TIRE SIDEWALL TOO SOFT TO PROTECT WHEEL RIM AT RECOMMENDED MFG. PRESSURE. RIM BENT JUST DRIVING OVER COMMON DRIVE WAY CURBS. HAD TO REPLACE ALLOY WHEEL .*AK
2002 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 2002 record →
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON PURCHASED 1 YEAR AGO HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER OVER A WEEK. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING ;CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ARE REPLACING IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVINF FORDS FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS. ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENT AREA. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT CAME APART FROM THE WHEEL. AFTER CAREFULL INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND ALL OF THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE WERE BENT. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. *PH
CONSUMER WOULD PUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER'S RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, FIRELAWN, P20550/R16. *AK
FORD FOCUS 2003 ZX5 WITH 16" ALLOY WHEELS AND FIRESTONE TIRES SEEMS TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE MORE THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE HAD. ONE BUBBLED TIRE, AND ANOTHER PUNCTURED TIRE WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER.*AK THE FOCUS ALLOY WHEELS ARE THE WORSE PROBLEMS. AT LEAST TWO HAVE BEEN BENT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING STEERING AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS ON CAR. ONE WHEEL HAS TWO VISIBLE BUMPS, AND ONE WHEEL HAS A MASSIVE BUMP FROM SOME UNKNOWN ROAD HOLES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD SUCH WEAK RIMS. I AM NOT REPLACING THE WHEELS UNTIL I TALK TO EITHER FORD OR A LAWYER.
ON 25 JULY 2002, I TOOK MY FOCUS TO A TIRE CENTER BEING REFERRED BY FORD DEALERSHIP UPON MY 30,000 MI. SERVICE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE SE LOW PROFILE TIRE/ RIM PACKAGE. I ASKED THE TIRE MANAGER TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BEFORE I TOLD HIM WHICH TIRE IT WAS HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH TIRE IT WAS: LEFT REAR TIRE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS HIS 3RD FOCUS WITH THE PROBLEM. HE RAISED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME A LARGE CHUNK MISSING AND INCONSISTENT WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE. OTHER THREE TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN AREA DESCRIBED. MANAGER STATED HE THINKS IT IS BEING CAUSED BY A MISSING OR SHEARED PIN. *AK
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *TT *SCC *JB
THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE REAR SEATS AND TRUNK LOCK TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN. *NLM *SCC *JB
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AFTER OWNING THE FORD FOCUS ZX3 FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, AND IS GOING BACK FOR REPAIR AGAIN 2 1/2 MONTHS LATER. *AK
LEFT REAR WHEEL TIPPING IN AT TOP SO MUCH THAT YOU COULD SEE IT BEFORE 3500 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE REAR END TO BE MUCH "LOOSER" THAN IS NORMAL OR ACEPTABLE. FORD PROVIDES NO ADJUSTMENT FOR CAMBER IN REAR AND THIS CAUSED LEFT REAR TIRE TO HAVE A CUPPING PATTERN ON THE INSIDE EDGE. APPARENTLY IF THE CAMBER ISN'T CORRECT TO BEGIN IT WILL THROW OFF THE WHOLE ALIGNMENT. ONE DEALER CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS IN SPEC. AT 15,000 MI. FOUND DEALER WHO UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM AND INSTALLED A JUST RELEASED SHIM KIT. FORD REFUSING TO COVER KIT, ALIGNMENT, OR TIRE UNDER " BUMPER-TO-BUMPER" WARRANTY (TRYING TO CLAIM IT IS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, OR A TIRE PROBLEM, OTHER TIRES ARE FINE!). HAD TO PAY $142 + TIRE SO THAT THE REAR END DOESN'T COME AROUND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
I HAVE DRIVEN MY FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. IT IS A COMPANY CAR FOR WHICH I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 50,000MILES PER YEAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES THREE TIMES SINCE RECEIVING THE VEHICLE DECEMBER 2001. EVERY 20,000 MILES THE REAR ALIGNMENT GETS LOOSE AND ESPECIALLY IN WINTER DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT, I FEAR FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE WHEN I CANNOT TRAVEL AT THE SPEEDS OF SURROUNDING TRAFFIC FLOW. THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR TIRES CAUSED POSSIBLY TO A BENT FRAME OR POOR DESIGN. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES OR EVEN ROTATED THEM SINCE NEW! THEY ARE STILL PLENTY ADEQUATE FOR TRACTION. THE REAR ALIGNMENT PROBLEM SEVERELY HAMPERS THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT FEELS AS THOUGH I AM DRAGGING THE REAR END AROUND EVERYWHERE I GO. I AM TURNING THE VEHICLE IN THIS NEXT MONTH FOR A REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE DECIDED I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN DUE TO THE HISTORY OF BAD LUCK I HAVE HAD WITH FORDS IN THE PAST.
GOT IN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. GOT FIXED??? FORD LET ME GO BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITH A BRAND NEW SAFETY DEVICE AND IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TIME BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT AND THE TIME I GOT IT FIXED FORD WAS VERY UNCONCERNED AND DID NOT ANSWER ANY OF MY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS. MY SAFETY WAS AT RISK AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
IT ALL STARTED ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2002. MY CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE STARTER WENT OUT. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. SOMETIMES THE DOORS WOULD LOCK ALL BY THEMSELVES AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT WAS ACTING UP AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. WELL, BY THE TIME I WOULD GET TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS OK AGAIN. ON THE 7TH OF JULY I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ALL THE GAUGES ON MY DASH WERE FLIPPING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND COMING BACK AGAIN. AND MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT RIGHT BACK TO SERVICE DEPT. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND (SURPRISE!) IT WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY MAY HAVE SPILLED SOME COOLANT ON THE BELT AND IT WAS JUST LOSING VOLTAGE. AS SOON AS THE COOLANT WORE OFF IT SHOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. ON JULY17 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I LOOKED AT MY GAGES AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING. IT WAS JUST LIKE THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN STARTED. I MADE A U-TURN AND WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SAME AFTERNOON THEY CALL ME AND TELL MY CAR IS READY. I ASK IF THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THE REP INFORMS ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR (AFTER ONLY ONE DAY WITH IT!). WELL THEY MUST THINK I'M SOME KIND OF HYPOCHONDRIAC FOR MY CAR! I
PURCHASED 2002 FORD FOCUS 4 DR SEDAN, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. ABOUT 1-2 WKS LATER, TRIED TO START CAR, IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED FORD ASSISTANCE TOLL-FREE #, THEY ADVISED WIGGLING THE WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE KEY. THEY SAY IGNITION KEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN WHEN WHEELS ARE TURNED OR PARKED UP NEXT TO A CURB. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE, NOT ALL UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. TODAY, 7/16/03, WITH JUST OVER 19,000 MILES ON IT, I BROUGHT IT INTO DON HIND'S FORD DEALERSHIP IN FISHERS, IN, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THEY HAVE PUT A NEW CYLINDER LOCK IN THERE, PER KIP JACOBS OF DON HINDS FORD. MR. JACOBS DID TRY TO GET ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL CARS. I INFORMED HIM I'VE BEEN DRIVING 33 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I RARELY LOAN MY CAR, NOR IS IT DRIVEN BY ANYONE ELSE. NEVERTHELESS, SHOULD I DO SO, AND FORGET TO WARN THEM OF THIS PECULIARITY IN ADVANCE, THEY MAY HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO START THE CAR, AND BE UNABLE TO DO SO. (LIKE, "MY BABY CAN'T BREATH! LET'S GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL FAST!") OR IF I SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, IF THEY AREN'T AWARE OF THIS IDIOSYNCRASY, AND DON'T KNOW THE FORD TOLL-FREE ASSISTANCE #, THEY MAY BE STRANDED UNTIL THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO GET HELP. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DEVELOPED SOME ROUGH SPOTS IN THE SURFACE. I COULD NOT REMEMBER DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE SCRAPED OR ROUGHENED THE SURFACE. THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CONTINUED TO CRUMBLE OFF UNTIL NOW, LARGE CHUNKS ARE MISSING OFF ABOUT 6" OF IT, WITH THE METAL OF THE UNDERLYING STEERING WHEEL SHOWING IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS. ANOTHER SEVERAL INCHES ARE STARTING TO DISINIGRATE. THE WHEEL DOES NOT RUB AGAINST ME WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT IS OCCURRING ALONG THE LOWER 1/3 OF THE WHEEL. TODAY, 7/16/03, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO DO SO, BUT NOT BEFORE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF REPLACING IT BY INSISTING THAT I HAD DAMAGED IT MYSELF. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BEFORE THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WHEEL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FOR HAD THEY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN INTIMIDATING ME, OR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL UNSAFE TO HOLD IS WHAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH. I HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS CAUGHT ON FIRE LATE ONE NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY IS WHERE IT STARTED. THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THE LOSS. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT LISTED BELOW MAY BE INCORRECT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE CORRECT DATE SOON.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE#P20550R16. PLEASE PROVIDED THE DOT#.*AK
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LAST YEAR THE CAR WRECKED INTO A WALL ON I75. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS OPENED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS THE OPINION OF THE BODY SHOP THAT EVERY SENSOR THAT THERE WAS TO HIT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS HIT. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME HOW MUCH THEY CARED BUT WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALL. I HIRED A LAWYER, WHO SAID THAT FORD WOULD TELL HIM TO TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, WHICH WAS KERRY FORD IN TRI COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD TELL HIM THAT ITS FORD CORPORATION THAT SHOULD DEAL WITH IT. MY DAUGHTERS LAWYER RESIGNED FROM THE CASE BECAUSE HE WANTED US TO PUT OUT THE MONEY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO EVALUATE THE CAR. RIGHT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS HOLD THE CAR BUT WANTS ME TO LET THEM RELEASE IT FROM STORAGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IN MIND AND FEEL LET DOWN, AND LIED TO AND PUSHED AROUND BY CORPORATE FORD. IF THERES ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. RICK KAISER. *AK
FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!*AK
AT 14053 MILES, THE ROTORS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAD TO BE REMACHINED, NOW AT 20K MILES, I HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE ROTORS ARE EITHER SUBSTANDARD OR DEFECTIVE AND OR THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM, MASTER CYLINDER ETC. ALSO THE REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP PERIODICALLY.1ST INCIDENT-JAN 03.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS ALL ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR WAS SHOVED BACK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE PROVIDER. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER HIT HER CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND IS STILL HAVING SOME LASTING EFFECTS OF THE CRASH. PLEASE! PLEASE! LOOK INTO THIS. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOING ANY FASTER. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS LETTER.*AK
2002 FORD FOCUS DISPLAYING STEERING PROBLEMS. *MR APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THEY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM THE WAS STILL NOT FIXED . IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED IN 30 DAYS THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO REQUEST THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPURCHASED. *CB THE REAR GATE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT LEFT FRONT RIM IS CRACKED IN CENTER OF RIM. *AK
TWO OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 25K MILES DUE TO SEPARATION IN THE TREAD. (AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES) *JB *SCC *JB
BRAKE PADS ARE WARPED AND WEAR OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.EVERY 20,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THEM.*AK
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE PA TURNPIKE GOING 60 MPH IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. I HAD JUST PASSED A COP AND HAVE WITNESSES THAT I WAS NOT SPEEDING OR DRIVING ERRATICALLY. IT WAS 8:30 IN THE MORNING AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. MY RPM'S DROPPED AND I WAS LOOSING MY SPEED. (THIS HAPPENED ONE MONTH PRIOR AND I TOOK IT TO FORD. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND TWO OTHER PARTS ON WARRANTY) I HAD TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WHICH HAD A WALL RIGHT AFTER IT, BECAUSE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE WHERE THERE WAS A WALL DIRECTLY TO MY LEFT. IN TRYING TO CROSS THE CAR LOST TRACTION ON THE ROAD AND SHOT ME HEAD FIRST INTO THE WALL. HEAD FIRST AT 55 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND FOR THE PAST TEN DAYS I HAVE BEEN IN UNBELIEVABLE PAIN, TO THE ER 3 TIMES. NOW I HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING IS BETTER. I AM A 19 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY ELSE HURT IN THIS SORT OF ACCIDENT. I HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND I SUGGEST ANYONE WITH A FOCUS HAVE ONE ON HAND. I WANT EVERYONE TO READ THIS BEFORE THEY BUY ONE! MY NEXT STEP IS TO CONTACT MAGAZINES AND TELEVISION SHOWS. I HAD A GUARDIAN ANGEL WITH ME, SOMEONE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY! *NLM
I BOUGHT MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER A NEW FOCUS BECAUSE I FELT NEW CARS WERE SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE. TODAY, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING NOISE AND NOT BEING RESPONSIVE. ON HER WAY TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT AGAIN, SHE MADE A LEFT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD AND THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HER WAS AT A DEAD STOP. IT WAS THE RAV 4 IN FRONT OF HER, NOT HER BRAKES, THAT STOPPED HER CAR DEAD. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE AIRBAG I FELT WOULD PROTECT HER DID NOT DEPLOY. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BEFORE THINGS GET ADDRESSED BY A MANUFACTURER? TO THINK I BOUGHT MY ONLY DAUGHTER A CAR WITH UNRELIABLE BRAKES AND AIRBAGS THAT DON'T WORK. UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER CONSUMERS, WE FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING A "POP" NOISE WAS HEARD AND VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. IT LOOKED LIKE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF OR LOOSENED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. NO DETERMINATION OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN MADE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON. THE FRONT FOOT WELLS FILL UP WITH WATER IN RAINY CONDITIONS. *AK
VEHICLE WON'T START. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE. AT 10,956 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS BILLED 256.06 FOR THIS REPAIR. I ALSO HAD A WATER LEAK THAT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE LEAK WAS FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE THE POLLEN FILTER. THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS LOOSE, THAT WAS ALSO FIXED ASAP. AND LASTLY THE FUEL ECONOMY IS FAR FROM WHAT FORD CLAIMS IT TO BE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM FOR MORE INFO. *JB
ON 5/27/03 DURING REG OIL/FILTER/TIRE ROTATION AT FIRESTONE,5417 MCCARDLE,CORPUS CHRISTI,TX I WAS TOLD ONE TIRE HAD A COMPRESSION BUBBLE"IMPACT BREAK ON SIDEWALL".I REPLACED IT.ON 5/29/03 ANOTHER TIRE SELF DESTRUCTED WITH NO APPARENT REASON.I REPLACED IT (50% DISCOUNTTIRES WERE FIREHAWK GTA-02(I DO NOT HAVE TIRES AND DO NOT SEE A DOT# ON THE REMAINING TWO.I CALLED FIRESTONE WARRANTY,SPOKE TO CHUCK AND REQUESTED 2 NEW TIRES AT NO COST AS I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCEDENCES AND THE SAFETY ISSUE. I SAID I PAID FOR TWO AND FIRESTONE SHOULD PAY FOR TWO.HE SAID HE WOULD CALL FIRESTONE CC. I CALLED TODAY 6/6/03 .HE SAID HE NEVER CALLED AND HAD NO MEMORY OF PROMISING TO MAKE SUCH A CALL. HE ENDED BY SAYING THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT GIVE ME TWO TIRES HE APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A SCREEN FOR INCOMING AS I HAD TO RETELL MY TALE.HIS INITIAL RESPONSE WAS WHEN FIRESTONE HAD COMPLAINTS ON THE 99-2000 HAWKEYE,THEY VOLUNTALILY RECALLED AND REPLACED- YEA SURE; VOLUNTARY VS. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND THANK YOU ARTHUR BERMAN. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY A/C WORKED ON AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ALSO HAVE HEAVY VIBRATIONS WHEN I JUST HAD IT ALIGNED 5/04/03. AND STILL HAVING HEAVY VIBRATIONS.AK
CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER FROM SUNROOF. THE CARPET IS LOOSE DUE TO CONSTANT REMOVAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES AND TRIMS ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT MORE THEN 40 MPH THE TIRES WOULD EXPLODE AND THE RIMS WOULD BEND. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MADE.*AK
WE OWN A 2002 FOCUS AND HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON IT. 205/50/16 I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT A VERY SIMILAR TIRE 205/55/16 HAS BEEN RECALLED.WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THEY WHERE STILL SELLING FIRESTONE TIRES AFTER THEY QUIT DUEING BUSINESS WITH THEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD ARE GIVING US THE SAME RUNAROUND AS THEY DID WITH THE OTHER TIRE PROBLEM. DOES ANY ONE KNOW OF ANY BODY THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES ON THE FORD FOCUS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT. DONALD J. REED [email protected] THANKS. HERE IS THE INFO. MAKE: FIRESTONE MODEL: P20555R16 BUILD DATES: JUL 16, 1999 - NOV 01, 2000 RECALL NUMBER: 01T006000 SUMMARY: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H, PRODUCED AT THE WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT FROM JULY 16, 1999, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2000. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 AND 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE PASSENGER CARS. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAG
AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK MY CAR TAKES 2-5 TRIES TO START. AFTER IT STARTS, IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL...SOMETIMES IT DOES IF I'M AT A LIGHT. I HAVE A STICK SHIFT AND THERE'S NO INDICATION ON THE IDLE THAT IT'S RUNNING LOW. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I'VE HAD IT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. FORD TELLS ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD FORD THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM...EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE TOLD ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THAT THEY HAVE. USUALLY THEY DON'T REPLACE ANYTHING BUT SO FAR THEY'VE REPLACED MY EGR VALVE, FUEL PUMP, AND GAS TANK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT ON HOW THEY DOCUMENT THE TIME MY CAR'S BEEN IN THE SHOP AND WITH A ONE YEAR OLD AND A FOUR YEAR OLD...I CAN NO LONGER TAKE TIME TO GO TO THE SHOP...NOT TO MENTION LOSSED TIME AT WORK. I ACTUALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT I NEED IT TO START AND THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN A FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE FORD VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COOPERATION FROM BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD. WE'VE BOUGHT AN F-150, EXPLORER, AND THE FOCUS FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP...I GUESS OUR MONEY WAS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR THEM AND IN THE LONG RUN CUSTOMER DON'T REALLY MATTER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE CAR EXCEPT TO TRY FOR THE LEMON LAW...BUT SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHOSEN TO LIE AND SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, WHO KNOWS HOW THAT WILL TURN OUT.
THE TIRE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB
THE VEHICLES CLUTCH MADE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. *NLM
2002 FORD FOCUS, ONLY 15000 MILES. $500 FOR BRAKE JOB BECAUSE ROTORS WERE SHOT. MECHANIC SAYS COMMON PROBLEM WITH FOCUS. *JB
THE VEHICLE HAD A NOISE IN THE REAR END, DUE TO TIRE CUPPING. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR SUSPENSION NOT SETTLING AND NOT BEING ALIGNED. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD AN A CAMBER KIT TO INSTALL TO SOLVE THE SETTLING. *SCC
WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. *NLM
THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AT RANDOM OCCASIONS. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM
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.
Full record for the 2002 Ford Focus → · Every Focus year → · How the figures are calculated →