2001 Ford Focus complaints

I WAS STOPPED, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS TWICE TO ME. THE CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. *AK

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES VIOLENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT MORE THAN 55MPH. TOOK TO DEALER WHEN CAR HAD 10K MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. I ASKED DEALER WHY WERE THE ROTORS NOT REPLACED, WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE FINE. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER (AT 16K MILES) WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER UNTIL AUGUST. CAR NOW HAS 22K MILES. DEALER ADVISED THAT WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER, PROBABLY ROTORS ARE WARPED. EXPLAINED TO DEALER THAT ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME THE PADS WERE REPLACED AND DEALER INSISTED THAT THE ROTORS WERE FINE. SUBMITTED THIS SAME INFO TO A LAW FIRM IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PROGRESS AGAINST FORD FOR FAULTY BRAKES AND/OR INFERIOR MATERIALS USED.*AK

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HIT CURVE AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED SECOND DEGEE BURNS ON HANDS AND ARMS. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK.*JB

FRONT BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. ALSO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER AND FORD DID NOTHING TO TRY TO CORRECT THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *AK

MY BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AT 25000 MILES AND I NEEDED NEW PADS AND ROTORS, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH THAT LOW OF A MILEAGE, I HAD A FORD ESCORT WHICH I WOULD STILL DRIVE HAD I NOT BEEN REARENDED THAT I NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON AND IT HAD 140,000 MILES WHEN I WAS HIT. THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AND AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE TIRES THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH, THEY WERE SO UNEVEN AND WARPED THAT THEY CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO SHAKE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT STARTED. IT REALLY IS RIDICOUOUS, I PAY MORE FOR REPARIS IN A MONTH THAN I DO FOR A CAR PAYMENT. *AK

UPPER INTERIOR MOLDING IS BULGING ALONG WINDSHIELD . DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

APPLE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED MY BRAKES AND TOLD ME THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD ME ALL THE BRAKE PADS, FRONT AND REAR, HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW CAR WHOSE REAR BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY FOCUS WAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE BILL, $643.00. *AK

CAR IS SLUGGISH AND SPUTTERS WHEN SPEEDS OF 45 AND ABOVE ARE REACHED. THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO DROP OUT. CAR HAS STALLED ONCE AT A COMPLETE STOP. CAR HAS BEEN SEEN BY DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CONTACTED FORD COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS WHAT THEY TERM AS THE V-TECH BLUES. THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE AND THE AC NOT WORKING WELL TOGETHER. CAR HAS TROUBLE BOTH W/ AND WITHOUT AC ON. TOLD THAT THIS WAS JUST HOW THIS CAR RUNS. NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.*AK

ATTEMPTING TO ENTER FREEWAY AT APPROX 50 MPH, THE FRONT RIGHT FELT LIKE IT WAS STARTING TO SKID. THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED, WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. NO SHEET METAL DAMAGE TO CAR. THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED, THE CONTROL ARM BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE PATH OF TRAVEL, TORE UP THE WHEEL AND BROKE THE ROTOR. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE FRONT WHEEL TO THE CAR WAS THE STRUT TOWER. POLICE CAME OUT BUT NO REPORT DONE. FORD WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS LESS THAN 19000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS WRONG AS FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED, AND AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AS CAR SKIDDED/SLID TO A STOP.*AK

DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON ARM FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 40 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE REPAIRED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT MAP SENSOR FAILED. ON 08/05/02, ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN. VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO DEALER, WHO INSTALLED A FLT RECORDER IN CAR TO DETECT WHERE PROBLEM EXISTED. ON 08/09/02, ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY IN VEHICLE.*AK

FELT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT START OF BRAKING AROUND 45MPH. THIS STARTED OCCURRING AROUND 9,000 MILES. AT 15,000 MILES CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER INSPECTION CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS NEEDED REPLACMENT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ROTORS SHOULD NOT BE WORN AT 15,000 MILES.*AK

FRONT CRASH AT UNKNOWN SPEED, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT UNKNOWN SPEED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO STALLING/STOP, LUNGE FORWARD OR HESITATE WITH NO WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. OWNER ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD SOME SORT OF FLUCTUATION WITH THE RPM GAUGE, SPORATICULLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THIS DEFECT OCCURS WHEN MAKING SWEEPING RIGHT HAND TURNS OR GOING UP STEEP GRADES WITH LESS THAN HALF A TANK. THE MOST DANGEROUS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE TRYING TO GET OVER WHEN THE PUMP FAILED AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED.*AK

THE DATE LISTED IS THE FIRST FAILURE DATE. THE SENSOR WENT OUT AND THE CAR KEPT RUNNING. ON 7/1/02, THE SENSOR FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME A FUSE BLEW AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WITH 3 PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHO "REPAIRED" THE CAR AND I ARRIVED ON 7/3/02 TO PICK IT UP. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PART FAILED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THE PART FAILED ANOTHER TWO TIMES WHILE THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY, THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE CAR HAS RUN SINCE THEN. I FINALLY PICKED UP THE REPAIRED CAR ON 7/10/02. I CONTACTED FORD (THE CORPORATION), WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THERE WERE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED MY CAR, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS "A BAD FORD PART" AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT UNTIL FORD CAME OUT WITH A NEW PART. I TOLD FORD WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONTACTED THE TECHNICIAN WHO DENIED SAYING THAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON FORD TO ASSURE THAT THIS VEHICLE RUNS PROPERLY AND PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS, BUT MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY THE NEXT TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, A MINOR ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHERE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BUMPED INTO INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PREMATURELY CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO HANDS AND EYES. *TT *TS

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MAJOR BODY INJURIES.*AK *YH

VEHICLE BUMPED INTO A GARBAGE CAN AT 2-3 MPH CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO BUMPER. BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN A PROX 5 MPH IMPACT. I RECEIVED 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO THE BACK OF MY LEFT HAND.*AK

VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE ACCELERATING UP HILLS, AND AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS HIT AT LESS THAN A 30 DEGREE ANGLE.*AK

VEHICLE IS LOSING POWER AT 35 MPH AND STALLS WHEN APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE, WITH THEM UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER EXCEPT FOR IN THE PASSING GEAR WITH THE A/C RUNNING. I BELIEVE THESE TWO PROBLEMS ARE LINKED TOGETHER.*AK

ON THE WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WOULD NOT ADJUST. CONSUMER CALLED THE REPAIR SERVICE TO HAVE THE MIRRORS FIXED. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO ADJUST THE MIRROR IT BROKE INTO 3 PIECES. *JG

WHILE EXITING A RAMP VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. AS A RESULT, STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUTAND VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO JUMP/LUNGE OR HESITATE AND STALL COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT FAILURE, EVEN WITH VEHICLE REPAIRED 15 INCONSECUTIVE DAYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE PASSENGERS SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, ALLOWING PASSENGER TO MOVE FORWARD HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, FACE FIRST. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT. RESULTING IN FACIAL SWELLLING OF THE PASSENGER AND 3 LOOSE TEETH. CONSUMERS AIR BAG OPENED LATER ALSO, BUT THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND CONSUMER ONLY SUFFERED A BADLY BURNED THUMB. *JG

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A YIELD OR STOP VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. VEHICLE CHEKCED BY DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR YIELD, THE DEALERN REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND PCV VALVE BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*JB *NLM

AT START UP VEHICLE WILL DIE.DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKES WILL MAKE SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AT TIMES WILL NOT LOCK AND HOLD CONSUMER IN PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER ONLY 15000 MILES BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST THURSDAY (10 MINUTES ON THE INTERSTATE, 97 DEGREES, FULL AC), WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER FOLLOWED BY TRANSMISSION LURCHING AND ENGINE TRYING TO DIE. PULLED THE REMAINING BLOCK INTO MY APTS AND OPENED HOOD EXPECTING TO FIND OVERHEATED ENGINE, AND ENDED UP SEE A BUNCH OF FLAME AND SIGNING MY THUMB. GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT IT OUT, AND CALLED FIRE DEPT. NO WORK WAS DONE TO ENGINE OTHER THAN A NEW AIR FILTER 4000 MILES AGO. SO FAR THE FORD DEALER WANTS TO WRITE IT OFF AS COMPLETE LOSS AND LEAVE IT TO MY INSURANCE. TOOK OUT MY AIR INTAKE, MELTED BATTERY, MELTED BATTERY WIRES, RUINED HOOD, SCROCHED HEADLIGHT, SMOKED INTERIOR, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT GOT SUCKED INTO ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE. DEALER WOULDN'T TOW BECAUSE "WARRANTY TOWS HAVE TO BE CALLED IN THROUGH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE". PHOTOS ARE UP AT HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/ARCHANGEL_JJN. CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF GOING THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND A CHIP WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN UP TO 100 MILES PER HOUR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. DEALER FOUND THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. *TT

TRAVELING ON I-465 EASTBOUND IN INDIANAPOLIS AT APPROX. 60 MPH. THE CAR MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND THEN THE DRIVER (MY SON) LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT A RETAINING WALL ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER WITH HIM AT THE TIME AND HE WAS FOLLOWING US HOME. WE WERE ABOUT 100 YARDS IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ENTIRE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION, STEERING AND TIRE ASSEMBLY WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. LEFT REAR TIRE AND SUSPENSION ALSO DAMAGED. SUN ROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE. VERY LITTLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE DONE SCRATCHED PAINT VERY SMALL DENTS, ALMOST ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE UNDER THE TIRE WELL.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 20 MPH AND ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT STALLED WHEN PUT IT IN DRIVE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INSISTED THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE DETECTED. *AK THE DEALER UPLUGGED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE'S STALLING BUT, AND PROBLEM HAD NEVER REOCCURRED. *YH

FORD SAYS THERE IS NOT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FAILURE OF ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS AT 30000 MILES, AND REFUSES TO WARRANTY REPAIRS UNDER THE 36 MO/36000MILES BUMPER TO BUMPER PLAN. THIS BRAKE JOB WILL COST ME IN EXCESS OF $300. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES TO AN EXTENT OF 100 PER DAY. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED COMPLETE BRAKE SERVICE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE I BELIEVE THE FILE FOR RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RE-EXAMINED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WOULD STALL OUT CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. I INITIATED THE LEMON LAW, BUT WAS OFFERED A 2002, SAME MODEL, TO AVOID MY PROCEEDING TO ARBITRATION HEARING. WRONG MOVE ON MY PART. I TRADED IN THE 2001 FOR A 2002 AND HAVE THE SAME IGINITION PROBLEMS ... STALLS OUT/STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING! I DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING A FORD FOCUS. THIS CAR IS A HORROR AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 7 TIMES,BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHEN TANK IS HALF WAY FULL OR LESS, VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A SENOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE STALLING PROBLEM.*JB

AT 40MPH WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CAUSE DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, AND HAS A ROUGH IDLE. REPLACED SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FUEL PUMP HAD A LEAK AND ALL THE GAS LEAKED OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DIDN'T HOLD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT. ENGINE CYLINDER BLEW OUT. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT UNABLE TO SEE AS A RESULT OF HEADLIGHTS NOT BEING BRIGHT ENOUGH, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD LIGHT ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE CANNOT BE ADJUSTED, ALSO THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AT TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE RESTARTED BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED, INTERMITTENTLY THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. *AK *NLM