Ford Focus Complaints (2000)

3,686 consumer complaints on file.

#10220513March 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT NIGHT WHEN MY KEY WOULD NO LONGER FIT ALL THE WAY INTO MY IGNITION, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT. THE KEY WAS NOT EXCESSIVELY WORN NOR WAS IT BENT. THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE ONLY AN HOUR BEFORE. LUCKILY, I WAS IN AN URBAN AREA WITH CELLULAR SERVICE AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO LOAD THE CAR ON THE FLATBED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE TURNED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. SINCE I COULD NOT INSERT THE KEY ALL THE WAY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK ALLOWING THE WHEELS TO STRAIGHTEN. I THEN HAD TO CONTACT A LOCKSMITH WHO ADVISED HE COULD REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. HE ADVISED THAT HE WOULD REPLACE THE PART WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL THAN THE OEM BECAUSE IF THE OEM MODEL WAS INSTALLED, IT COULD FAIL AGAIN. THANK GOODNESS MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PLAN COVERED MOST OF THE COST FOR THE FAILED TOW ATTEMPT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF CARS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL TYPE. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS RETURNED IN MY SEARCH RESULTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! I DO LOTS OF STATE TO STATE TRAVELING AND I COULD HAVE BEEN ABANDONED IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION WITH NO CELLULAR SERVICE IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS! WHAT IF I HAVE CHILDREN OR ELDERLY PASSENGERS IN THE CAR??? THIS IS EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE TO HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM GO UNCOMMUNICATIVE TO FORD OWNERS. PEOPLE RELY ON THEIR VEHICLES TO START AND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING IS SCARY. I CAN THINK OF A DOZEN OF "WHAT IF" SCENARIOS THAT COULD PUT DRIVERS IN DANGER. THIS PART CAN BE REPLACED QUICKLY AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVELY (UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP IT SEEMS) WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL IGNITION SWITCH TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IF FORD WOULD JUST COMMUNICATE THIS KNOWN PROBLEM TO ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220458March 8, 2008
SUSPENSION
NO SPECIAL EVENTS TOOK PLACE TO CAUSE DAMAGE. I AM AT 75K MILES. BOTH RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE GONE BAD (BOTH FRONT AND REAR) AND REQUIRES THE ENTIRE HUB TO BE REPLACED AT $350 EACH. REAR HUB ALMOST CAUSED TIRE TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE AND ABS FAILURE. ALSO REQUIRED REAR BRAKES AND ABS CHIP TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220282March 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION KEY LOCK CYLINDER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE KEY CYLINDER DOES NOT TURN PROPERLY WHEN THE FACTORY KEY IS PROPERLY INSERTED. I HAVE TWO SETS OF KEYS, THEY ARE NOT TERRIBLY WORN AND THE CYLINDER WORKS THE SAME WAY WITH BOTH KEYS. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY, TAKE IT OUT AND FLIP IT OVER, WIGGLE THE KEY SOME MORE AND IT STILL MAY NOT WORK. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES, WHERE I WAS LEFT STRANDED, BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE IGNITION CYLINDER TO WORK. IT IS ALWAYS A GAMBLE AS TO WHETHER THE KEY IS GOING TO WORK IN THE CAR OR NOT. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE LOCAL LOCKSMITH THAT HE HAS NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MODEL CARS. HE HAS HAD TO FIX QUITE A FEW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I FEEL THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND ALL CUSTOMERS NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE FUNDS I HAD TO SHELL OUT, BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220004March 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE AND UPON EXITING VEHICLE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220016March 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ONE DAY I GOT INTO MY 2000 FORD FOCUS AND HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE IT WAS IN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR OF TURNING THE WHEEL, JIGGLING THE KEY, AND TAPPING ON THE KEY TO GET IT TO ENGAGE THE LOCK CYLINDER AND START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I LEFT THE KEY IN LONG ENOUGH TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS PERVASIVE ON THIS MODEL AND COST ABOUT $400 TO FIX. A SIMPLE SEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH 2000 FORD FOCUSES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE IT IS A FAILURE SUITABLE FOR RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220595March 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH IGNITION PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. SHE SAYS THAT THE DEALER CHARGED HER FOR THE REPAIR. SHE BELIEVES THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *KB THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220552March 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 FORD FOCUS WITH IGNITION FAILURE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WHEN THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM SHE ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. AND THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED 6 WEEKS LATER. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219795March 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY SUDDENLY WON'T FIT INTO THE IGNITION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 FORD FOCUS AND IT COST CLOSE TO $500 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE SINCE I FOUND OUT A LOT OF CONSUMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219233February 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT,AND FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE OR FIX IT UNLESS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED AND I WILL HOTWIRE THE CAR BEFORE I PAY 400 DOLLARS FOR A PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT EXIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219248February 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS WAS MY FIRST REAL CAR AND I WAS EXCITED. I HAD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE MONTHS WHEN IT STATED WHINING NOISES. I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING. IT HAPPEN I TOOK IT BACK. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FIXED A WEEK LATER THE CAR STARTED SHUTTING OFF ON ITS OWN. IT WOULD STALL AND STOP AS I WAS DRIVING. I SAID THE CAR IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS AND TOOK IT BACK THEY INSISTED THAT THE CAR WAS OK. I TALK TO A FORD DEALER SAID THE FUEL PUMP. IT HAPPEN AGAIN TOLD BRING THE CAR IN FRIDAY THEN I WAS RIDING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY IN BUFFALO NY WITH MY CHILDREN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN NO BRAKES NO EXCEL NOTHING WE WERE ALMOST KILLED IN THAT CAR I SCRAMBLED TO GET TO AN EXIT WHERE THE CAR STOPPED ON ITS OWN ON THE SHOULDER NEAR THE END OF THE EXIT. I CALLED THEM SCREAMING CRYING SCARED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DO YOU KNOW THEY SAID SORRY CAN YOU TOW IT IN. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN SO UNHAPPY. I TOWED THE CAR IN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD KEEP THE CAR. IT STARTED UP AND EVERYTHING AND THEY STILL WOULD NOT BELIEVE ME. UNTIL ONE OF THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD DRIVE THE CAR HOME. IT SHUT DOWN ON HIM AS HE DROVE HOME. THE MECHANIC BROUGHT IT BACK FIXED AND IT AND TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR IT I COULD COME AND GET IT. I WAS SO SO SO ANGRY I TOLD THEM I WOULD NOT PAY ANOTHER DIME FOR THAT CAR BUT WHAT I OWED TO THE TIME THAT CAR ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE. THEY SAID FINE AND PUT A JUDGMENT ON ME FOR 4,000. I TOOK IT TO A ATTORNEY TO FIGHT IT I WAS SOLD A BAD CAR AND WAS VERY RUDE AND NOT CARE ABOUT MY LIFE OR MY CHILDREN'S. NOW, 7YRS LATER I LOOK AT MY TRW TO FIND NOT ONLY DID YOU GIVE ME A BAD CAR, TELL ME I HAVE TO KEEP IT BUT YOU PUT 2 JUDGMENTS ON ME AND IT IS STILL RUINING MY LIFE. BUT NO MORE I AM ASKING THAT ASKING THAT YOUR COMPANY PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION AND STOP THIS TEARING DOWN OF MY LIFE. IT HAS WENT FROM ONE BAD ORDEAL TO A LIFE TIME OF MISERY. MY FINAL INCIDENT DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10218638February 20, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 80,000 MILES AFTER THEY SAID IT WAS REPLACED BY RECALL AT 22,000 MILES. LEFT REAR WHEEL COMES LOOSE AND WOBBLES. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218450February 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, WENT TO LEAVE AND KEY WILL GO IN IGNITION BUT WILL NOT TURN EITHER WAY. I WILL HAVE TO GET THIS REPLACED MYSELF EVEN THOUGH I FOUND 466 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL/ 20+% OF THE ENTIRE INVENTORY SO FAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I GUESS SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE KILLED IN ORDER TO GET A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, ANY VOLUNTEERS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218216February 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK JAMMED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218044February 14, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN (RR). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217711February 11, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, WHEELS:HUB
TRUNK LATCH FAILS TO CATCH 95% OF THE TIME. TRUNK KEY FAILS TO TURN LOCK MOST OF THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING TO THIS FAILURE. I BELIEVE THE TRUNK LOCK MATERIALS ARE CORRODING JUST LIKE THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS WHICH WERE RECALLED. THE TRUNK LOCK SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING MATERIALS. I REQUESTED DEALERSHIPS PERFORM REPAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD HEADQUARTERS HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL . WHY? NHTSA SHOULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THE CONSEQUENCE OF A FAILED TRUNK LOCK/LATCH IS THAT THE TRUNK DOOR WILL POP OPEN -- ALLOWING THINGS TO FLY OUT OF THE TRUNK AND FLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC ENDANGERING OTHERS AS WELL AS BLOCK REAR WINDOW VISION. THIS COULD CAUSE FATALITIES TO BOTH THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND NEAR BY VEHICLES. . THE HUBCAPS HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF IN PIECES DURING COLD WEATHER WHILE PARKED (IE., THE HUBCAPS WERE NOT STRUCK BY EXOGENOUS ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE). THIS IS CLEARLY THE FAULT OF SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING MATERIALS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES AT HEADQUARTERS HAVE STATED THIS TO ME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE HUBCAPS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. EXOGENOUS MATERIALS CAN HIT THE UNPROTECTED TIRES, CAUSE A BLOW OUT. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY FOR SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS. I COULD TAKE A WILD GUESS THAT THE WHEEL WELLS -- ON MY CAR -- REPLACED DIRECTLY BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING FROM THE WARREN PLANT -- DID NOT LOOK AT THE STRESS AND HAIR LINE CRACKS HE FAULTY WHEEL WELLS PLACED ON THE ORIGINAL HUB CABS. IT'S TIME TO FINISH THE JOB! FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES HAVE STATED TO ME THAT THE 2000 YEAR MODEL (THE FIRST YEAR THIS VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS) MANUFACTURED IN THE WARREN PLANT DID NOT PERFORM THE NECESSARY QUALITY CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT THESE MATERIALS FUNCTIONED IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216941February 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
STALLING ON MY FORD FOCUS 2000 ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO STALL I ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216824February 3, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I PARKED MY CAR ONE NIGHT IN A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME BACK MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK SO THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD. TWO AAA ROADSIDE WORKERS TRIED TO TURN THE IGNITION AND IT DID NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216826February 3, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR THREE DAYS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE REAR LEFT BALL BEARING WAS BROKEN AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT MY WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. I LATER REALIZED THAT THE SAME BALL BEARING WAS PREVIOUSLY FIXED UNDER RECALL 01B85. HOWEVER THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE AND I HAD TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I LATER WROTE A LETTER TO FORD TO REQUEST A REFUND AND MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216538January 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKED UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216193January 27, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ANTI-THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WON'T START - 2ND TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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