Ford Focus Complaints (2000)

3,686 consumer complaints on file.

#10251203December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER WENT TO DROP OFF LUNCH TO MY OTHER DAUGHTER AND THE IGNITION LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. ACCORDING TO CLARENCE DITLOW WITH AUTO SAFETY .ORG THIS IS THE NUMBER 1 REPORTED DEFECT IN THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS, SO WHY ISN'T FORD RECALLING THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM??? MY DAUGHTER CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE REP TOLD HER THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. I THEN CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANY PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE KEY LOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I WAS VERY UPSET AND SAID GOODBYE AND WENT ON THE INTERNET TO DO MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD IF THIS IS THE WAY THEY REPRESENT THEIR VEHICLES. I THEN CALLED FORD BACK AFTER MY RESEARCH AND INQUIRED WHY THE OTHER REP HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY ISSUES OF THIS TYPE WITH THE FOCUS. ALL I WANT IS FOR FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. NOTHING MY DAUGHTER SIS COULD OF PREVENTED THIS ISSUE AND NOW FORD WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE IGNITION TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $400 TO $500 ACCORDING TO RESEARCH SHOWN. UNBELIEVABLE... PLEASE HELP... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251223December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION FAILURE AFTER REPLACING IT ROUGHLY 1 YEAR AGO. 2ND IGNITION CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED IN THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250982December 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A TOWN 50 MILES FROM MY HOMETOWN. THE KEY WENT IN AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO A FORD DEALER ( WHO IS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD FIX THE PROBLEM). IT COST ME 380.52 TO GET THE CAR FIXED, IN WHICH 221 OF THAT WAS JUST LABOR! BUT SINCE THEY HAD TO PROGRAM THE IGNITION, THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES TO DO IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS SAID THEY TOW 2 OR 3 OF THESE A MONTH BECAUSE OF THIS. FORD HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS UNFAIR THAT THEY HAVE NOT AT LEAST RECALLED THE PART. AS A CONSUMER, I CAN SAFELY SAY I HAVE LOST A LOT OF RESPECT FOR FORD. AS A CHILD I GREW UP A "FORD FANATIC", HOWEVER DUE TO THE PURCHASE OF MY FOCUS AND THE CARELESSNESS OF THE COMPANY TO TAKE CARE OF THE MINOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THAT HAS CHANGED. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE WARNED ALL OF MY FRIENDS WITH FOCUSES OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY ARE JUST PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM! UNTIL THEN, I AM UNSATISFIED WITH FORD'S SERVICE, AND PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251007December 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS NO INDICATION OR WARNING TO WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR--IT IS PURELY RANDOM. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. WHEN THE KEY IS PUT INTO THE IGNITION, IT WILL NOT TURN. THUS, LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. A LOCKSMITH HAD TO BE CALLED TO WORK ON THE IGNITION. FORTUNATELY, THIS TIME SHE WAS STRANDED AT CHURCH (THE FIRST TIME WAS AT A SHOPPING MALL AND THE SECOND AT WORK). BUT, SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE UNFAMILIAR OR ISOLATED, THIS WOULD HAVE MADE HER QUITE UNCOMFORTABLE BEING ALONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250939December 6, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AUG 19, 2008 MY DAUGHTER WAS STUCK IN A ISOLATE AREA WHEN THE KEY WOULDN'T GO IN THE SWITCH. I WAS REPLACED AND 2 MONTHS LATER THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE SWITCH IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250852December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE KEY STICKING IN MY IGNITION, BUT LAST NIGHT MY KEY REFUSED TO START THE CAR AT ALL. LEAVING ME STRANDED MILES FROM HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TOWED 3 FORD FOCUSES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250655December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2003. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION LOCK IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESOLVED THE ISSUE. CURRENTLY, FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250355December 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTING 2 YEARS AGO REAR HATCH WOULD INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCK WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PROBLEM WAS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS, REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. ALL SYMPTOMS POINT TO A FAILURE IN THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING FROM THE CAR BODY TO THE REAR HATCH LID. ONLINE FORUMS OF FOCUS OWNERS DOCUMENT BROKEN INSULATION AND WIRES IN THIS WIRING HARNESS. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS THE TARGET OF A NHTSA RECALL OF FOCUSES FROM THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT APPARENTLY ONLY APPLIED TO THE SEDANS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY FORD DEALER TO REPAIR, BUT WITHOUT A RECALL I WILL BE FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND REPORT A RECALL SOON IF APPROPRIATE. THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AND SPONTANEOUS OPENING OF THE REAR HATCH WHILE DRIVING ARE SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF OTHER OWNERS REPORTING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE: HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/TEAM-PIT-STOP/457417-ALL-ZX3-OWNERS-PLEASE-READ-POTENTIAL-SAFETY-HAZARD.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250168November 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER MONTHS OF ISSUES STARTING THE CAR AND THE KEY NOT TURNING, THE IGNITION NOW IS COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE KEY...BOTH KEYS PROVIDED BY THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE...WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250185November 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THIS WILL BE OUR 5TH IGNITION REPLACEMENT SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR NEW IN 2000. THE FIRST THREE WERE COVERED. SINCE WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 500 FOR THIS ONE WE HAVE BEEN MAKING DUE BY LEAVING THE KEY IN AND NOT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF BY JUST A HAIR. OR ON THE OCCASION WE FORGET AND TAKE IT OUT WE HAVE TO BEAT IT WITH THE BACK OF A SCREWDRIVER TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO GET OUT AND LEAVE THE CAR IN DRIVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE I GOT USE TO PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY I CAN NO LONGER REMOVE THE KEY SO I AM DISTRACTED BY DIGGING OUT THE CLICKER SO I CAN GET BACK INTO MY CAR. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS! MY CAR ROLLED ACROSS THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT AND INTO ANOTHER CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD RUN OVER! ALL BECAUSE OF THIS IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER LEFT MY CAR IN DRIVE IN OVER 32 YEARS BEFORE THIS TROUBLE! I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN RELENTLESS HEAT WITH CHILDREN AND FREEZING TEMPS AGAIN WITH CHILDREN. THIS IS WITH OUT QUESTION A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS NOT FROM OVER USE OR HEAVY KEY CHAINS. THERE ARE MANY MANY DAYS I DON'T EVEN LEAVE THE HOUSE TO USE IT. I DON'T STOP AND START THE CAR A LOT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY FORD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250050November 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IN OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LEAVE MY WIFE OR I STRANDED OUT IN THE COLD. SO FAR, STRUGGLING/WRESTLING WITH THE KEY WILL EVENTUALLY WORK. IN READING ON THE WEB, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD FOCUS CARS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249863November 25, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER CLOSES UNLESS IT IS LOCKED. IT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED WITH A KEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249630November 24, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE FAILURE WAS WORSENING BY THE DAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF OR SURGE BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. IT WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY 80% OF THE TIME AND HAVE TO BE JUMPSTARTED THE REMAINING 20%. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WOULD ONLY MAKE TURNS WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND IN FEAR THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND WOULD CHARGE $86 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249668November 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT DAY. THE SHOP RESET THE CODE SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY TOLD ME THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE MAINTENANCE DONE AND HAVE RECORDS STATING DATES AND MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249609November 23, 2008
STEERING
THIS INCIDENT IS NOT ALL TOO TRAGIC, NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK HAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM. A HORRIBLY COMMON PROBLEM. IT'S BASED ON A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY AND ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A TAX PAYER FUNDED BAILOUT FROM CONGRESS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME COSTLY FOR MANY AND IN VIRTUALLY ALL CASES I'VE HEARD, REPAIRS HAVEN'T WORKED. PLEASE HELP US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249467November 21, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. AS MOST KNOW, WINTERS IN THE MID-WEST ARE VERY COLD. I WAS OUT AT MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE IN NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN; PICKING UP SOME BOXES IN THE GARAGE. THEY TRAVEL TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER MONTHS SO THEY WERE NOT HOME. I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER IN THE IGNITION. IT WAS COMPLETELY STUCK. I TRIED EVERYTHING. I MADE SURE IT WAS IN PARK, TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE, EVERYTHING. IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I WAS ALL ALONE. IT WAS FREEZING COLD. LUCKILY I HAD MY PHONE SO I WAS ABLE TO CALL FOR HELP. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY 200$ TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT AND FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD KNOWS IT. FORD KNOWS ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXISTS. WHAT IF I HADN'T HAD MY PHONE TO CALL FOR HELP, I WOULD OF HAD NO WAY OF GETTING INSIDE AND THERE IS NO ONE THAT LIVES NEARBY FOR AT LEAST A MILE. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND HAVE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249533November 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO BUY GAS. AFTER FILLING THE TANK I GOT IN AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN. NOT EVEN TO THE ACC POSITION. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND THEY CAME AND GOT IT. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME ITS BECOMING VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR AND TO REPAIR IT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HAVE IT PROGRAMMED... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248373November 10, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IT WAS JUST THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR THAT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, YOU COULD HOWEVER STILL OPEN IT IF YOU PUSHED ON A CERTAIN PART OF THE DOOR AND TRIED TO OPEN AT THE SAME TIME. NOW THAT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE OUT SIDE AT ALL, AND THE OTHER DOORS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LATCH NOW, YOU HAVE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ABOUT 10 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL LATCH. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR BEFORE AND NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I DON'T LIVE IN THE STATES THAT ARE AFFECTED IN THE RECALL. IF I WAS TO GET THIS REPLACED ON MY OWN IT WILL COST ME ABOUT 2000.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247897November 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IGNITION BARREL AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246725October 26, 2008
STEERING
LAST NIGHT I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK JUST FINE AND THIS MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR MY IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN AND THE BREAK AND SHIFTER FELT LIKE IT LOCKED UP! IT WAS JUST FINE UNTIL THIS MORNING AND I HEAR IT IS A COMMON THING! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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