Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10062746March 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE ON A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 W/ 2.0L DOHC ZETEC ENGINE ROUTINELY STALLS WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY ON/OFF RAMPS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE WHICH CAUSED A TEMPORARY LOST OF CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE ENGINE WILL RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND CONTINUE. IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATE OUT OF A TURN. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED OUT AND IS IN NORMAL OPERATING ORDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062748March 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS JUNE OF 2003. IT CHECKED OUT FINE BUT JUST TO COVER MYSELF I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SO I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND A HOSE. ALL WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AGAIN. WHEN I WOULD STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND MY ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT A STOP LIGHT I WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. AROUND THIS TIME I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS JUST LIKE I WAS EXPERIENCING. I WAS HAPPY TO KNOW THIS ISSUE WAS BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER IN TOWN. LATER THAT DAY THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS NOT MY FUEL PUMP AND THEY NEEDED MY OK TO DIAGNOSIS. WELL THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING SO THEY CALLED FORD. FORD EXPLAINED THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED CARBON BUILD UP AND SOMETHING TO "STICK" IN THE VALVE. NOW FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, THE WARRANTY COMPANY WON'T COVER IT AND THE REPAIR IS OVER $2000.00! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR A SINGLE MOTHER WHO PURCHASE A BASIC, WHAT I THOUGHT ECONOMICAL & RELIABLE CAR. NOW I AM FORCED TO USE EVERY PENNY I HAVE SAVED TO USE TOWARD OWNING A HOME SOME DAY INTO A CAR THAT FORD DESIGNED WRONG. DOES FORD THE BIG COMPANY PAY?NO, THE CONSUMER DOES. THIS CAR ATTRACTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF CUSTOMER, NOT ONE WITH A LOT OF MONEY TO SPARE! ANY ADVICE? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062674March 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ENGINE STARTER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062713March 20, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR FORD FOCUS IN MAY OF 2003. IN SEPT. OF 2003 WE PAID IT OFF. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AN ODOR COMING OUT OF THE COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD/MILDEW. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BOB BELL FORD IN GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ONLY PUT SOME KIND OF DEODORIZER IN THE SYSTEM THAT LASTS A FEW DAYS, AND THEN THE ODOR COMES BACK AGAIN. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT THERE, MY HUSBAND WAS INSULTED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS. THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE GOT OUR CAR BACK ON SATURDAY, 5 DAYS AFTER TAKING IT TO THEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE 'SERVICE MANAGER' HAD IT DETAILED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE ODOR WAS DUE TO THE CAR BEING DIRTY. GRANTED, THE CAR NEEDED A GOOD WASHING ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT COME ON NOW, PLEASE, THAT WON'T CAUSE AN ODOR ON THE INSIDE. IT IS EITHER A CONDENSATION PROBLEM OR AN IMPROPER WATER DRAINING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THEY WON'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. FOR SOME REASON, AFTER IT RAINS, WE SMELL THIS HORRIBLE ODOR WHEN WE USE OUR COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY DEODORIZE THE SYSTEM THE ODOR COMES BACK. IT IS A "HEALTH HAZARD" BREATHING THIS HORRIBLE ODOR. HOPEFULLY FILING THIS COMPLAINT MAY HELP OUR SITUATION BEFORE WE ARE FORCED TO GO ANY FURTHER. IF THEY DON'T SOON CORRECT THE PROBLEM , WE WILL BE CALLING THE BBB AND CONTACTING OUR LAWYER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062618March 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY WILL NOT TURN INSIDE IGNITION. COMPLETELY LOCKED. CAR WILL NOT START.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063552March 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TUMBLER FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION MODULE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062510March 18, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT START MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT LOCKED UP ONE OTHER TIME BUT BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE IT CAME UNLOCKED BY ITSELF. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063439March 18, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063498March 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A HESITATION. CONSUMER FEELS THAT ENGINE MAY SHUT OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063390March 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062443March 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE KEY WILL NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE IGNITION TUMBLER IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT 5000 MILES AGO AND FORD WILL NOT PAY THE COSTS TO REPAIR THE IGNITION. FORD SAID THERE IS NO RECALL RIGHT NOW, BUT KEEP THE RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT THERE IS ONE. WHY NOT JUST VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE FOCUS? WHY WAIT TO BE ORDERED TO DO SO? THE ESTIMATE IS $350 TO FIX THE IGNITION. THEY CAN'T REPLACE THE RECALLED FUEL PUMP UNTIL THEY FIX THE IGNITION EITHER. WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE MY HUSBAND'S FOCUS HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FOLKS AT FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOTIFYING OWNERS ABOUT A RECALL DID NOT HAVE OUR NEW ADDRESS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE SEND FORD TWO CAR PAYMENTS EVERY MONTH. WE JUST REPLACED SOME $300 PART TO KEEP OUR WINDOW ON ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063419March 17, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062459March 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062422March 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE COMPLETE IGNITION MODULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ON MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY A FORD MOTOR CO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD AND WOULD PROBABLY BE COVERED BY THE COMPANY. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE QUITE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART IT IS NOT YET A RECALL AND THEREFORE WE MUST PAY APPROXIMATELY $400 TO REPAIR IT. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS FAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT IS NOT THE CORRECT LEVEL OF COVERAGE AND WOULD ALSO NOT BE COVERED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053740March 17, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM. *AK (IN RE: DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG) THE DRIVER ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A STORE. THERE WAS A HESITATION THEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE AIRBAGS RELEASED AN UNKNOWN CHEMICAL. *SC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10062295March 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START. IT HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. THE KEY WILL GO INTO THE IGNITION, BUT WILL NOT TURN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT KEYS AND THE SAME HAPPENS. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE KEYS, THE IGNITION DOES NOT RELEASE THEM WITHOUT FORCE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF SEARCHING ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A LARGE ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE FORD HAS INTRODUCED THE FOCUS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY DOES FORD ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCING SUCH A LEMON VEHICLE WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS. AS CONSUMER, WE BUY VEHICLES WITH THE GOOD FAITH THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LAST FOR DECADES. WHY IS FORD ALOUD TO GO WITHOUT FIXING EVERY DEFECT THEY HAVE DESIGNED IN THE FOCUS? *JB YOUR JOB SHOULD BE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS THAT ANY VEHICLE LIKE THE FOCUS LEMON WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THAT MANUFACTURERS CANNOT HIDE THE DEFECTS IN VEHICLES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063067March 12, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH ENGINE REVVED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CASE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061991March 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. I TRIED JILTING THE WHEEL TO TRY TO GET IT TO UNLOCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062004March 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ON 2 OCCASIONS I COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP RE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE POWDER ON THE FRONT WHEELS - THESE WERE ON THE FIRST TWO OIL CHANGE VISITS. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL (HUB CAPS WERE DARK CHARCOAL). TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2/14/04 FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN AFFECTED. CAR HAD ONLY 14,300 MILES, EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE FOR PADS TO BE WORN OUT. REP TOLD ME TO BRING CAR BACK FOR THEM TO CHECK FOR DEFECT IN BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK 5 DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE PADS BAD, BUT THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE IN ROTOR READING SATURDAY AND THAT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THERE WERE SERIOUS COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE LATER RESOLVED, BUT I WOUND UP PAYING MEINEKE FOR PADS ($133.00 INCL LABOR) FOR A LIFETIME GUARANTEE INSTEAD OF FAIRWAY FORD'S PRICE - $145 FOR 12,000 MILE PADS (SAME BRAND INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY) OR $195 FOR FORD PRODUCT. THAT NIGHT (2/19) I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAD HAD PREVIOUS, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF SUCH COMPLAINTS AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME; THAT THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THAT PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AND I SHOULD CONTACT HIM. I WOUND UP INVOLVING MY ATTORNEY AND WRITING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INVESTIGATED AND FOUND IN MY FAVOR. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS FOR FREE. MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD IS OBVIOUSLY USING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT; THAT I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE WEB ABOUT THE FOCUS BRAKE PADS; THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT STILL IN THE DISCOVERY STAGE CONCERNING THE 2000 AND 2001 FOCUS BRAKES; AND THAT I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I APPRECIATE THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOUND UP APOLOGIZING AND REPLACING THE ROTORS FOR FREE, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062018March 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD FOCUS IN JAN/2001. AFTER 16000 MILES MY ROTORS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER BRAKE PARTS THIS REPAIR WAS DONE ON 10/15/02 AND WAS COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. AFTER 30000 MILES I BEGAN TO HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. AT 30528 MILES, ON 03/05/04, I WAS INFORMED BY THE OASIS FORD DEALERSHIP (OLD BRIDGE, NJ) TECHNICIAN THAT MY ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER BRAKE PARTS AND BECAUSE THIS WAS A WEAR PROBLEM, IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY VERY EXPENSIVE WARRANTY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONLY 14000 MILES AGO. HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ROTORS PROVIDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. HE SAID THEY WERE TOO THIN AND COULD NOT BE MACHINED BECAUSE THAT WOULD REDUCE THEM BELOW "SPECS". THIS REPAIR WOULD COST ME $360.00 NOW AND, PRESUMABLY, ANY FUTURE BRAKE REPAIR. THE ROTORS APPEAR TO BE OF INFERIOR QUALITY AND PERHAPS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. REGARDS, ED BARRY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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