2002 Ford Focus complaints

STERRING LOCKED UP. KEY WILL ENTER IGNITION BUT WILL NOT TURN. CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP. *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAL. AT 10,777 MILES (10,000-MILE SERVICE), FORD DEALERSHIP SAID FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING BRAKES.*AK

WATER LEAKES. *AK

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON OR ON A SLIGHT ENCLINE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS AFFECTED THE STEERING AND BRAKES. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME. *AK

UPON PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN KEY OVER OVER VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, BALL JOINT AREA ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 CAME LOOSE AND WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. WHEN CAR HIT WALL THE AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN AND SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE ACCIDENT. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

MY 2002 FORD FUCUS ZX3 NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AFTER A MERE 22,000 MILES!! THIS SERVICE COST ME $280 AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER FORD'S WARRANTY. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IF A CAR NEEDS NEW ROTORS BEFORE THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WEAR OUT.*AK

THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE, P205/50R16. *AK

CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN ENGINE HAS BEEN COLD FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING A WHILE AND THEN SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START USUALLY AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. DEALER SAYS CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH TO REALLY TRY. IF WE WERE TO TOW TO DEALER, CAR WOULD BE STARTING BY THE TIME IT GOT THERE. OCCURS AT RANDOM, ABOUT 1-3 TIMES PER MONTH SINCE NOVEMBER 2003. HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME, LOOSE WIRE IN STEERING COLUMN WAS CORRECTED BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED A PART IN IGNITION SWITCH BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT TO START WITH. STILL HAVING NO-START PROBLEM. RETURNING TO DEALERISHIP TOMORROW.*AK

UPON PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT FIT AS IF IT WAS THE WRONG KEY. UPON GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING - WOULD NOT RE-START - BETWEEN 1/2 TO 2/3 FULL TANK - INDEPENDENT GARAGE DIAGNOSED FAULTY FUEL PUMP, SAID FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS "SMOKING" AND RED-HOT - LUCKILY HAPPENED IN TOWN, WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE INTO CHICAGO ON 90/94 WITH FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDING A CHILD JUST 2 DAYS FROM NOW! - HAVE READ HISTORY ON THIS PROBLEM, CAN'T BELIEVE NHTSA ALLOWED FORD TO WAIT FOR FAILURES - APPARENTLY FORD'S "FIX" ON THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECT, AS THIS IS A 2002 MODEL CAR - CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AWAITING OUTCOME. *AK

VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WHILE DRIVING AND THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *JB

I HAD TO MAKE A SHARP MANEUVER TO AVOID A CAR CHANGING LANES. MY CAR A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WENT INTO WILD OSCILLATIONS ACROSS 3 LANES. BACK AND FORTH. IT TOOK 3/4 OF A MILE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY CAT I EVER DROVE BEFORE. IT WAS ONLY LUCK THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *LA

ENGINE JUST DIES WITH NO WARNING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,AFTER ENGINE DIES I LOSE POWER STEERING, AND WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE STILL IN MOTION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 14,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM!*AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE PA TURNPIKE WHEN SCALDING WATER FROM UP UNDER THE DASH POURED OUT ONTO MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. I SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO MY RIGHT FOOT. THE WRECKER TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER IN EMMAUS, PA FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THAT THE EVAPORATOR LINE WAS PLUGGED, BUT WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE NARRATIVE ON THE SERVICE FORM SAID THAT THE LINE WAS NOT PLUGGED. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR WHICH I UNDERSTAND ENTAILED REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK IT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER REFUSED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD QUOTED PRICES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

THE CAP WHICH PRESSES ON OVER THE LUG NUT ON THE WHEEL WAS JUST PRESSED ON, AND CAME OFF EASILY. CONSUMER STATED THERE 3 CAPS WERE LOST WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMONG ON, HAD IT IN SHOP 5 TO 7 TIMES AND THEY SAY IT IS THE EVAP SYSTEM, SHUT OFF THE LIGHT AND SEND ME OUT THE DOOR!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? *AK

IN JANUARY 2004 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME (JANUARY, 2004) WAS ON THE I-355 TOLLWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE ROUTE 64 OFF-RAMP. THE LAST TIME (JUNE 8, 2004) I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, SPUTTERING OR GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE JUNE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CARS FOLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND ME ON A NARROW ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY COAST ONTO A SIDE STREET AND OUT OF THE MAIN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED AFTER A SHORT DELAY AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AS SUCH, THEY WOOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND PTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT FURTHER CONVERSATION WOULD BE "JUST GOING IN CIRCLES." I TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM THIS I WILL PERSUE THE MATTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS FOR MATTERS LIKE THIS.;\*AK

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. DEALER QUOTED $400 TO REPLACE LOCK CYLINDER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREQUENTLY FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE DURING RAIN EVENTS DESPITE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SOMETIMES I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE AND AM CONCERNED HAVING HEARD THAT THE FOCUS WIPER MOTORS HAVE CAUSED FIRES IN THE PAST. TWO FORD DEALERS HAVE FAILED TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. *AK

HAVE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 WAGON AND IT NEEDS FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED ROTORS AT 23,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND DESIGN DEFECT. *LA

WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN MY IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE. *AK

ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NC, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, IT TURNED OFF ON IT'S OWN. A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BEFORE I HAD THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN, IT WENT OFF AGAIN. FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN CAME ON. DURING ALL OF THIS, THE CAR RAN FINE, NO STALLING, NO SURGES OR FAILURES. I PARKED MY CAR AT WORK, AND 12 HOURS LATER CAME OUT TO GO HOME, ONLY TO FIND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, I FOUND OUT THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS SHOT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, AND A FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO PAY $500 OUT OF POCKET FOR FORD USING A FAULTY PART IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THE INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER WAS CLOSED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ENACTED. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY CAR HAD JUST QUIT ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I ALONE ON A BUSY I95.*AK

PURCHASED CAR NEW MAY 2002. FOCUS ZTS. IN AUGUST TOOK CAR TO ONTARIO CANADA ON ROADTRIP FROM MISSOURI. WAY BACK FROM TRIP, NOTICED VIBRATIONS FROM BACK OF CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH ESCORT. TOOK CAR ON TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH IN MAY 2003 AND THE VIBRATION WAS MORE THEN OBVIOUS AT 55MPH. WHEN RETURNED FROM TRIP TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE. DRIVER SIDE REAR BUSHING ON TIRE ARM WAS WORN. WHEEL WAS TILTED AND TIRE WAS WEARING WRONG. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ARM AND TIRE. TOOK CAR ON ANOTHER TRIP MARCH 2004 NOTICED EXTREME VIBRATION STILL COMING FROM SAME SIDE/BACK OF CAR. SHAKES PLASTIC BAGS IN BACKSEATS. VIBRATES DRIVER SEAT AND STEERINGWHEEL. BECAUSE MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON REGULAR ROADS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT BECOMES OBVIOUS RIGHT AWAY. WILL BE TAKING CAR IN AGAIN ASAP. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR WITH THE PASSERNGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR WET AFTER HUGE RAIN. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE PROBLEM SINCE.*AK

HEAT SHIELD DROPPED WHILE DRIVING ON WEST RIDGE ROAD CAUSING SPARKS. IT RUPTURED THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO SPEW ALL OVER THE ROAD. 911 CONTACTED, ROAD CLOSED AND TACO BELL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED, WAS EVACUATED DUE TO THE MASSIVE FUEL LEAK AND FUMES. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED, TOW TRUCK PICKED UP VEHICLE.*AK

THE TRUNK LID HAS RUST APPEARING ALONG THE CHROME TRIM PIECE AT ONLY 32000 MILES. VEHICLE IS STORED INDOORS. THIS WAS REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT HAS RE-APPEARED EVEN WORSE (AT 35000 MILES). FORD WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS PERFORATION OCCURS.*AK

ON THURSDAY 5/6/04 THE 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF UNDER THE DASH BOARD, DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY, AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BROKEN PIN WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT COULD EASILY BE DETERMINED THAT THE PIN BROKE OFF SOME TYPE OF BRACKET. YOU COULD SEE THE WELDING AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE PART OF THE BRACKET. THE PIECE WAS GIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS ALSO INFORMED NOT TO DISCARD ANY PARTS. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY (UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER THE ALLOWED WARRANTY MILEAGE) HOWEVER, I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD UNLESS IT WAS DUE TO SOME MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME SINCE THERE WERE NO OTHER REPORTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I INFORMED THEM THEM THAT I WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP WITH FORD MOTOR CO. I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD COST ME MORE THAN $600. I CONTACTED FORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FORUNATELY THERE WAS NO INJURY, HOWEVER, I DREAD TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CAR WAS BEING FRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH OR MORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE IRONIC THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL IS THAT THE ONLY PART I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED WAS THE PIN THAT BROKE, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE PIN WAS TO GET THE WHOLE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY, AND GUESS WHO PAID FOR THAT? I AM HOPING TO GET SO

MY 2002 FOCUS NEEDED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT 20K MILES. MY REPAIR SHOP SAYS FORD USES A VERY SOFT COMPOUND ON THE BRAKES AND ROTORS CAUSING THEM TO WEAR QUICKLY. MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER SAYS I AM LUCKY BECAUSE HE SEES THIS TYPE OF REPIAR NEEDED AT 13-14K FOR THE FOCUS. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, AND FORD DIRECTLY, I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER "WEAR ITEMS". AT ABOUT $300 TO REPAIR, THIS IS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY. I'LL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN, AND I AM JOINING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AT WWW.FOCUSBRAKESCLASSACTION.COM

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.*AK

CONSUMER STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GAS SMELL. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED GAS LEAKING. IMMEDIATELY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION ON A 2002 FORD FOCUS. RADIAL TUBELESS TIRE. BRAND FIREHAWK GTA 02 P195/G0R15 87T M45 THIS OCCURRED YESTERDAY WITH MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN HER DEATH. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE REVVING CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *AK *SC *JB

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS LEAKS, STALLS, CREAKS WHEN TURNING, THE HATCHBACK DOOR OCCASIONALLY COMES OPEN. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LEFT REAR BEARING FAILED. *AK

WATER LEAK INTO THE TRUNK FROM BODYSEAM, AND WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR FROM COWL PANEL SEAMS AND FRESH AIR VENT::: FUEL PUMP - ELECTRIC ( IN TANK ) REPLACE::: VEHICLE HAS A BAD JERKING PROBLEM, SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T CORRECT PROBLEM::: LR WINDOW SCRATCHED REPLACED WINDOW::: REAR VIEW MIRROR DOOR MOUNT REPLACED::: PREMATURE TIRE WEAR::: ECT.

IGNITION FREEZES AND WON'T TURN. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

TODAY IS THE FOURTH TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN TOWED FOR SERVICE FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM: BRAKE SENSOR FAILS AND CAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK - DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM LAST HAD ME STRANDED IN TENNESSEE. I FEEL THIS IS A VEHICLE FAILURE RATHER THAN DEALERSHIP FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED WHERE I WILL BE STRANDED NEXT. I BELIEVE MY CAR MIGHT BE A LEMON. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE FAILS, IS REPAIRED AND FAILS AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT KNOWING WHERE I WILL BE NEXT WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INSURE THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED; AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE EVENT I CANNOT BE GUARANTEED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *JB

BOTH FRONT TIRES AND RIMS BLEW OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. THE TIRES WRE LOW PROFILE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

REAR TIRES TRACTION FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THREE OF THE SIX TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

DOOR LOCK SELF ACTIVATION - WHILE WE WERE IN THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE THE THIRD PERSON OF THE DAY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SINCE FORD PUT OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM IN 2002, I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD PAY THE $184 FOR PARTS IN ADDITION TO THE $189 LABOR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR MANUFACTURING. *AK

THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 APPEAR TO HAVE A FLAW. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FOCUS, I NOTICED A "BUBBLE" ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE'S SIDEWALL. THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAVE BEEN FINE OVER THE PAST ENSUING 21 MONTHS SO I HAVE TO BE BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE TIRE WAS FLAWED COMING OUT OF THE FACTORY. MY FORD DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGING A FULL PRICE SINCE THERE IS NO KNOWN RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR TIRE. YET, I SEE NOW THROUGH THE NHTSA THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL "SIDEWALL BUBBLE" COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS TIRE MODEL. PLEASE ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST, SINCE I HAVE DRIVEN A LOT OF CARS OVER THE YEARS, AND NEVER SAW A "BUBBLE" POP UP LIKE THIS ....SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE! TOM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING IN TO VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED, NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THRUWAY ENGINE QUIT, AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. COURTESY FORD CHECKED CAR AND FOUND PISTON WENT THROUGH BLOCK CAUSING OIL TO CATCH FIRE UNDER CAR AND MELTING FUEL LINES. VEHICLE HAS 60K AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. QUOTED OVER $6000.00 AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY ENDED AT 36K. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. *NM