Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10169016September 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS, STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE FUSE BOX, WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AND CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES. NO WARNING SIGNS, NOTHING ODD ABOUT HOW THE CAR RAN. JUST RIDING ALONG AND SMOKE STARTS AND I PULLED OVER ASAP AND THE CAR WENT INTO FLAMES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT WHAT EVER PROBLEM IT WAS...THE CAR IS DESTROYED. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE, THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE FUSE BOX ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC WAS SMELLED AND AS I STATED BEFORE THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND AWAY FROM IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168960September 22, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR POWER LOCKS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CHANGED #63 20 AMP FUSE LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE FUSE PANEL. AFTER CHANGING THE FUSE, ALL OF THE DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COULD LOCK. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168975September 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
(1) NO EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE; IT WAS UNEXPECTED (2) THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ON THE VEHICLE,WHICH RESULTED IN US NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR. (3) THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE ARE AWAITING TO HERE THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168871September 21, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING 5 MPH FROM A STOP SIGN ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, A VEHICLE TRAVELING 35 MPH IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE OTHER VEHICLE INCURRED SLIGHT DAMAGES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE VEHICLE'S PARTS WOULD BE SCATTER ALL OVER THE ROAD AFTER AN IMPACT OF LOW SPEED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10168765September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIRTY TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING FAILURES: BRAKES ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES; BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED; THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REWIRED. THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE VALVES; THE REAR DOOR LATCHES WERE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 05V300000. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOT CORRECTED THE NOISES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COOPERATED IN FINDING A SUITABLE RESOLUTION. THE LAST PROBLEM FOUND BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE HEADS. THE ENGINE HEADS WERE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168779September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION LOCK-UP. FIRST TIME MAJOR DISASTER WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP COSTING ME $1055.26 JUST BECAUSE THE KEY CYLINDER/KEY WOULD NOT WORK. SECOND TIME IT LOCKED UP, 14 MONTHS LATER, STILL COST ME OVER $500.00 FOR FIX AND NEW KEYS AT DEALERSHIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168791September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170131September 20, 2006
SUSPENSION
2005 FORD FOCUS STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE AXLE TO BREAK. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. *KB *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10168595September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.. FORTUNATE THAT THE EVENT HAPPENED WHILE AT HOME. I TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DETRIMENTAL IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE ON DUTY. FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH, REFUSED TO COVER THE COMPONENT. WHILE THE PLAN CLEARLY STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS COVERED. FORD'S COST FOR REPAIR IS OVER $365.00. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168641September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK, COULD NOT TURN KEY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168667September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM (~48,000 MILES). FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED, WE COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. THIS TIME WHEN IT FAILED, THE SWITCH FROZE IN THE ON POSITION, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. SINCE IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WE WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO "KILL" THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT, BUT FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AN OPEN SERVICE STATION... THEY WERE ABLE STOP THE ENGINE BY PULLING SPARK PLUG WIRES. NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE SURE SEEMS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. I UNDERSTAND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCHES ON FORD FOCUS MODELS. THIS SWITCH IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AGAIN FOR A COST OF ~$300.00. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168669September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WON'T START. KEY WILL NOT ENTER IGNITION. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168573September 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES, THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR REFUSED TO START. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL, MAKING A TOW DIFFICULT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK OF DRIVERS BEING STRANDED IN UNSAFE PLACES WHERE THEY COULD BE RAPED, ROBBED OR MURDERED. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND I IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, HOWEVER THERE ARE REPORTS OF OTHER PEOPLE NOT BEING SO LUCKY. HIXSON FORD CHARGED US $289.69 TO REPAIR THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PLUS WE PAID $65 TO TOW THE VEHICLE. BELOW IS A LIST OF WEBSITES DOCUMENTING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THE FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKING UP AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. SOME EVEN COMPLAIN OF IT HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING: HTTP://CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS_IGNITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.FAZMICLAW.COM/FOCUS.HTML HTTP://WWW.WJLA.COM/NEWS/STORIES/0706/347339.HTML HTTP://CBS5.COM/INVESTIGATES/LOCAL_STORY_041015136.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/FOCUSIC/PETITION.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EEA50DC HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-493.HTML HTTP://THS.GARDENWEB.COM/FORUMS/LOAD/CARS/MSG062031202524.HTML?20 HTTP://WWW.COMPLAINTS.COM/DIRECTORY/2004/DECEMBER/12/7.HTM HTTP://WWW.COMPLAINTS.COM/DIRECTORY/2005/JULY/5/17.HTM HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/PROBLEMS-SERVICE-RECALLS/416401-PLEASE-POST-IF-YOUR-IGNITION-HAS-LOCKED-13.HTML THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168578September 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS REPEATED EPISODES OF IGNITION KEY BEING UNABLE TO TURN IN THE SWITCH AND OCCASIONALLY NOT ABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO SWITCH. I HAVE HAD THE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND AFTER EIGHT MONTHS THE NEW UNIT HAS FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168441September 16, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK FAILURE (KEY COULD NOT BE PUT INTO LOCK) DUE TO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. THIS LEFT CAR AND DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE BY TOW TRUCK (TURNED-OVER FRONT WHEELS LOCKED, NO STEERING POSSIBLE). REPAIR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. FORD DECLINED PARTICIPATION IN REPAIR COST. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://CBS5.COM/INVESTIGATES/LOCAL_STORY_041015136.HTML, OR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AT HTTP://WWW.FAZMICLAW.COM/FOCUS.HTML, OR EXCERPT "...FORD HAS CONCEDED THAT IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCKS, BUT THE COMPANY HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL."). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168220September 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STARTING HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING MY KEY IN IGNITION FOR 2 DAYS. ON THE THIRD DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS $350.00 DUE SOMETIME TODAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168318September 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKING UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS LEAVING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE AUGUST 12, 2006. WHEN I INSERTED MY KEY I FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAD LOCKED UP AS WELL. LEAVING ME STRANDED, I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHO TOWED MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED MY CAR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME I WAS THE FOURTH FOCUS HE HAD TOWED THAT WEEK WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND GET MY CAR BACK. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED ALL WEEKEND, WHICH MEANT I MISSED WORK ALL WEEKEND. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED ON MY CAR, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES FOR YEARS. MY MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REASON I AM SO UPSET IS THAT FORD HAS SAID THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I SAY TO THEM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. WHAT IF YOUR CAR STALLS OUT ON TRAIN TRACKS AND YOU CAN'T GET IT TO START UP AGAIN? I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT ABOUT IF YOU LIVE NEAR THE COAST AND YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE DUE TO A HURRICANE OR SOME OTHER NATURAL DISASTER? WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO SOMEONE IN NEW ORLEANS DURING KATRINA? ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEM IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO COME AND DRILL OUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER BEFORE THEY CAN EVACUATE? I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND THEY SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW I WILL NEVER BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168195September 13, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD FOCUS BROKE WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN USING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS. ONCE THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN, IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE PARTS MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS OF THE 2002 FORD FOCUS' BREAK. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE A SMALL CHILD COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THE WINDOW CANNOT ROLL UP, IF IT IS RAINING VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW IS NIL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168115September 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY IGNITION KEY OFTEN STICKS IN THE IGNITION AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PIECE OF JUNK. IT MAKES THE CARS UNSAFE AS THEY SOMETIMES LOCK THE COLUMN AND SOMETIMES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART THE CAR IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS, SUCH AS HIGH CRIME AREAS OR ADJACENT TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IT MAKES THE CARS VULNERABLE TO THEFT. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND IT SEEMS EVERY FOCUS WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AS THEY DO NOT OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN FAILURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168061September 12, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS WERE INOPERABLE FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. TO GET INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DOOR MUST BE LEFT AJAR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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