Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10250672December 3, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
NO INITIAL INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED, A SUDDEN ONSET. ONE DAY, I GOT IN MY CAR, TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND START THE CAR. I TRIED A SECOND KEY THAT IS NOT USED, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A WORN KEY, BUT STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE COLUMN LOCK. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO NOT TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED THEN I CAN RELIABLY INSERT THE KEY AND TURN IT IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND START THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A "GOOD WILL REPAIR" BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A GOOD AND LONG TERM FORD CUSTOMER (I HAVE OWNED A FORD PINTO, A FORD FOCUS, A FORD CONTOUR, AND A FORD ESCAPE BEFORE THIS FORD FOCUS) BUT THE AGENT THREW UP A LOAD OF RESISTANCE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS "SERVICE" TO VERIFY WHAT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE EVERY AND ANY TIME, IS UNNECESSARY AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF WHAT IT WILL COST ME TO HAVE MY LOCAL GARAGE EFFECT THE CHANGE AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I AM JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250684December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION STAYS LOCKED, FAILS TO TURN TO START ENGINE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO ME. CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED. VERY COSTLY FIX, $150 FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH, PLUS LABOR, $200 TO $350 TOTAL COST FOR FIX. MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM FOUND ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM AND OTHER FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250508December 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NO EVENTS LED TO THIS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN - HAPPENS EACH TIME I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR - AT TIMES IT WILL TURN WITH ENOUGH JIGGLING - HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO RIDE TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A KNOWN FORD FOCUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250223December 1, 2008
SEAT BELTS
DURING A RECENT AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE DRIVER. THE DRIVE SUFFERED FACIAL INJURY WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I WILL CONTACT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#10250347December 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FORD FOCUS 2002 - IGNITION FAILURE. HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME WAS STRANDED IN THE COLD WEATHER WITH 9 MONTH OLD BABY UNTIL I COULD GET HELP. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. IT COST 350 TO GET FIXED. I DON'T FEEL AN IGNITION SHOULD BREAK AND THEN BE REPLACED WITH A POORLY MANUFACTURED IGNITION. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250409December 1, 2008
STEERING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS (MANUAL TRANS) LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND PARKED IT STILL REQUIRED THE CALL OF FOUR TOW TRUCKS TO GET IT INTO THE DEALER. BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED IN A SLANTED POSITION WHEN I PARKED THE FIRST FLATBED TRUCK WASN'T ABLE TO LOAD IT. IT REQUIRED A SECOND TRUCK TO TOW IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC. FROM THERE HE REQUIRED IT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, SAME RESULTS WITH TOW COMPANY'S. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $357 ON TOP OF THE TOWING FEE FOR IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT. *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
#10250019November 27, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HATCH IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, LAST ONE BEING 11-22-08, THE HATCH OPENED COMPLETELY WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT THEY DO NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO, ON ONE OCCASION, THE HATCH WAS RETURNED TO US FROM THE DEALER WITH A DENT RESULTING FROM THE FORCE NEEDED TO CLOSE HATCH. DEALER PAID TO FIX DENT, BUT DENTS RETURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250018November 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE FROM ALLOWING MY KEY TO TURN. FORTUNATELY ENOUGH WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED I WAS NOT IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OR STUCK OUT ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DESERT. IT HAS OCCURRED EACH TIME I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY, AND IT'S ONLY AFTER SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AND NEAR INJURY TO MY WRIST AND INDEX FINGER WAS I ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND NOTED MANY DISCUSSION BOARDS STATING THE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A PETITION CIRCULATING THAT CURRENTLY HAS OVER 2800 ONLINE SIGNATURES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT COULD OCCUR IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN THE MOST ISOLATED PLACES AND ISN'T SAFE FOR THE CONSUMER WHEN THEY GET STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART THAT FORD DOES NOT TRY TO FIX WITH PROPER MATERIALS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249775November 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS, WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE IN PLACE, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR REPAIR. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE TWO DAYS LATER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE PAPERWORK STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A LOUD RATTLING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR, BUT THEY REFUSED TO TAKE HER CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE NEVER REPLACED AND WOULD COST $3,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,923 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
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
#10249620November 24, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED, THE IGNITION WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO TURN FORWARD TO START THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THIS JUST STARTED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN ON MY CAR, I HAVE HEARD OF IT HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD RESULT IN MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS BEING STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE AREA. *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
#10249696November 24, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LOCK CYLINDER FROZE IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $343. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249590November 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE IS NOW RENDERED UNUSABLE SINCE IT CANNOT BE STARTED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED ITEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRANDED AND WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF A LOCKSMITH OR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THROUGH 2003. *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

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