Ford Focus Complaints (2000)

3,686 consumer complaints on file.

#10106408January 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 01-15-05 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 HOURS, MY FIANCEE, MYSELF, AND MY SON WERE RIDING IN OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS SE 2.0 LITER DOHC. WHEN TRYING TO PASS A TRUCK THE ACCELERATOR BROKE OFF COMPLETELY AND THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED. WE WERE THEN STUCK NEXT TO THE TRUCK WITH NO WHERE TO GO COULD NOT ACCELERATE. IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE EVASIVE ACTIONS OF MY FIANCEE I MAY NOT BE TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW. WE HAD TO PULL ONTO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE THROTTLE CABLE AND WILL BE KEEPING THE OLD PART. THIS TO ME IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION AND COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE. I ALONG WITH MY FAMILY HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE IN THE FUTURE AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FEARFUL EXPERIENCES I HAVE EVER HAD. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND I AM SEEKING LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER, DUE TO FORD'S LACK OF ASSISTANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106332January 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WENT TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS AFTER LEAVING STORE AND IGNITION TUMBLE WOULD NOT TURN. HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. NOW EVERYTIME I GO TO START MY VEHICLE I HAVE TO HIT THE KEY HARD INTO THE IGNITION FOR AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES TO START. BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY FORD DEALER. NOW IT'S GOING TO CAST ME OVER $300 TO REPLACED THIS PART AND THAT THEY SAY FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL THIS PART. I SPOKE TO SERVICE REPS, MANAGERS AND TECH'S. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME....FORD KNOWS BUT WONT RECALL IT! SO ON TOP OF MY CAR PAYMENT I GET TO PAY MORE THAN MY MONTHLY PAYMENT TO FIX A PART THAT FORD ACKNOWLEDGES AS DEFECTIVE. EXCELLENT SERVICES AND CARE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. THEN AGAIN I AM ONLY AN AVERAGE PERSON NOT A MULI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103781January 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE IGNITION FAILED TWICE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107350January 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
INTERMITTENTLY THE CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106164January 12, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT
WHILE LEAVING WORK A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, MY 2000 FORD FOCUS' KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPON INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I COULD NEITHER GET IT TO TURN IN THE CYLINDER NOR REMOVE IT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD IN LOS ANGELES AND REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE, AS IT WAS STILL COVERED UNDER IT'S STANDARD 3 YEAR/30,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. (UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE LOST MY SERVICE PAPERWORK DURING A RECENT MOVE. I WILL ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE THE INFORMATION FROM EITHER AIRPORT MARINA FORD OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO CONFIRM THE DATE, WORK PERFORMED AND THE MILEAGE OF MY CAR AT THE TIME.) MY CAR HAD NOT GIVEN ANY INDICATION OF POSSIBLE FAILURE PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. ON JANUARY 6, 2005, WHILE ON AN ERRAND FOR WORK, THE IGNITION CYLINDER BECAME STUCK. THIS TIME, I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AND REINSERT FREELY BUT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SOPP FORD IN LOS ANGELES AND REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. THE OLD IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND A NEW CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED. I ALSO RECEIVED A NEW KEY AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO USE THE OLD ONE. PARTS AND LABOR RESULTED IN A BILL FOR $400.39. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT AND TO FIND OUT IF I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR ANY REMUNERATION. THE OPERATOR TOOK MY INFORMATION, TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT (WHICH THEY OFFICIALLY DO NOT RECOGNIZE) AND INFORMED ME THAT I MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REMUNERATION IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED AT A LATER DATE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPAIRS PROVIDED BY FORD ARE WARRANTIED FOR EITHER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. I DID NOT ASK FOR NOR WAS GIVEN THE OLD IGNITION CYLINDER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PROCESS OF REMOVING IT REQUIRED DRILLING IT OUT; THERE WAS NOT MUCH LEFT OF THE OLD CYLINDER EXCEPT FOR SOME METAL FILINGS. I LOST A DAY'S WAGE AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106239January 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKED UP, WILL NOT TURN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107156January 11, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED IT FAILS TO START BECAUSE THE KEYS WOULDN'T TURN THE IGNITION. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART IN THE LATER MODEL VEHICLES. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT$300.00.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107133January 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND INADVERTENTLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107141January 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN IGNITION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106926January 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 19,000 MILES. THIS CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOCK UP AND UNABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE ON. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109165January 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE GOING 65 MPH, A VEHICLE PULLED OFF THE RAMP IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO WORK. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *SC ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLES DIGITAL METERS WHERE BLINKING. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED THREE TIMES AND LANDED ON THE ROOF. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. ALL THE DIGITAL FIGURES ON THE DASH WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. *TC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10105815January 5, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
BROKEN FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRING. EEDED TO REPLACE WITH NEW FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105668January 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2000 FORD FOCUS -- IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY, HE IGNITION CORE FELL OUT OF MY DAUGHTERS FOCUS FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS ASSEMBLY IS BEING WARRENTY REPLACED THIS SECOND TIME SINCE IT WAS DONE AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP SAYS OTHER ADJACENT COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED (COSTING ~ $650). HAD THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME, THERE IS NO WAY THE ADJACENT COMPONENTS COULD HAVE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP LITHIA FORD OF TRI-CITIES (509-735-2511) , HAS REFUSED TO HONOR WARRENTY REPAIR OF THE ADJACENT COMPONENTS, WHICH IS RATHER DISTURBING. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT SO HOPEFULLY FORD WILL SOMEDAY BE PUSHED INTO RECALLING THIS DEFECT IN ADDITION TO THE 11 OTHER DEFECTS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106695January 3, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK ALL FOUR DOORS TO GAINED ENTRY INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105618January 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WILL NOT TURN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. A FORD TECHNICIAN SAID TO LIGHTLY TAP THE KEY THEN TRY TURNING THE IGNITION. THIS METHOD HAS SEEMED TO WORK. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO TAP HARDER AND HARDER TO THE POINT OF HURTING MY HAND FROM HITTING IT SO HARD. I'VE READ SEVERAL FORD INTERNET FORUMS WHERE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS IGNITIONS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104898January 1, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS MY DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD ENGAGE SPORADICALLY. AT TIMES IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. FINALLY, THE DOOR OPENED WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND WHILE MY THREE CHILDREN WERE OCCUPYING THE BACK SEATS! FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BECAUSE WE USE SEAT BELTS. THE INTERIOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (276.18); HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC SAID TO KEEP OUR RECEIPTS BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN MANY SUCH CASES AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. TO DATE IT HAS NOT, AND IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. ALSO, THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE SO SUCH A YOUNG (4 YEAR OLD) CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS OR OTHERS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105593December 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE DID NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104734December 29, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION KEY WONT WORK IN THE CAR IT WONT TURN. MY 19 YEAR DAUGHTER WAS LEAVING WORK WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULDN'T WORK. IT WAS DARK AND NOT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBABLY WITH THE FORD FOCUS IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY FORD AND FIXED NOW! (2000 FORD FOCUS). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104651December 28, 2004
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. IT APPEARS THAT THEY WILL FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THEY CANNOT HELP AT THIS TIME. I ASSUMED WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR THAT IT WAS SAFE AND RELIABLE. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I WAS WRONG. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANY CAR IN MICHIGAN WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE THE RECALL WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE TIRE WAS SHAKING AND ALMOST FELL OF THE CAR. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED DURING THE RECALL. THE THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MY DAUGHTER NOTICING A LOUD HUMMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TWICE AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR (68,000) THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP ME AT THIS TIME. I ADVISED THEM THAT THE REPAIR WAS ONLY 20,000 MILES OLD. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS DOES NOT MATTER TO THEM. IF FORD HAD CORRECTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, IN MY MIND, IT SHOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN EVERY 20,000 MILES. IF FORD IS JUST REPLACING THE PART WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN PART, IT WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. I WOULD HATE TO SEE A DEATH OCCUR BECAUSE THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS NOT FIXED CORRECTLY. FORD IS ALSO STATING THAT WE MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE WE DID NOT 'PAY' FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104542December 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER STOPPING AT A LOCAL SAFEWAY SUPERMARKET I WENT TO MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY WHEEL WAS LOCKED SO I ATTEMPTED TO PULL ON THE WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE KEY BUT HAD NO LUCK. I TRIED THIS FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE GIVING UP. I CONTACTED AAA ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 26 AND WAS TOLD A LOCKSMITH WILL BE OUT TO UNLOCK MY WHEEL. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM AAA EXPLAINING TO ME THAT THEY FELT A LOCKSMITH WOULD DO NO GOOD WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND IN AAA'S EXPERIENCE MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS A COMMON DEFECT AND I SHOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER BECAUSE MY IGNITION WILL MOST LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER MONDAY THE 27 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY PERFORM THAT REPAIR ALL THE TIME, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2000AND 2001 FORD FOCUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN SOME THAT HAD THE STEERING MECHANISM LOCK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC REPLACE THE IGNITION SYSTEM, BECAUSE DURRING RESEARCH I ALSO FOUND THAT THOSE THAT HAD THE IGNITION SYSTEM REPLACED AT A DEALER HAD A REACCURANCE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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