VE CONTACTED FORD CORP. AND YOU GET NO HELP FROM THEM. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASION AS LONG AS THE CAR SIT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL START AND RUN FOR AWHILE THEN IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE IT THE DEALER EACH TIME TO TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS PROBLEM COULD END IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T TAKE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jun 8, 2002FL

KEY IGNITION WOULD NOT START CAR.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 8, 2002CA

THIS STALLING WHILE DRIVING PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH TIMES AT LOW SPEED. ONCE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT 90DEG TURN AND ONCE WHILE SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE SECONED TIME THE CAR WAS HARD TO RESTART.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jun 8, 2002FL

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY FORD FOCUS 2000, IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO RECALLS FOR WHEEL BEARINGS, PANELING, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED. SINCE LATE SEPT. 2000, THE ENGINE DIES AT APPROX. 45/MPH WHEN I PRESS THE CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR, SLOWING FROM A HIGHER SPEED. ON AUG. 21, 2001, I TOOK THE THE CAR TO MAROONE FORD IN MARGATE, FLORIDA BECAUSE IT HAD STALL (DIED) TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SAID THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IT PROPERLY. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD AND THEY CAME OUT AND DROVE WITH ME. THE CAR DID NOT STALL AT THAT TIME, AND HE ADVISED ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE CAR! I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN LIED TO BY FORD AND BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, MAROONE FORD, MARGATE. I HAVE COPIES OF LETTERS THAT I SENT TO MAROONE FORD, AND TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT MAROONE FORD AS WELL AS A COPY OF THE INITIAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD APPLICATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, AND THAT I WANT FORD TO EITHER FIX MY VEHICLE OR GIVE ME A SAFE CAR. I WAS A FULL-TIME NURSING STUDENT AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA WHEN THIS STARTED, I AM NOW A REGISTERED NURSE STILL DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 8, 2002CA

BRAKES SQUEALING - TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP- NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES THIS WAS ON JAN. 18, 2002- HAD TO HAVE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED ON 5/31/2002. THROTTLE STUCK IN JAN 2002. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 7, 2002PA

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. AFTER INSPECTION BY DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. *AK NOT ONLY THE FUEL PUMP, BUT FUSE TO FUEL PUMP AND GASKET FOR FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED. *YH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jun 7, 2002MD

WHEN SLIPPERY OUT, THE BRAKES WILL NOT GRASP PROPERLY. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED THESE DIFFICULTIES AS FOLLOWED, POWER STEERING SYSTEM (EXPLODED, W/3-4 WEEK REPAIRS), TRUNK LOCK WAS BROKEN, KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WORKS IMPROPERLY, THE TRUNK LOCK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES & STILL OCCURS, THE WINSHIELD ARM RECENTLY BROKE, AND CONCLUDES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO SLIDES IN DRY WEATHER. CONSUMER ADDS THAT SHE HAD FILED A COMPLAINT W/ BOARD OF FORD, THE CASE WAS LOST AFTER RECIEVING A LOANER CAR (DUE TO TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS) AND SAYS THAT SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY OUT THE LEASE (WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCT 2002) *SCC

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Jun 7, 2002NY

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL AND I AM TURNING RIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, IF IT DOES NOT STALL, IT WILL JERK INTO DIFFERENT GEARS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. ONE TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS ON A SHARP CURVE AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE AND ALMOST HIT SOMEONE.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 7, 2002NC

CAR STALLED. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (APPLE FORD), REPLACED FUSE. STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED. GAS GUAGE READ INACURATE. ANOTHER NEW FUEL SYSTEM. STILL READ INACURRATE. A NEW CONSOLE. STILL READS INACCURATE TO THIS DAY. JUST GAVE UP TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Jun 7, 2002CA

SIX WEEKS PREVIOUSLY, ENGINE STALLED ON FREEWAY. DEALER SAID COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AND LET THEM KNOW IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 5/31/02 COULD NOT GET CAR TO GO; HAD TOWED TO DEALER. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THEY FINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR INTAKE VALVE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. TODAY I HEAR ABOUT THE FOCUS STALLING PROBLEM POSSIBLY BEING CAUSED BY DEBRIS IN GAS TANK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR IT WILL STALL AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS LUCKY THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND DID NOT GET INTO A CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AND GET IT OFF THE FREEWAY. OTHER CONTINUING PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD THE DEALER FIX OVER 3 TIMES EACH: SQUEAKING BRAKES AND MOLDING AROUND THE DOORS FALLING OFF.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 7, 2002CA

ENGINE STALLED WHEN MAKING A CLOCKWISE HAIRPIN TURN (FREEWAY TRANSITION) WITH APPROX. 1/4 TANK OF GAS. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 7, 2002WA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 7, 2002CO

I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES BECAUSE WHEN IM DRIVING SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT BE MOVING AND THE CAR JUST DON'T HAVE NO POWER AT ALL. THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.

Suspension › FrontCrash
Filed Jun 7, 2002NY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 7, 2002MN

ON TWO OCASIONS THE CAR STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION. CAR THEN RESTARTED AND CONTINUED ON. BOTH CAME WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER. REPORTING BECAUSE OF ARTICLE I SAW IN USA TODAY DATED 6-7-2002.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Jun 7, 2002FL

I WANT TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH MY FOCUS. MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT. WHENEVER I HAVE MY LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT I HAVE A BAD POBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING ALONG WITH MY DASH LIGHTS. THE DEALER SAYS IT CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN THE LIGHTS ON. MY NIECE ALSO HAS A 2000 FOCUS AND IT DOES THE SAME THING. I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. IT SEEMS TO BE A GROUND PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED IT ON THE ROAD WITH OTHER FOCUSES THAT I SEE DRIVING AT NIGHT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU HOWARD K. LAMB. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Flasher Unit
Filed Jun 7, 2002MS

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AS IF IT IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WILL NOT STOP BLINKING WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY EAST FORD IN FEB 2001 AND THIS PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THESE ARE MORE DEFECTS IN THE FOCUS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 7, 2002PA

APPROX, 1 MONTH AGO THE ENGINE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. 6/6/02 THE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON HIGHWAY OFFRAMP. 6/7/02 CAR STALLED OUT WHILE GOING APPROX 35MPH ON A CITY STREET. THIS SOUNDS ALARMINGLY LIKE THE "FOCUS" OF ONE OF THE TWO NEW INVESTIGATIONS BEING OPENED. I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET MY DEALER TO LET ME OUT OF MY LEASE. THANKS.*AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 7, 2002CO

THE ACCELORATOR CABLE STUCK ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE RPM'S TO INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. BECAUSE OF VERY CAREFUL DRIVING, NO ONE WAS INJURED. FORD CLAIMS THIS IS A "MINOR PROBLEM". SECONDLY, PHIL LONG REPLACED SOME FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. FROM THAT DAY THE VEHICLE HAS HAD EXCESSIVE FRONT END NOISE.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 6, 2002MA

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLSION OF 1-5 MPH AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING FRONT WINDSHIELD DAMAGES ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. DRIVER SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON RIGHT FOREARM AND SOME ON HIS RIGHT HAND. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. .*AK.*NLM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 6, 2002KS

6/3/02 : MY FORD FOCUS WAS ACCELERATING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO INTERSTATE 70 IN ABILENE, KANSAS, AND UPON REACHING ABOUT 40 MPH IT SUDDENLY STALLED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS PLENTY OF SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON TO MANHATTAN, KANSAS, WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM. LATER THAT EVENING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE FOCUS FROM MY DRIVEWAY INTO MY GARAGE, IT STARTED UP OK, BUT THEN STALLED AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS. IT STALLED ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER EACH TIME IT STARTED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, DICK EDWARDS FORD, IN MANHATTAN, KANSAS, FOR 6/5/02. I DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON 6/4/02. ON 6/5/02, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED/FIXED. ABOUT 2 MILES FROM MY HOUSE, THE FOCUS SUDDENLY STALLED AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED THE REMAINING 3 MILES TO THE DEALER. 6/6/02 : THE FOCUS IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE SERVICE BAY AT DICK EDWARDS FORD IN MANHATTAN, KANSAS. TOMORROW (6/7/02) THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $500.00 (ESTIMATE). TONIGHT (6/6/02) I SAW A REPORT ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS ABOUT FORD FOCUSES BEING INVESTIGATED FOR STALLING PROBLEMS. PERHAPS IT IS MERE COINCIDENCE, PERHAPS NOT. THE REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE A RESULT OF DEBRIS ACCUMULATING IN THE FUEL TANK. ALSO NOTEWORTHY IS THE FACT THAT MY FOCUS HAD ITS 100,000 MILE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON 4/19/02, INCLUDING A NEW FUEL FILTER AND TUNE-UP. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Jun 5, 2002VA

WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER INSPECTION BY DEALER PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 5, 2002MI

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL JERK, ON ONE OCCASION IT WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 35MPH AND THEN IT STALLED, VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER WHO CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

Power Train › Driveline › Constant Velocity Joint
Filed Jun 5, 2002FL

C V JOINT AND SHAFT FELL APART WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. PIECES THROW EVERYWHERE.WHEEL BEARINGS MELTING TO REAR DRUMS . BACK DRUMS REPLACED AND ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS. DOOR LOCK SYSTEM REPLCED AFTER STOP WORKING. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jun 5, 2002PA

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF A LEAK AND A WHIRRING SOUND WHILE IN MOTION. *JG

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Jun 3, 2002CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Jun 3, 2002PA

AS A FINAL GESTURE OF GOODWILL, OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED US A 24 HOUR PERIOD TO CONSIDER A $2,000 TRADE-IN CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FORD VEHICLE AT 0% FINANCING. THIS WOULD HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED MY DAUGHTER'S MONTHLY CAR AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS. BECAUSE HER JOB WAS NOT YET A PERMANENT POSITION, SHE WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE A $4,000 LOSS AND DOUBLE HER MONTHLY PAYMENTS. ONCE THAT OFFER HAD EXPIRED WE WERE MET WITH STONY INDIFFERENCE BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM WE CAME AWAY CONVINCED THAT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND: 1) TO OFFER ONE'S LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS THE ONLY PATH OF RECOURSE OTHER THAN A NATION-WIDE 1 (800) CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE; 2) TO STAUNCHLY REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE NAMES AND MAILING ADDRESSES OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND/OR REGIONAL LEVEL; AND 3) TO DISCOURAGE MAILINGS TO THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (MICHAEL JORDAN) OR CEO (WILLIAM CLAY FORD) WITH COMMENTS SUCH AS "DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, THEY DON'T EVEN OPEN THEIR MAIL." THE END RESULT IS THAT THE CAR OWNER FEELS TOTALLY POWERLESS ONCE THE GOODWILL OF THEIR DEALERSHIP'S IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS RUN OUT. WHEN COMBINED WITH HOLDING OPEN A 24-HOUR TRADE-IN OFFER TOWARD A MORE EXPENSIVE FORD VEHICLE, THE END RESULT WAS A PSYCHOLOGICALLY OPPRESSIVE HARD-SELL TACTIC.NO SAFETY DEFE

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 2, 2002NJ

TONIGHT MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING FROM OUR HOME TO PICK UP OUR SON IN SOUTH JERSEY. HE WAS IN 3RD GEAR AND GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CAR JUST DIED. A TOW TRUCK CAME. CAR UNABLE TO START. THANKFULLY NOONE WAS WITH HIM AND IT WAS AT NIGHT BECAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I SEE THAT 72 INCIDENTS OF SIMILAR FOCUS CARS DYING HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. I WOULD LIKE MY CAR ADDED AS THE 73RD INCIDENT. ODDLY IT WAS AT 30,000 MILES LIKE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED HAPPENING TO THE OTHER FOCUS CARS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Jun 1, 2002FL

THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICAL HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIME SINCE MY PURCHASE. ROTORS, CALIPERS PADS AND SHOES ONCE AT 12,000 MILES , PADS AND SHOES AGAIN AT 23,000. CALIPERS ROTORS AND SHOES AND DRUMS AT 48,000. SOMETHING IS WRONG.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed May 29, 2002CO

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 28, 2002CA

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, ENGINE REVS. THROTTLE RECALL WAS DONE FIRST IN OCTOBER OF 2001, THEN A SECOND TIME.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 28, 2002NY

WHILE TRYING TO PARK IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND PREVENTED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 28, 2002FL

WHILE ENTERING KEY INTO IGNITION SWITCH THE KEY WOULD NOT ENTER ALL THE WAY THROUGH. HAD A LOCKSMITH FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages
Filed May 28, 2002TX

WHEN BRAKING ENGINE REVS HIGH AND VEHICLE ACCELERATES FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 23, 2002VA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A POT HOLE. THE RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND INFORMED NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 21, 2002VA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 20, 2002WI

DURING A MINOR VEHICLE CRASH, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS DUE TO AIR BAG CONTACT.*SLC

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 20, 2002TX

DURING A VEHICLE CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed May 18, 2002NV

BRAKES WERE CHECKED AT 13,OOO MILES. MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE OK. ALWAYS BLACK GRIT ON RIMS ON FRONT TIRES. HAVE GONE INTO MANY LEMON SITES AND NEUMEROUS OWNERS SAY THEY HAVE HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT VARIOUS LOW MILEAGE'S. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER TELLS ME THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS. BULL. FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, FORD MUST OWN UP TO. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU BRAKES CONSTANTLY SCREECH WHEN BRAKING, OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL!*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 15, 2002MI

VEHICLE DIED. PISTON RINGS STICK IN VALVE AND THE SHUTS DOWN. CONSUMER HAS FIVE RECALLS ON HER CAR. ALSO, SHE HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND AIR CONDITIONER LEAKED, AN O-RING WAS REPLACED IN THE AIR CONDITIONER, HOWEVER IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed May 15, 2002NY

BRAKE CALIPERS ON ALL FOCUS CARS ARE DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DISK PADS AND ROTORS CALIPERS ARE STICKING.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 14, 2002FL

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, MOSTLY AROUND 35 MPH. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed May 14, 2002VA

THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING MANY TIMES WITH THE FOCUS. I CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY - "NO, AND YES IT IS THE FUEL PUMP, WE HAVE DONE 4 IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS."*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed May 13, 2002NY

ACCELERATER PEDAL GOT JAMMED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed May 13, 2002FL

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 13, 2002PA

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE . SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED ON VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS DURING THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF FOUR 2000 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACKS THAT OUR COMPANY OWNS. THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WASN'T UNDER 36,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. AFTER POINTING THIS OUT TO FORD THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE NHTSA SITE FOR COMPLAINTS ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING .*AK

Suspension › Multiple Axle
Filed May 12, 2002NY

DESPITE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RECALLS, OUR LEFT REAR TIRES WARPED SO BADLY DUE TO THE BEARING DEFECT THAT WE WERE FORCED TO REPLACE THEM. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGED TIRES AND FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS THE VEHICLE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE DAMAGE. WE REPLACED BOTH REAR TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHICH MADE STEERING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. DESPITE THE NEW TIRES, THERE IS STILL FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE WE ARE NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT THE BEARING RECALL HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH NEW TIRES FOR SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCINGS AND YET WE STILL GET STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WHOLE SITUATION IS CAUSING FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE OUR DEALER TELLS US THAT THE ONLY RECOURSE WE HAVE IS TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR CONSTANT ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCING TO AVOID THE VIBRATION AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL FOR SIMILAR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS THE HONDAS AND NISSANS.*AK

Fuel System, Other
Filed May 10, 2002LA

GAS GAUAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, VEHICLE DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT GAS LEVEL.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 10, 2002LA

WHEN PLACING KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION SO THAT THE VEHICLE CAN START, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 10, 2002FL

ENGINE STALLED AT 30 TO 35 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY. CONSUMER STATED THAT PROBLEM STILL OCCURING.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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