Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10177730January 4, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
NHTSA PREVIOUS REPORT 01V258000 (RECALL ID 01D-258) FOR FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS - 2001/2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, WIPER DOES NOT STOW - AS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED VEHICLES - WILL NHTSA DIRECT FORD TO "RECALL" OR FIX LATER MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? THE VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE - STATED FORD WOULD FIX, FORD DEALER HAS NO REQUIREMENT, AS THIS IS NOT A "RECALLED YEAR". *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177750January 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER SWITCH HAS SEIZED. HE COULD NOT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED A REPAIR SHOP. HE WAS GOING TO CONTACT A LOCKSMITH. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE ON 1/3/06. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177526January 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT IGNITION WILL NOT TURN WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES , AND SHETOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1-3-07. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, AND SHE WILL HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER FROM THE WORK DONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177527January 2, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DRIVING ON RT 80 AT 65 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO RUB ON THE TIRE AND DAMAGE IT. HOWEVER, THE BF GOODRICH SIDEWALL WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A FORD DEALER ABOUT 1.5 MILES AWAY. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE THEN REPLACED PER THE EARLIER NHTSA AGREEMENT WITH FORD. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE LEFT WITH DEALER. AS THE COIL FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A HIGH SPEED BLOW OUT, IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD REPLACE ALL 2000 TO 2003 FOCUS FRONT COIL SPRING IN STEAD OF FREE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY FAIL PER FORD'S 03M02 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177436January 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I PARKED MY FORD FOCUS IN A PARKING SPACE AT A TACO BELL. THE WHEELS WERE SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS IN THE IGNITION SO I BEGAN WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, CONTINUING TO TRY THE KEY. EVENTUALLY, I'D TURNED THE WHEEL SO FAR THAT IT STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION, CRANKED TO ONE DIRECTION. NOTHING WORKED. A HALF HOUR PASSED. I ASSUMED THAT THE DIRECTION OF WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED LIKE IT WAS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION NOT WORKING. SO I JACKED UP THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN MY WHEELS OUT BY HAND BUT THEY TOO WERE LOCKED AND WERE NOT GOING TO BUDGE. I CONTINUED TO TRY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF APPLYING THE BRAKE, TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ADJUSTING THE TILT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TRYING TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED A TAXI CAB TO TAKE ME BACK TO WORK, 25 MINUTES LATE, MINUS 7 DOLLARS. AT WORK, I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND WEBSITES, SUCH AS CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS, WHERE I BEGAN TO LEARN TIPS TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REPAIR. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A TOW TRUCK FEE BY USING ONE OF THE SUGGESTED QUICK FIXES, WHICH BASICALLY CONSISTS OF POUNDING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH A HAMMER, PREFERABLY A RUMMER MALLOT. FROM THAT SAME SITE, I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PINPOINTED TO THE GERMAN-MADE HUF LOCK THAT FORD PUTS IN THE FORD FOCUS. THE BEST SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE AN AUTOMOTIVE LOCKSMITH REPLACE IT WITH A NON-FORD OR NON-HUF PART. GOING TO A FORD DEALER IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED SO IT COSTS THE CONSUMER. FOR ME, AROUND $400. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177451January 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION LOCK FREEZES AND WILL NOT TURN, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE INCLUDED LOSS OF VEHICLE USE, TOWING EXPENSES, AND UNWANTED STRESS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177427December 31, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON OCTOBER 26, 2006 AT 8:00 AM I TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN IGNITION LOCK AND HE SAID HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO TOWING SERVICE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES AWAY, I INSTEAD HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE DOWN THE ROAD. THE GARAGE INSTALLED A NEW LOCK CYLINDER. I WAS LATE FOR WORK AND HAD TO BUM A RIDE TO PICK MY CAR UP AFTER WORK. THE GARAGE CHARGED ME FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS OF WORK, THE TOWING AND THE PART, THE TOTAL BEING $308.62. ALL THIS ON A CAR ONLY 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING IT TO THEM. I WROTE TO FORD HEADQUARTERS AND THEY AGAIN REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177331December 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION STARTED LOCKING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT EVENTUALLY WOULD WORK AFTER PLAYING WITH THE KEY TO START. TODAY, WHILE OUT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, IT LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THIS CAR IS A 2003 WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177269December 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. KEY WILL NOT TURN WHEN FULLY INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177091December 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WON'T TURN,FRONT TIRES LOCKED, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. DEALERSHIP HAD TO PUT THE CAR ON A JACK TO GET IT INTO THE SHOP, REMOVED STEERING COLUMN TRIM, HAD TO DRILL OUT BROKEN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, HAD TO SET UP NEW LOCK CYLINDER SO THE SAME KEYS WOULD WORK. SO NOT ONLY AM I STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS, I HAD TO PAY A TOWING CHARGE, PLUS THE COST TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. BACK CAR DOOR LATCH ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUALLY STUCK AND DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THAT SIDE. RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE CARRIAGE IS UNEXPLAINABLE - WHAT IS NEXT? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177107December 27, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* - ON DECEMBER 23, 2006 THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE IGNITION WHILE SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES STILL APPLIED THE RPMS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AS THOUGH THE THE ACCELORATER PEDAL HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT SHE DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO COMPLAIN AT THAT TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177147December 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 HAS LOCKED UP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR, AS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE LOCK. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE PAST, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO START THE CAR BY JIGGLING THE KEY IN THE LOCK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR A FULL FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, THERE WAS STILL NO GIVE IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE TURNING THE KEY, AND IT DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER FINALLY GIVING UP, I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME ADVICE ONLINE, AND I SAW RIGHT AWAY THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. EACH TIME, IT TAKES THEM HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION FOR A COST OF BETWEEN 200 AND 700 DOLLARS, ALL COSTS INCLUDED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME COURSE OF ACTION, AS I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN POSSIBLY DO. I CAN'T EVEN HAVE A FRIEND PULL MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IT IN ITS PRESENT STATE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF A PROFESSIONAL TOW-TRUCK AND THEN PAY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE IGNITION ON TOP OF IT ALL. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH MY RESEARCH ONLINE THAT THE REASON THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH THROUGH A RECALL BY FORD IS THAT IT DOES NOT POSE "AN IMMEDIATE AND IMMINENT HEALTH RISK." THAT MAY BE SO, BUT IT CAUSES FORD FOCUS OWNERS, LIKE MYSELF, COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF FRUSTRATION AND ANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE OUR CARS. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING ON THE CURB OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, IN PERFECTLY DRIVABLE CONDITION IN EVERY WAY, AND I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, PLEASE LOBBY WITH ALL OF YOUR INFLUENCE TO HAVE FORD ADDRESS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176954December 26, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL 05V030000 FOR REAR DOOR LATCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ,THEY FIXED THE REAR DOORS, BUT NOT THE FIFTH DOOR WHICH DID NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE RECALL COVERED ALL FIVE DOORS.*AK UPDATED 1/19/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177011December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS LX AND I EXPERIENCED A LOCK UP FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM THAT CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO USE MY CAR AT ALL. I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING, REPLACEMENT OF THE PIECE AND LABOR. I UNDERSTAND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE MASSIVE FAILURE THAT THIS PIECE IN THEIR CARS HAS EXPERIENCED AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPLACE THE PIECE. I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD WITH FEVER AND NEEDED TO GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, THE CAR WAS THE ONLY CAR AVAILABLE FOR MY USE, BUT COULDN'T USE IT AT ALL. I WANT FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177020December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PUT IN IGNITION. HAVE READ THAT 100'S OF PEOPLE WITH MY VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM, BUT FORD WILL NOT ADMIT WRONGDOING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176903December 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION LOCK OF FORD FOCUS 2003 BROKE AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AWAY FROM A DRIVEWAY THAT WAS BLOCKED SINCE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY. ONE MECHANIC WAS PAID TO TRY TO START THE CAR BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL (BUT HE WAS STILL PAID). EVENTUALLY, WE LEARNED FROM THE WWW THAT THIS WAS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM. A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED WHO REPLACED THE LOCK AND WAS PAID. IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL EXPENSE, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE LOCATION OF THE CAR AND THE TIME SPENT WERE SIGNIFICANT COSTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176721December 21, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW OPERATING CABLE MECHANISM BROKE. THIS WAS SHORTLY FOLLOWED (WITHIN A MONTH OR SO) BY THE FAILURE OF THE SAME MECHANISM IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. BOTH WINDOWS FAIL TO RISE AND ANY ATTEMPTS TO USE THE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE ANSWERED WITH GRINDING CRACKING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS ARE CURRENTLY HELD UP USING COAT HANGERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176737December 21, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR DO THE EXACT SAME THING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DID THAT HAD A RECALL THEY DON NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THE HOME POSITION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176762December 21, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONTINUALLY STALLING OF THE ENGINE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, HARD TO START AS IT WILL STALL DURING STARTUP. IT BEGAN JUST STALLING FOR A SECOND ABOUT ONCE A WEEK AT THE MOST. NOW WHEN I DRIVE IT, IT DOES IT ABOUT EVERY 10 SECONDS. IT HAS LEAD TO MY CAR FAILING TO SPEED UP, THE ENGINE KICKING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR ALTOGETHER FAILING TO DRIVE WHILE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT IS NOW NEARLY UNDRIVABLE. THE CAR WILL BE LOOKED AT IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK BUT FORD SAYS THAT WHILE THEY HAVE RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURED DATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176677December 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*- ON DECEMBER 18TH OF 2006 WHILE COMING OUT A DRIVE-THRU, CONTACT STATES THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WENT ABOVE NORMAL . THE GAUGE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE TOP OF THE REGISTER. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR HER ENGINE NOT TO OVER HEAT SHE HAD TO DRIVE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE COOLING HAD BURNED OUT AND PART OF THE HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND THERE ARE 24 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IF THE INVOICE FOR REPAIR IS NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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