2001 Ford Focus complaints

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, BEFORE THE FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED.*JB

THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING COLUMN FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE.*JB *TS

FRONT BREAKS SQUEAKED. BROUGHT TO DEALER. PUT IN FRONT BRAKES AND PADS. STILL SQUEAKED. BACK TO DEALER. TOLD ME NOW I NEEDED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND THE DRUM NEEDS TO BE SANDED. CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NAR 03/05/2003 THE VEHICLE ENGINE SPED OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF WITH A HUGH BURST OF SPEED, AND THE CAR RAN INTO THE SHRUBBERY AT THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT. *CB

NAR 03/05/2003 ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF A INVOICE BILLED TO THE CONSUMER FOR PARTS THAT WERE NOT INSTALLED BY SERVICE DEALER. *CB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. *DT *NLM

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING. *NLM

MY WIFE PURCHASED A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE WASHER TANK IS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THE PROBLEM. (GEORGE COLEMAN FORD TRAVELERS REST, SC). WE THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINEERS HAVE NO REPAIR PROCESS AT THIS TIME. *JB

MY NEW 2001 VEHICLE IN LESS THAN A YEAR STARTED MAKING CLUCKING NOISE LOUD VIBRATION. THE COMPLETE AXLE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND NEW TIRES THE BEARINGS FAILED AND FORD WOULD NOT HELP. EVEN THOUGH IT USUALLY TAKES SIX YEARS BEFORE THEY GO THEY CONFIRMED THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SPENT OVER 300.00 DOLLARS WITH ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THEY SHOULD PAY.

FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS ARE WORN AND MUST BE REPLACED AFTER 15,000 MILES. FORD DEALER CLAIMS THE PREMATURE WEAR IS NORMAL AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN GENTLY IN A COMBINATION OF CITY AND OPEN ROAD DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY UNUSUAL BRAKING REQUIREMENTS. WE LIVE NEAR SOME MOUNTAINS, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST NEVER DRIVEN IN THE MOUNTAINS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO UNUSUAL EVENTS THAT MIGHT HAVE DAMAGED THE BRAKES. THEREFORE THE PAD AND/OR ROTOR ARE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER. THERE IS NO WAY THAT TOTAL WEAR OF THE BRAKES SHOULD OCCUR IN ONLY 15,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING.*JB

MALFUNCTION OF FUEL FILTER. WAS REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. MALFUNCTION OF STEERING ASSEMBLY. WAS REPLACED TWICE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. MALFUNCTION OF BRAKING SYSTEM. WAS REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. ALL WITHIN A 16 MONTH PERIOD AFTER PURCHASING THE AUTOMOBILE IN MAY OF 2001. IT IS A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3.

THE STEERING WHEEL WANDERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT.*JB

NARY 02/28/2003 MR NEW FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT 29 THOUSAND MILES. *CB

AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILALBE, AND THE BEARINGS WOULD ONLY BE INSPECTED AND NOT REPLACED.(NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01I017000).*JB

THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*JB

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTOR WITH PREMATURE WEAR

THE BATTERY CABLES WERE MISROUTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BE INOPERATIVE.*JB

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS FOR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL.*JB....*AK

FORD FOCUS 2001. PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2001. HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENTION. HAS BEEN IN SHOP 6 TIMES TO BE FIXED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE NOISE KEEP ON COMMING BACK. THE CAR HAS NUMBERS OF OTHER PROBLEMS. THE BREAKS MAKE NOISE, THE WINDSHIELS LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS, AND WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS.

I WAS TAKING THE SOUTH I-75 EXIT RAMP TO EAST M-59 AND EXPERIENCED A STALL OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP - WHERE YOU MERGE WITH TRAFFIC GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS A WIDE, SWEEPING RIGHT HAND TURN. I DRIVE THE ROUTE OFTEN, AND HAD EXPERIENCED HESITITATION ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED. THE TANK WAS 1/4 FULL. AFTER ROLLING TO A STOP UNDER THE I-75 OVERPASS BRIDGE, I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED. I PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE - COUNTING MY BLESSINGS I HAD NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC, AND HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE TANK. HE SHOWED ME HOW THE FILTER WAS DESIGNED AND BECAME EASILY CLOGGED. HE ALSO SAID THAT FORD HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MUST BE CORRECTED, OR I WILL BE RELACING THE FUEL PUMP IN ANOTHER 30K OR SO MILES. IT'S NOT ONLY THE $300, BUT THE THOUGHT OF BEING REAR-ENDED THAT SHOULD CONCERN FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AS WELL AS THE AUTHORITIES.

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A PROBLEM WHICH IS NOW A RECALL. HOW DO I KNOW IF I RECEIVE ALL RECALLS. IS IT MY RESPONSIBILITY OR FORDS TO KEEP ME INFORMED. PH

I JUST BOUGHT VEHICLE USED IN NOVEMBER WITH 13K ON IT. THE TRUNK LATCH WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT. IT WOUDN'T WORK UNLESS I SHUT IT REALLY HARD. THE SPLIT REAR SEAT DOESN'T LATCH EITHER. NOW AFTER15K MILES AND THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND I KEEP LOOSING BRAKE FLUID. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND A TECH FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING FLUID. I WONDER IF THAT IS WHY MY CLUTCH IS SLIPPING?

16K- DEC 02 BRAKES AND ROTORS SHOT $387 16.5K JAN 03 TRANSMISSION REBUILT 2 WEEKS DUE TO PARTS ON BACK ORDER 16.7K FEB 7, 2003 LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AS WIFE PULLED INTO TRAFFIC FULL EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME

BAD EGR SYSTEM FOLLOWED BY BATTERY GROUND FAILURE. PH

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT GEARS DOWN VERY HARD AND JERKS. THE POWER SHUTS DOWN AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE DASH BOARD GETS VERY DIM. TOOK TO DEALER, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED , RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE AND STEERING FUNCTIONS. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK. PH

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEARING AT AN UNUSUAL SPEED. (MODEL-ZX3) SCC

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE HAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE BRAKES HAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE, PULSATION WHEN MODERATE-HARD BRAKING, AND GRINDING, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP-BROKEN, BATTERY AND CASE, BELT ASSEMBLY AND IDLER SEAL, TRANSMISSION/PAN GASKET LEAK, TEMP GUAGE-FOUND BURNT RESISTER/CONNECTOR-GOES HOT AND COOLS WHEN A/C IS ON AND THE FAN DOES NOT COME ON, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING, THE FUEL SENDER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY/INOP, AND THE REAR SUSPENSION-REAR SHOCKS-SEEMED WEAK AND HEARS A NOISE IN THE REAR END WHEN GOING OVER A DIP. SCC

ON JAN 4, 2003 WHILE DRIVING IN THE FOG AT A LOW SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES OR A LITTLE LESS THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS INTERMITTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND THROWING US AND THE CAR UP ON A MERIDIAN. THE AIRBAGS WERE EMITTING BLACK SMOKE AND THE DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AMOUNT TO $6188.00. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED.

MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 STALLS ON CURVES AND HESITATES AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON ONE OCCASION BECAUSE MY SPEED DROPPED RAPIDLY ON A CORNER. TS

BRAKES SQUEAL AT LEAST 4 TIMES NOW. IT WILL BE GOING BACK FOR A FIFTH TIME NEXT WEEK. THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM VERY EMBARRASSED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BEING SO NOISY. TS

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING WOULD FEEL NAUSEOUS AND BEGIN VOMITING. MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH EGR PRESSURE SENSOR CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE'S INTERIOR CABIN. TS

SQUEAKING BRAKES. *AK *TS

WHILE GETTING ON THE OFF RAMP WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE BRAKES *POPPED* AND FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE HAND BRAKE. HAD IT SERVICED BY FORD AND IT WAS A MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE.

CAR HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON THE FREEWAY AND IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR EXCESSIVE BREAK NOISE. ON ONE OCCASION THE REAR DRUMS HAD TO BE TURNED DUE TO DRUMS BEING GLAZED OVER. DEALERSHIP EITHER CHANGES OUT THE PADS OR ADDS AN ADDITIVE TO SOFTEN THE PADS TO STOP THE NOISE

THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRES, HAS HAD TERRIBLE ROAD NOISE FOR THE PAST 6,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 6,000 MILES. LAST NIGHT AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW SET OF TIRES ON FROM A NEW CAR, TO PROVE TO ME THAT IT WAS THE TIRES. I AM NOT HAPPY! ALSO, THE INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED NEW BRAKES...OKAY, THAT IS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED NEW ROTORS. NOTHING THAT THEY COULD BE TURNED...JUST THAT I NEED NEW ONES. WHEN I STILL HAVE BRAKE PADS. HOW CAN THAT BE? ARE THEY MADE OF SOFT METAL THAT THEY DON'T LAST? THAT FORD COUNTS THAT AS A WEARING PROBLEM, SO THE COST IS ON ME?

OUR SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 FORD FOCUS ON A SMALL BACK ROAD NEAR A SHOPPING CENTER. HE WAS DRIVING APPROMIMATELY 20 MPH THRU A SLIGHT CURVE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN, HE LIGHTLY APPLIED HIS BRAKES AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO NEGOTIATE THE SLIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD, BUT HIS STEERING HAD FAILED - UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE HIS CAR VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE THEN BACK TO HIT THE CURB. THE IMPACT ACTIVATED THE AIR BAGS, SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD A COMPLETELY CLEAN BREAK - USUALLY NOT SEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO ME BY SEVERAL FORD EMPLOYEES AS A "VERY SUSPICIOUS BREAK" AS WELL AS THE TOW DRIVER FROM THE FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. OUR SON ALSO REPORTED TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT HE FELT A "SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT RIGHT END " OF THE 2001 FORD FOCUS. HE PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE CAR- BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG - CONTINUED AND THE VIBRATION HAD CEASED. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AS HE USUALLY TRAVELS ON A DAILY BASIS.

VEHICLE STARTS TO LOSE POWER. ENGINE MISFIRES, THEN STALLS. AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES, CAR WILL RESTART FINE. WILL THEN REPEAT.

VEHICLES' BRAKE PAD DETERIORATED, THEY WERE ONLY AT 20% STATED THE MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

ENGINE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, DURING ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. A ENGINE LIGHT WITH AN 'EXCLAMATION POINT' COMES ON, THE RED LIGHT NEAR THE HAZARDS BUTTON COMES ON, AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THIS STALLING HAPPENS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE CAR BEGINNING TO STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A VALVE (RTC, I THINK) IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL INFECTORS CLEANED, ALL FOR ABOUT $200. I HAD THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND USED TECHRON FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE GAS TANK. THE DA I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND IT COTINUES TO DO SO.

ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL THIS EVENING ALL MY ELECTRICAL THINGS IN THE CAR STARTED FLICKERING AND THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF MY VENTS. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATLY, WHILE SOMEONE WAS YELLING AT ME GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF MY WHOLE ENTIRE HOOD AREA. THEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES, MELTING THROUGH THE HOOD, SCATTERING MY WINDSHIELD.

ENGINE STALLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR 3 TIMES.

CONSUMER REPORTED BATTERY FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED. *TT *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE VEHICLE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A HEAVY VIBRATION CAN BE FELT FOLLOWED BY EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF FRONT AND BACK BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE NOISY AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS PREMATURE. *JG *JB *NLM

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAVE PUT 17,100 MILES ON IT SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN MAY, 2001. AT THE LAST SERVICE, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 2002, THE FORD MECHANIC AT PRICE FORD IN MILLINGTON, TN. STATED THAT MY FRONT BRAKES & ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON. THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THIS AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR CAN OCCUR ON A CAR WITH ONLY 17,100 MILES! I HAVE OWNED 9 AUTOMOBILES IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BRAKES WEARING OUT IN UNDER 20,000 MILES! THIS MUST BE A DEFECT, OR ENGINEERING MISTAKE WITH FORD'S BRAKES! I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE MECHANIC WAS HIGH OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THE BRAKES CAN BE WORN OUT, BUT I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED 3 TIMES SINCE THEN DUE SPECIFICALLY TO THE BRAKES HAVING NO AFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE CAR. I'M LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF $400 TO GET NEW ROTORS AND PADS AND LABOR TO INSTALL THE NEW PARTS. THIS IS CRAZY! YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS TO SEE WHY ME AND MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES!

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE CONSUMER STATESTHAT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. STEERING WHEEL GETS STIFF AND IT LOCKS UP SOMETIME. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON. PH

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AS I WET OVER A SPEED BUMP BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHATTERING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DRIVER GOT MINOR BURNS ON LEFT ARM PASSENGER WAS HIT WITH GLASS FROM WINDSHIELD. TS