Ford Focus Complaints (2000)

3,686 consumer complaints on file.

#10110086February 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON OCCASION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEN ONE NIGHT THE KEY SIMPLY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SEEN FREQUENTLY IN THESE CARS. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111120February 8, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY STEVEN'S DAUGHTER RACHEL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110105February 8, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
IN 2000 I BROUGHT MY FORD FOCUS 2000 IN FOR A RECALL ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN 2001, MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE, AND THE CAR FISHTAILED WHEN DRIVEN. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD BEARING IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THEY REPLACED THE BEARING, ABS SENSOR, AND SPINDLE UNDER WARRANTY. ON FEB 3, 2005, MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY LOUD METALLIC POPPING AND GRINDING NOISES WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR DID NOT SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE, SO I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BEARING IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, THE VERY SAME THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2000. THIS CAUSED THE ABS SENSOR TO GO BAD AND NOTCHED LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL OUT OF THE SPINDLE, AND POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CAUSED FAILURE OF THE BREAKS OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OR THE BEARINGS BEING PUT IN, AND IT WAS JUST COINCIDENCE THAT I HAD TO BRING IT IN 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH 3 IDENTICAL BEARINGS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE 2000 RECALL, BUT HAVE GOTTEN AROUND IT WITH 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIODS, FORCING CUSTOMERS TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS SPENDING OVER $650 A POP EVERY YEAR OR SO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111134February 8, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE THE DOOR LOCKS BECAME INOPERABLE. ON THE RIGHT REAR DOOR CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE LOCK FROM THE INSIDE, WHICH WAS INOPERABLE. ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE KEY, WHICH ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD DEALER, AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127936February 7, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2000 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOOR.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE BACK DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE ENTIRE DOOR ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE MAY BE PART OF A LATCH RECALL. *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127940February 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
2000 FORD FOCUS SE WHEEL LOCKED UP.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR DEALERSHIPS WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER $350 FOR A NEW CYLINDER. CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109975February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
(1) I PARKED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ON A HILL WITH THE WHEELS TURNED (2) THE KEY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN EVEN AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH IT FOR 4 HOURS! I HAD TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE BEHIND. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE SIGNS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. WHILE THIS IS NOT A MOVING SAFETY ISSUE, THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT CAN STRAND YOU WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN AN UNSAFE AREA. (I CARRY SPARE GAS, JUMPER CABLES, CAR JACKS, ANTIFREEZE, EXTRA OIL ETC.. I EVEN HAD ENOUGH TOOLS TO TAKE APART THE STEERING COLUMN AND TRY HOT WIRING THE CAR, BUT TO NO AVAIL.) THIS IS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT. (3) I LATER BOUGHT AN OWNERS MANUAL TO TRY FIXING THE PROBLEM MYSELF. BUT THE FIRST STEP TO REMOVING THE BROKEN IGNITION CYLINDER IS TO TURN THE KEY!! A CATCH 22. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110014February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE KEY ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER TECHNIQUES I COULD TRY AND CAME ACROSS SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH DISGRUNTLED CONSUMERS WHO ARE ALSO OWNERS OF THE FORD FOCUS. THEY ALL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND LOCKSMITH THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TUMBLERS AND A FAILED CYLINDER DUE TO FORD. APPARENTLY FORD USED A SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURED CYLINDER WHICH RAPIDLY DETERIORATES WITH USE AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURES THUS LOCKING THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE CLOSE TO $400 SO I OPTED INSTEAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT. THAT COST ME $60. I'M TOLD THOUGH THAT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND EVEN A NEW CYLINDER WILL NOT PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE THE PART ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO A RECALL WHICH I FIND ABSURD. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ANNOYING SITUATION BUT ALSO A DANGEROUS ONE. I'VE HAD OTHER FORD OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEM WHILE DRIVING, AT STOP LIGHTS, IN A PARKING LOT ETC. THAT IS DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I AM WRITING A PERSONAL LETTER TO FORD...AND I PLAN TO TAKE THIS AS FAR AS I POSSIBLY CAN LEGALLY. THANK YOU. AMY KENNEDY WINSTON SALEM, NC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110048February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. MY COMPLAINT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS 10100616. A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH THAT WOULD NOT TURN. CORRECTED BY DRILLING OUT CYLINDER, AND REPLACING. CERTIFIED LOCK SMITH PRICE WAS $298.00. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER QUOTED PRICE WAS $400.00 LOCK SMITH SAID THEY HAVE 1 - 2 OF THESE WITH THE FOCUS EVERY WEEK.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106603February 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER, STALLED. AND SOMETIMES CUT COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SINCE AUGUST 2004. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2004, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109943February 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR IS A LEMON. RADIO HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. DOOR LOCKS AND IGNITION LOCK HAVE FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. CURRENT PROBLEM IS CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. EMISSION LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. DEAL CAN NOT FIX.*JB I CONSIDER THE STALLING AT INTERSECTIONS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. IF SOMEONE IS MOVING FORWARD ASSUMING THE CAR WILL MOVE, AND IT DOES NOT BECAUSE OF THE STALL, A CRASH MAY RESULT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109952February 6, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2000 FORD FOCUS - REAR DOOR LATCH ISSUE. DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NO LONGER CLOSE. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109961February 6, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER ENTERING PASSENGER FLOOR. CARPET PAD SOAKED MOLD SMELL IN CAR.HAD IT IN DEALER SHOP AT 4500 MILES 16000 MILES THEY REPLACED CARPET AND OBVIOUSLY TEMPORARILY FIXED THE LEAK. NOW THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY TO HAVE THE LEAK FIXED. I ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT MYSELF BUT CANT STOP THE LEAK. FORD HAS SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THIS WATER LEAK BUT APPARENTLY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE LEAK EITHER.NOW I AM STUCK WITH A MOLDED SMELLING CAR AND A WET CARPET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127983February 4, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION PROBLEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109866February 4, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
FOR THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT'S AS IF THE IGNITION IS LOCKED, ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE KEY TO TURN (ACTUALLY TURN SO THE CAR COULD START). TODAY, HOWEVER, NO AMOUNT OF 'JIMMYING' DID THE TRICK. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD SIMPLY NOT TURN - AT ALL (EVEN AFTER I TAPPED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH MY PALM AS I TURNED THE KEY AS RECOMMENDED BY A FORD SERVICE MECHANIC). SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD IN PORTLAND, OR SO THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS COSTING ME AROUND $290!. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER - WHO ALSO OWNS A FORD FOCUS ZX3 - HAS BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DESPITE THIS, FORD HAS NOT 'RECALLED' THIS FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER AND I FEEL THIS REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND, AT THE LEAST, COMPENSATION BY FORD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109803February 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH IS STUCK. CANNOT START CAR. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS: SEE(HTTP://WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM/MESSAGEBOARDS/MESSAGE.PHP?ID=1784&PAGE=12), DUE IN MY OPINION TO POOR MANUFACTURING. IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY FORD DENIES THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON BULLETIN BOARDS TO DOCUMENT THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP US FIX THIS SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD/COULD COME UNDER A RECALL NOTICE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU, BOB LAMBERT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109625February 2, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE STALLS. DEALER STATES THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108452February 2, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH, MY BACK DOOR OPENED. THIS SITUATION PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, AND STARTED OCCURING MORE OFTEN, AND NOW WITH BOTH DOORS. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THAT FORD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND SUGGESTED THAT I SPEND ALMOST $1000 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I ALSO CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANIES 800 NUMBER, AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOOR LOCKS. I CAN CLOSE THE DOORS, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, NOR LOCK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108350February 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCKS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111201January 31, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION:REAR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES
THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. *NM THE REAR END WAS UNABLE TO BE LINED UP, IF SO, THE VEHICLE WOULD FISHTAIL BACK AND FORTH AND THE CONSUMER WOULD UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Focus