Page 26 of 36 · complaints 1,251–1,300 of 1,761

2001 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 2001 record →

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 12, 200310,500 milesTX

DIFFICULTY TURNING KEY IN IGNITION (ILC). *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 7, 200355,650 milesNJ

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED/STALLED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR. *AK *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed May 2, 200339,000 milesAL

2001 FORD FOCUS - STALLS IN CORNERS AND GOING UPHILL- JUST LOOSES POWER AND DIES. SOUNDS LIKE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD. *NLM

Structure
Filed May 2, 2003NH

FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR FILLS WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS. *TT

Electrical System
Filed Apr 30, 2003MD

MY CAR HAS A ELETRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM WHICH AL PACKER FORD CANNOT SEEM TO FIX. I,VE HAD TWO RECALLS THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE OF SO FAR .WHEN I PURCHASE MY CAR I BROUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I THOUGHT TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING INCLUDING A LOANER CAR WHICH THEY NERVER EVEN OFFERED FOR MY INCONVINECE

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Apr 29, 200360,000 miles00

THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLES REAR WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *NLM

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Apr 29, 2003SC

THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT IN THE ARM CONTROL. *NLM.

TiresCrash
Filed Apr 24, 200318,000 milesLA

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT. THE REAR END MAKES LOUD NOISE, I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THEY ALWAYS TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG. IT MAKES A ROARING NOISE IN THE REAR END, AND SOMETHING IS SCRAPPING ON THE TIRE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. IN JULY, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 KIDS, AND THE TIRE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE JUST WENT TO PIECES. WE WERE IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. WE WENT OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE WOODS WHERE THE TREES STOPPED OUR ACCELERATION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT COME OUT. I WAS SO THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE, AND MY KIDS ALSO. WE SUSTAINED ABOUT 8000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, AND NOW THE SAME TIRE THAT BLEW OUT, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE REPAIRMAN IS WORN AGAIN. I AM AFRAID EVERYTIME I DRIVE. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR, AND NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE IT AS A TRADE-IN BECAUSE OF THE BOTCHED DEAL UPON PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. THIS IS THE CAR FROM "HECK". NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THE ROARING NOISE IN THE REAR IS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. I HAVE HAD THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE WITH THIS CAR. IT IS A LEMON ON WHEELS, AND THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER FOCUS OWNER, AND SHE HAS DESCRIBED SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SPEAK OF ALL THE FOCUS' THEY SEE AS TROUBLE. PLEASE HELP. *NLM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 21, 200332,420 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Apr 20, 200351,500 milesNY

VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, IT SEEMED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT PUMPING BECAUSE GAS SEEMED TO NOT GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE. I WAS ALSO DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR AND THE GAUGE WENT DOWN. IT ALSO HAPPENED AT A LOWER SPEED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 19, 200347,077 milesAL

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS WHICH IS STALLING IN TRAFFIC. THE MOTOR ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DROPS SPEED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY INDICATIONS. VEHICLE STALLS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 75 DEGREES OR MORE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THE CAR THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR MAY, 2002. AND TO DATE, APRIL 19, 2003, IT CONTINUES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE DASH LIGHTS BLINKING WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL IN TRAFFIC WHEN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE CAR DID NOT HAVE STALLING PROBLEM, ONLY THE LIGHTS BLINKING. SINCE THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER, THE VEHICLE IS STALLING WITH THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AGAIN. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 18, 2003CA

THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 17, 200325,000 milesVA

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZTS. WITH A 1/2 TANK OF FUEL OR LESS, MY CAR STALLS IN MID ACCELERATION, WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES, DUE TO WHAT FEELS LIKE LACK OF FUEL. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE ONCE THE CURVE IS PASSED, I DO NOT IMMEDIATELY GET FUEL BACK TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT IT'S GETTING WORSE. IT ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH A 1/4 TANK OR LESS. NOW IT'S A 1/2 TANK OR LESS. IT'S STARTING TO WORRY ME. THIS HAPPENS AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS AND IS MUCH WORSE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN OFF-RAMP. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 16, 2003CA

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 16, 200337,980 milesAR

CAR STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 14, 200339,000 milesMI

STARTING AT ABOUT 39,000 MILES (OCTOBER, 2002), WHENEVER MY CAR HAD A QUARTER TANK OR LESS OF GAS, THE CAR WOULD START CHOKING AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IF I STOPPED AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT WOULD BE OK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED AFTER I HAD THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED, AND A MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED AT MANY SPEEDS, BUT MOST OFTEN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. TODAY, AT 49,000 MILES, I HAVE MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS, GOING ABOUT 35 MPH, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 13, 2003FL

MY FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN HAVING ABHORRED BRAKE WEAR. I HAVE PUT 50,000 MILE ON IT AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS 3 TIMES. I KNOW OF CARS GOING 80000 WITH NO PROBLEM. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING WRONG I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *NLM

Power Train › Axle AssemblyCrash
Filed Apr 11, 2003ME

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE LEFT AXLE SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Apr 9, 2003TN

AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT I MUST HAVE BOTH HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND THE FRONT BUMPER REPLACED ON MY 2001 FOCUS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY INSISTS THAT IT WILL ONLY PAY FOR AFTER MARKET PARTS, NOT OEM PARTS. FURTHER, THEY TELL ME THE AFTER MARKET PARTS CARRY NO CERTIFICATION THAT THEY ARE EQUAL TO THE OEM PARTS. I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE USING PARTS THAT ARE SAFETY RELATED THAT CANNOT BE CERTIFIED TO BE OF THE SAME KIND AND TYPE AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. DOES NHTSA HAVE A POSITION OF THE USE OF NON-OEM SAFETY PARTS IN THE REPAIR OF AN AUTOMOBILE? *JB

Tires
Filed Apr 9, 20031,000 milesDC

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND WORN ON THE INSIDE ALONG WITH AN EXPOSED WIRE. (THESE TWO TIRES WERE NOT OF THE SAME MANUFACTURER) OTHER PROBLEM WERE AS FOLLOWED: THE BUTTON ON THE CASSETTE PLAYER HAD BROKEN, THE ADJUSTER BUTTON FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD POPPED OFF, WHILE DRIVING THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED IN/OUT OF OVER DRIVE (TRANSMISSION PROBLEM-PER MECHANIC), THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WERE NO FUSES IN THE WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, TRUNK LOCK POPPED OFF, A/C BUTTON LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON, THE BRAKES SQUEALED(SINCE PURCHASE), THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, AND WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OTHER VEHICLE'S DUE TO THE SEATS BEING TOO HIGH. MR SCC *JB

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device
Filed Apr 9, 200320,201 milesCA

FOCUS ZX3 HAS 20,000 MILES, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, ENTIRE IGNITION LOCKED, COULDN'T TURN KEY, HAD TO BE TOWED AND TOOK A DAY TO REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *JB

SuspensionCrash
Filed Apr 8, 200314,012 milesWI

THE VEHICLE HIT A DITCH IN THE ROAD AND FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED COMPLETELY. *JB.................*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Apr 3, 200333,400 milesKS

I PURCHASED A NEW FORD FOCUS IN JULY OF 2001. MY WIFE USES THE CAR TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE LAIRD NOLLER DEALERSHIP IN LAWRENCE FOR THE 30,000 CHECK UP WITH 33,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AFTER SPENDING $300 FOR THE CHECK UP, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TWO MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A CAR THAT IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY SINCE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF STOP AND GO DRIVING. THERE A DOZENS OF LISTINGS ON THE INTERT AND THE NHTSA WEBSITE OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THEIR FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT FORD PUTS THIN ROTORS ON THE FOCUS TO BEGIN WITH SO THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED VERY EARLY. I WAS ALSO LEARNED FROM AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE PERSON THAT PERFORMED THE SERVICE ON OUR FOCUS HAS HAD TROUBLE MEETING HIS QUOTA OF UPSELLING REPAIRS ON CARS THAT COME IN FOR THEIR CHECK UP. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS SHAKING AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE MAKING NOISES. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN IT WAS FINE , AFTER WE PICKED IT UP IT SOUNDED HORRIBLE. WE CALLED BACK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. AFTER WAITING THE TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PADS BEGAN TO GRIND INTO THE ROTORS AND THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE WELL AT ALL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables
Filed Apr 2, 2003OH

THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL REGARDING THE BATTERY CABLE. *JB

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables
Filed Apr 1, 2003GA

THE BATTERY CABLES MAY BE MISROUTED/ DEFECTIVE PINCH BOLT. MR. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE BATTERY CABLE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND TRANSPORTATION BACK AND FOURTH TO THE DEALER. SCC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2003NJ

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BUCK/HESITATE. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Apr 1, 2003OH

ALL FUNCTIONS ON THE DASH BOARD FAILED, AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE A GROUND WIRE. *JB

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Mar 31, 200339,200 milesFL

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING 01 I 017 000 AND THE BATTERY CABLE 02 V 288 000. *JB

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Mar 31, 200351,000 milesMD

THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP. *JB LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS NOT HONORED UNDER RECALL. *TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 31, 200330,400 milesMI

THE ENGINE MOUNT BROKE FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB *TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2003TX

IT IS A 2001 FORD FOCUS WITH 50,000 MILES. THE ENGINE BEGAN STALLING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT WE HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT IS WAS JUST A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. IT IS GOING TO COST US $1,700 TO FIX. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, MANY INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED AND COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE. *NLM

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 26, 200311,000 milesMN

THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND CAUSE THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. *NLM

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES, WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *JB

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES, WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/ REPLACE. *JB

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES, WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *JB

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *JB

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES, WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *JB

Steering › Linkages
Filed Mar 25, 200337,000 milesMO

WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED MORE THAN 40 TO 50 MPH, THE REAR END VIBRATED, THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES, WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEREFORE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *JB

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 23, 200320,000 milesMO

REAR TIRES BALD AT 20,000. I HAVE REPLACED 4 TIRES AND NEED TO REPLACE 2 MORE. I HAVE 42,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES ALL ALONG, BUT THEY ALWAYS END UP WEARING QUICK IN THE REAR. FOR EXAMPLE ONE SET OF TIRES HAD GREAT TREAD WHEN THEY WERE ROTATED TO THE BACK WITH ABOUT 15,000, THEN AT 20,000 THEY WERE BALD!!! (LIKE SOMETHING IN THE REAR CHEWED THEM UP) CAR JUMPS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN HITTING MINOR BUMPS IN ROAD AND ON HIGHWAY, IT FEELS LIKE CAR DOESN'T HAVE GOOD CONTROL BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALERSHIP AND FORD REP. SAY TIRES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OF COURSE AND CLAIM NOT TO FIND ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THEY BLAME IT ON THE DRIVER STYLE. FUNNY THIS HAS NEVER EVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE, INCLUDING MY FIRST FOCUS LEMON I HAD FOR 25,000 MILES (THEY REPLACED MY FIRST FOCUS FOR US FOR FUEL PROBLEMS THEY COULDN'T FIX) I KICK MYSELF FOR AGREEING TO EXCHANGE FOR A NEW FOCUS. NEVERTHELESS, IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE AN ENGINEERING/DESIGN FLAW OR SOMETHING ELSE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS MAKING THESE TIRES WEAR SO FAST. *JB

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 20, 2003NY

THE REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO CAVE IN. *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Mar 19, 2003TX

THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Mar 19, 200312,000 milesTX

THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Mar 19, 200321,000 milesCA

THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE. *JB.....*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Mar 18, 2003FL

THE ENGINE MISSED USUALLY MILDLY, BUT SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY AS TO SHAKE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES STALL, ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RAW GAS SMELL, SUSPENSION, BRAKE,TRANSMISSION AND TIRE PROBLEMS.*AK. CONSUMER ALSO NOTED THE REAR HATCH POPPED OPEN BY ITSELF.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2003NY

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 17, 200319,550 milesWA

I BOUGHT A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING AND WAS HARD TO TAKE OFF AND THEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD ALL OF A SUDDEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY OILED THE CABLE AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW HOURS AND GOT STIFF AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. NOW WHEN I DRIVE IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN IT DIES. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. I FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *NLM

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2003CA

I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE FOURTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I GOT IT HOME THE FLUID WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO I TOOK IT BACK THE MECHANIC, AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Mar 13, 200332,000 milesPA

TREAD SEPARATION ON FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA P205-50R16 TIRE. I WAS TOLD BY FIRESTONE DEALER # 591289 (JOHNSTOWN, PA) THAT THE TIRE WAS "CUT" ON THE SIDEWALL DUE TO ABUSE. THIS TREAD SEPARATION IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DEFECT AS IF IT WERE A "RE-CAP" IN MY OPINION. I ALSO HAD THE TIRES LOOKED OVER BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE RETAILER WHO CONCURRED WITH MY SUSPICIONS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2003MD

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*JB *TS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Mar 10, 200340,000 milesOK

OUR CAR CURRENTLY HAS 40,000 AND THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WAS THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REPORTING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL AND AT TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED. MY WIFE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.*JB

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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