Ford Focus Complaints
22,326 consumer complaints on file.
- #10141431November 1, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT: THE CONTACT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DOOR LATCH. SHE HAD IT REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE. SHE LATER RECEIVED A RECALL 05V030000. WHEN SHE CONTACTED FORD, THEY INFORMED HER THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CALLED A SECOND TIME AND INFORMED THEM OF THE RECALL LETTER, AND THEY STATED THE PAPER WORK HAD TO BE IN BY APRIL 1, 2005. THE RECALL LETTER WAS POST MARKED MARCH 21, 2005 AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT A TIME FRAME. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141478November 1, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND AGAIN NOW. THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN WHEN I INSERT THE KEY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141279October 31, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD, AND WHEN SHE DID SO, THE AIR BAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES SINCE SHE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. A POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. *AK.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141287October 31, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND I STARTED TO HERE A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THEN IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS STOPPING WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE MY FRONT TIRES LOCKED. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TRY TO PUSH IT BACK PUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND I WAS GLAD WE WERE NOT IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME AND HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YET. I PAY 334. A MONTH AND MY CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. I HAVE NOTHING TO DRIVE AND I CANT AFFORD TO KEEP UP A RENTAL CAR. 2004 FORD FOCUS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141292October 31, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO CHARGED $350 TO DRILL OUT THE CYLINDER AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141330October 31, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR POSSIBLE REMEDIES, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY MODEL CAR DATING BACK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE STANDARD RATE FOR THESE REPAIRS SEEMS TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $350 WHICH TO SOMEONE DRIVING A LOW COST VEHICLE LIKE THE FOCUS IS A LOT OF MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS ADMITTED PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND INSTEAD IS CREATING A BOON INDUSTRY FOR THE DEALERS HAVING TO REPLACE THESE PARTS? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS? I HAVE OWNED FORD CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I CANNOT SEE A REASON TO CONTINUE TO BUY THEM IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF PRODUCT AND SUPPORT THEY ARE GOING TO START TO PRODUCE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141340October 31, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT
POORLY DESIGNED IGNITION CYLINDERS. THIS CAUSES THE TUMBLERS TO FAIL RESULTING IN A LOCK-UP OF THE IGNITION. THE OWNER CANNOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND AS A RESULT, HAS TO BE TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDERS IN THE 2000 AND 2001 FOCUS WERE THE EUROPEAN DESIGN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CYLINDER TWICE. ONCE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME IT WAS NOT AND I HAD TO PAY $200. THERE ARE OTHER FOCUS OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. SEE THE WEBSITES BELOW. HTTP://WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM/MESSAGEBOARDS/MESSAGE.PHP?ID=1784 HTTP://CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS_IGNITION.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EEA6DD2/286 AMONG MANY OTHERS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY PUT AN ENGINEER IN THE POSITION TO SPECIFICALLY RE-DESIGN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. SO WHILE FORD CONTINUALLY CLAIMS TO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, IT IS APPARENT THAT THEY DID. WHILE THERE WERE NO DEATHS NOR INJURIES, IT IS NOT UP TO THE PEOPLE TO PAY FOR FORD'S POOR QUALITY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141245October 30, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE IN 2000 FORD FOCUS LEFT ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN STRANDED IN SECLUDED AREA AT DARK. AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS APPARENT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141112October 28, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WE OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3. IT HAS AROUND 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS PRIMARY USED FOR COMMUTING, 150 MILES ROUND TRIP EACH DAY. LAST WEEK WHEN GOING TO LEAVE WORK MY HUSBAND INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE LOCK WOULD NOT TURN. HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE KEY TO FINALLY GET THE KEY TO TURN SO HE COULD COME HOME. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND THIS MORNING THE KEY IS UNABLE TO TURN AT ALL. WE'VE BARELY HAD THE CAR TWO YEARS. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR A FIX/RECALL NOTICE I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER AMERICANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME OF THEM SEVERAL TIMES. AT WHAT POINT DOES FORD ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING SUBPAR MATERIALS AND FIX THE THING ON THEIR TAB? I AM NOW SITTING WITH A CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, UNABLE TO EVEN BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITHOUT A TOW TRUCK. IT IS BLOCKING MY GARAGE WHICH HOUSES OUR ONLY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM GOING TO BE OUT AROUND $100 TODAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE FIXING THE FOCUS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140945October 27, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT START ON 6/29/05 SO I HAD IT TOWED TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD ON 6/30/05. PRIOR TO THE TOW TRUCK LEAVING, I CHECKED THE LIGHTS, HORN, ETC TO MAKE SURE ALL WORKED BEFORE FORD WORKED ON THE CAR. THEY DID. WHEN THEY SERVICE MAN JOHNNY GARDNER CALLED ME THAT AFTERNOON TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE HE STATED " THE GROUND SCRAP WIRE , AND IGNITION SWITCH NEED TO BE REPAIRED" I TOLD HIM THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED 1 MONTH EARLIER. JOHNNY THEN CHANGED THE STORY STATING " JUST THE GROUND SCRAP WIRE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED". I HAD THEM FIX THAT PART AND WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET A CAR SWERVED INTO MY LANE AND WHEN I WENT TO BLOW MY HORN IT DID NOT WORK. I SLOWED DOWN AND MY BRAKES MADE A HARD GRINDING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOWN & COUNTRY FORD ASKING THEM WHY WAS MY CAR HORN NOT WORKING, AND THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THEY REPLIED " I COULD BRING THE CAR BACK AND PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED". I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHO STATED THE HORN COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE SOMEONE UNHOOKED THE COMPONETS UNDER THE HOOD, AND TO FIX IT FORD CAN ONLY GET THE PARTS. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE AXLE ON MY RIGHT BRAKE WHEEL WAS SPLIT. PRIOR TO TAKING THIS CAR TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD I HAD NO BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY TOWN & COUNTRY FORD TO CHECK MY REPLACE THE RELAY SWITCH TO THE HORN. I DID AND THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. MY CAR WAS FINE PRIOR TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD'S WORK. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140871October 26, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION. KEY STARTS TO GET STUCK IN IGNITION NO WARNING IGNITION LOCKS AND CAR WILL NOT START. TO FIX THE PROBLEM IGNITION GETS DRILLED OUT AND COSTS $175.31. THIS SEEMS TO BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136723October 26, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE CALLER SAID AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON THE DOORS AND TRUNK DID NOT WORK. THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE FOR THE LOCKS WILL NOT WORK TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. *AK *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140686October 25, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH AT 45,000 MILES, FORD FOCUS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140694October 25, 2005TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND AND HIT AN EXIT SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. BOTH INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT WITH GOODYEAR. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140742October 25, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION STICKS. WON'T LET ME TURN KEY OR SOMETIMES EVEN PUT KEY IN IGNITION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140790October 25, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I WAS SOUTH BOND ON WARREN AND OBSERVED, AND SMELLED SMOKE. I WENT TO PULL OVER AND FOUND OUT I HAD LOST BRAKES. I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAME TO A STOP,
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140559October 24, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED ON 9-29-05 WITH AN AUTOMOBILE THAT CAME ACROSS THE MEDIUM AT A STOP SIGN. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN IT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER CAR WHILE GOING BETWEEN 48-50 MPH. IT HIT THE RIGHT SIDE PANEL IMMEDIATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A STATEMENT IN WRITING EXPLAINING WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WANTED A STATEMENT FROM FORD HEADQUARTERS IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN , BUT FORD REFUSED. INITIALLY, TOLD HIM TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER WOULD TURN THIS INCIDENT INTO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE THEN INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT TURN OVER THE ACCIDENT CASE TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THEY WOULD TURN IT OVER TO THE COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT.*AK UPDATED 11/15/05. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140580October 24, 2005WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
MINE IS A FORD FOCUS 2000 SE. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS CAUSING A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 20 MILE/HR AND WOBBLE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MILE/HR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN LEAD TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF DURING MOTION. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BY THE FORD COMPANY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 01I017000) TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I ALSO NOTED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE 02016 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE COMPANY TO BE TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (ACCORDING TO THE VIN NUMBER) WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THUS NOT PART OF ANY SERVICE CAMPAIGN OR RECALL. IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE, JUST BECAUSE IN THEIR ASSESSMENT IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. I WAS WONDERING IF I CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED SERVICE CAMPAIGN OR THE NHSTA ACTION NUMBER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140589October 24, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH ONLY 59,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. FORD DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. COST $950 AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, $1800 AT DEALER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140594October 24, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
REAR LATCH MALFUNCTIONS. REGISTERS THAT TRUNK IS SHUT WHEN IT IS NOT AND NOT WHEN IT IS. WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP TRUNK POPS OPEN DUE TO LATCH NOT HITCHING PROPERLY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0