2000 Ford Focus complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED OTHER DRIVER. BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CHEMICALS THAT CAME OUT OF AIRBAG SENT PASSENGERS TO HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS BURNS TO FACE. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CHEMICAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BEARING FAILURE DAMAGED ABS SYSTEM. ONLY WARNING WAS ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 75 MPH, CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER BEFORE CAR COULD BE CONTROLLED. PREVIOUSLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 22,764 MILES. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT ATTACHED TO THAT FAILURE, AS WE COULD HEAR THE SLIGHT ROUGH OR GRINDING NOISE, AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANT SERVICE. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED, AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK

MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON ADAMS ROAD THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN. SHE THEN PULLED THE CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE NEGINE AND PROCEED. THE FUEL TANK WAS 1/2 FULL. NO WARNING LIGHTS (IE. "CHECK ENGINE") WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE STALLED ENGINE CONDITION. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON APRIL 18, 2002 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION AND THAT WE "SHOULD WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN" BEFORE BRINGING IT IN FOR A CHECK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT REPEATING ITSELF IN A HIGHWAY SITUATION.*AK

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO THE FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD FACTORY BRAKES ALWAYS SQUEAK AND SO I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL THING FOR THIS MODEL CAR. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE BRAKES STOPPED SQUEAKING AND BEGAN TO SQUEAL AND GRATE THAT I BEGAN TO BE CONCERNED. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I AM CONTACTING YOU. I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT A CAR WITH JUST OVER 31,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! I HAVE BECOME VERY DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF FORD VEHICLES. IN MY RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, I DISCOVERED THAT I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS DIFFICULTY. IN FACT, I CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO FORD FOCUS BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE THIS COMPLAINT VERY SERIOUSLY AND RESEARCH THIS ISSUE YOURSELVES. IT COST ME $248.00 TO DEAL WITH THIS TODAY, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHERS' EXPERIENCES THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE NEW BRAKES WILL DO THE SAME AS THE OLD. I AM FRUSTRATED AND NERVOUS. I HAVE A VERY SMALL CHILD WHOM I TRANSPORT IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF THESE FAULTY BRAKES AND ROTORS CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE.*AK

FUEL TANK MEASURING FLOAT IS WRONG . I HAD A LITTLE MORE THAN A1/4 TANK OF FUEL AND IT WOULD NOT START THETOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT THE FOCUS MODEL IS KNOWN FOR THAT PROBLEM. WE THEN PUT 3GALS OF GAS IN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.ALSO WHEEL BEARING IN REAR WENT CAN'T GET INSPECTED TILL FIXED. DEALER SAYS COULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO FIX. I NEED A RENTAL CAR I MUST BE ABLE TO GET AROUNDTILL IT IS FIXED.PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN EVERYTIME IT WAS DRIVEN, WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH UP TO 51 MPH. MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 49361. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED SINCE.*JB

VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS , REAR TIRES WEAR OUT WITHIN 2 WEEKS. THE REAR OF VEHICLE WILL SWERVE.*JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP.*JB

THE CONSUMER ECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V303, A RETAINER CLIP WAS INSTALLED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS ALRIGHT AND DIDNOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS DESTROYED, THE SPINDLE WAS RUINED AND THE WHEEL WAS READY TO COME OFF, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB *NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN.*JB

VEHICLE WOULD STALL AROUND 30 MPH ON A DAILY BASIS, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED SINCE. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IDLING AT A STOPLIGHT, FORD CONSUMER AFFAIRS STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS THAT TOUCHED THE ENGINE, MELTED THE INSULATION, CAUSING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE, AND AN IMBALANCE SHORTED THE BATTERY CABLE. *SLC

CAR SOMETIMES STALLS OR EXPERIENCES HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING...SUCH AS MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND HAVING CARS SWERVE AROUND YOU. ONLY NOTICE THE ACCELERATION AND STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN GAS GOES BELOW HALF A TANK. AFRAID TO MERGE ONTO FREEWAY FOR FEAR OF ACCIDENT AND BEING STRANDED.*AK

BRAKES SQUEAKING. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE FRONT PADS. TOLD IT WAS B/C OF MY DRIVING HABITS, BUT READ OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME THING.*AK

MOLDING ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR COMING OFF; DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE B/C OF ALL THE RECALLS AND CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK FOR ALL OF THESE RECALLS; THUMPING COMING FROM UNDER STEERING COLUMN, TOLD THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR, BUT SOUNDS LIKE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED IN REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; OVERDRIVE OFF BUTTON DOESN'T WORK; BRAKES SQUEAK AND WEAR DOWN TOO EASILY AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET THEM REPLACED;THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR B/C I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET MY OLD CAR FIXED ALL OF THE TIME. I THOUGHT BUYING A NEW CAR WOULD ELIMINATE THIS, BUT I TAKE THIS TO THE SHOP ALL THE TIME FOR RECALLS AND PROBLEMS. THIS IS INSANE! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!

AFTER RECAL O1I700000 CONCERNING REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS DONE, THEY STARTED HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT TO FIX THE BRAKES AND HEMBORG FORD TOLD ME, "THAT'S JUST THE WAY FORD BRAKES ARE, METAL ON METAL".. I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.. AS IT HAS LOCKED ME IN MANY TIMES..THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN HALF THE TIME.. THE GAS GAUGE ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME.. I WISH I HAD NEVER PURCHASED THIS HORRIBLE PRODUCT.. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN AND I ENCOURAGE FRIENDS AND FAMILY NOT TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT EITHER! *AK

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE DIED, CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM BATTERY, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT WIRE GROUNDED WITH THE BATTERY STARTED THE FIRE. *TT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE, THEN SLOWING AND COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF. VEHICLE HAS TO SIT FOR AN HOUR BEFORE STARTING BACK UP, AND WILL DRIVE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND DO THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN.*AK

I HAVE HAD THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES IN THE SHOP FOR 4 OR MORE TIMES COMBINED. HAVE HAD BEARINGS REPLACED ALSO 2X'S. *AK

POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE IS BURNING OFF INSULATION.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE HARNESS HAS GOTTEN SO HOT THAT IT HAS BURNED THE RED PLASTIC CABLE COVER BLACK AND HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BULGE OUT AS IF IT COULD BURST, CONSUMER STATES THE POSITIVE WIRE WAS CUT FROM THE BATTERY PAST TERMINAL AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PROBLEMS AS OF YET, ALSO TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING AT THE CASE HALF, ALSO THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

PE 02 020: AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRE: VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED A FIRE ON DRIVER'S SHIRT AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON LEFT ARM. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

MANY SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED. *AK

WHEN PARKING VEHICLE ON A HILL EMERGENCY BRAKES WILL NOT INGAGE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE GEAR THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED INTO THE IGNITION. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION COLUMN. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND HAS DENIED ANY KNOWEDGE OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. *AK

PREMATURE FAILURE OF FRONT DISK ROTORS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT AND WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THE FAILURE OF THE ROTORS IS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" YET OWNERS ARE REPORTING FREQUENT FAILURES. THERE IS EVEN AN INTERNET SITE DEVOTED SOLELY TO THIS DEFECT, WHICH FORD HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED.*AK

UNABLE TO START VEHICLE , COULDN'T PUT KEYS INTO THE IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED.DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGINTION CYLINDER 2 TWICE.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WILL STALL OUT , ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 7000 MILES. AT 25000 MILES THE CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS- HESITATION, WHINING NOISES, AND HARD SHIFTING. THE TRUNK DOOR MUST BE SLAMMED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT CLOSES. ALSO A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WATER LEAK HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT WAS FIXED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

CONSMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES ROTOR WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY . NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE DRIVING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HESITATES. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. NLM

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS THE FUEL PUMP RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW AND CAUSES THE STALLING. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER ATVARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW AND CAUSING THE STALLING. NLM

CONSUMER STATES ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM DEALER REPLACED COIL PACK AND FUEL PUMP 6 TIMES. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER WARRANTY IS NOT VALID. THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF. THE MAIN BELT BROKE. THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES BROKE. IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAK ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. NLM

CONSUMER STATES UNABLE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO FACT THAT YOU CANNOT PUT KEY IN THE INGNITION. DEALER REPLACED PART. NLM

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BEING SHUT. NLM

WHEN MY CAR GOES 60+ MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES EXTREMELY BAD. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEED 4 NEW TIRES. WHAT GETS ME IS I HAVE 2 OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR, AND THE SAME PROBLEM. SOUNDS WEIRD. WE HAVE ALL HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT! NLM

FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEEL. UPON INSPECTION AT BRAKE SHOP IT WAS FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE FRONT PADS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE, BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE FORD DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AGO. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO FORD FOR A RECALL ON THE REAR BEARINGS AT 23,757 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE REAR DRUMS WERE REMOVED BUT APPARENTLY THE DRUMS WERE NOT WARPED OR THE MECHANIC DID NOT INSPECT PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THESE PROBLEMS ARE APPARENTLY COMMON TO THE FOCUS AS DOCUMENTED AT WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM, WHICH INCLUDES REPORTS OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. NLM

ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 26 2002 I AWOKE AT 5:30 AM TO DISCOVER MY CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT IT HAD STARTED UNDER THE DASH OR IN ENGINE. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY YARD SINCE ABOUT 6:00 PM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. *TS *NLM ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****760797

FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS: WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, OR DRIVING AROUND EXTENDED RIGHT HAND CURVES (LIKE FREEWAY ON- AND OFF-RAMPS [AKA CLOVERLEAFS]), THE CAR NEARLY STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE TURN. WHEN CONSUMER STEPS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STOP RUNNING. WHEN CONSUMER LETS OFF THE PEDAL, THE ENGINE RUNS AGAIN AND ONCE THE CAR HAS ROLLED IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, (50-100 FT.), CONSUMER IS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM BEGINS TO SHOW UP WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN FULL. AT THAT POINT, THE STALLING PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AFTER MAKING A HARD TURN. THE STALLING PROBLEM IS EASIER TO REPLICATE AS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL INDICATED BY THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS BELOW 3/8 OF A TANK. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT HAND TURNS. REAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS UP UNTIL ABOUT 38,000 MILES, THESE PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT, AND WERENOT EVIDENT MOST OF THE TIME. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT A DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE (OR EVEN REPRODUCE) THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO REOCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY, UNTIL NOW, THEY ARE PRESENT VIRTUALLY ALL THE TIME. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR TOGETHER. IF ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE OTHER PARTS ARE FUNCTIONING AS WELL. THE PROBLEMS ARE, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FLASH QUICKLY. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IF THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON WITHOUT THE BRAKES (AS IN APPROACHING A TURN OR SIGNALING A LANE CHANGE), TH

BRAKES REPLACED AT 20000 MILES, TRUNK RELEASE AND PWR DOORLOCKS STOPPED WORKING, HEADLIGHTS DEVELOPED MOISTURE, TRUNK WONT SHUT W/OUT SLAMMING, NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES, AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORE OUT AT 19,094. HAD JUST TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR 15,000 MILE CHECK UP. DEALER S*AK

FORD 2000 FOCUS IGNITION LOCK FAILURE - LOCKSMITH WEBSITES TALK ABOUT THIS AND OFFER SPECIAL PARTS TO FIX IT - WHY DOESN'T FORD TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS LATENT DEFECT THAT IS RUINING QUALITY. THIS IS JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE OF THE 2000 FOCUS AND ITS LAUNDRY LIST OF RECALLS (4 MORE IN THE WORKS AS I UNDERSTAND IT). THIS IS A PREVALENT MECHANICAL FAILURE AND IS ACTIONABLE. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS CONTACT ME TO JOIN.*AK