Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10031727July 31, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER WOULD PUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031451July 29, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER'S RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, FIRELAWN, P20550/R16. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030229July 28, 2003
WHEELS:RIM
FORD FOCUS 2003 ZX5 WITH 16" ALLOY WHEELS AND FIRESTONE TIRES SEEMS TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE MORE THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE HAD. ONE BUBBLED TIRE, AND ANOTHER PUNCTURED TIRE WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER.*AK THE FOCUS ALLOY WHEELS ARE THE WORSE PROBLEMS. AT LEAST TWO HAVE BEEN BENT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING STEERING AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS ON CAR. ONE WHEEL HAS TWO VISIBLE BUMPS, AND ONE WHEEL HAS A MASSIVE BUMP FROM SOME UNKNOWN ROAD HOLES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD SUCH WEAK RIMS. I AM NOT REPLACING THE WHEELS UNTIL I TALK TO EITHER FORD OR A LAWYER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029242July 26, 2003
TIRES
ON 25 JULY 2002, I TOOK MY FOCUS TO A TIRE CENTER BEING REFERRED BY FORD DEALERSHIP UPON MY 30,000 MI. SERVICE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE SE LOW PROFILE TIRE/ RIM PACKAGE. I ASKED THE TIRE MANAGER TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BEFORE I TOLD HIM WHICH TIRE IT WAS HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH TIRE IT WAS: LEFT REAR TIRE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS HIS 3RD FOCUS WITH THE PROBLEM. HE RAISED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME A LARGE CHUNK MISSING AND INCONSISTENT WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE. OTHER THREE TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN AREA DESCRIBED. MANAGER STATED HE THINKS IT IS BEING CAUSED BY A MISSING OR SHEARED PIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025133July 25, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE REAR SEATS AND TRUNK LOCK TO GET THE TRUNK TO OPEN. *NLM *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021770July 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *TT *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029138July 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AFTER OWNING THE FORD FOCUS ZX3 FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, AND IS GOING BACK FOR REPAIR AGAIN 2 1/2 MONTHS LATER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029020July 23, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR WHEEL TIPPING IN AT TOP SO MUCH THAT YOU COULD SEE IT BEFORE 3500 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE REAR END TO BE MUCH "LOOSER" THAN IS NORMAL OR ACEPTABLE. FORD PROVIDES NO ADJUSTMENT FOR CAMBER IN REAR AND THIS CAUSED LEFT REAR TIRE TO HAVE A CUPPING PATTERN ON THE INSIDE EDGE. APPARENTLY IF THE CAMBER ISN'T CORRECT TO BEGIN IT WILL THROW OFF THE WHOLE ALIGNMENT. ONE DEALER CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS IN SPEC. AT 15,000 MI. FOUND DEALER WHO UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM AND INSTALLED A JUST RELEASED SHIM KIT. FORD REFUSING TO COVER KIT, ALIGNMENT, OR TIRE UNDER " BUMPER-TO-BUMPER" WARRANTY (TRYING TO CLAIM IT IS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, OR A TIRE PROBLEM, OTHER TIRES ARE FINE!). HAD TO PAY $142 + TIRE SO THAT THE REAR END DOESN'T COME AROUND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028786July 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE DRIVEN MY FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. IT IS A COMPANY CAR FOR WHICH I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 50,000MILES PER YEAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES THREE TIMES SINCE RECEIVING THE VEHICLE DECEMBER 2001. EVERY 20,000 MILES THE REAR ALIGNMENT GETS LOOSE AND ESPECIALLY IN WINTER DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT, I FEAR FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE WHEN I CANNOT TRAVEL AT THE SPEEDS OF SURROUNDING TRAFFIC FLOW. THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR TIRES CAUSED POSSIBLY TO A BENT FRAME OR POOR DESIGN. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES OR EVEN ROTATED THEM SINCE NEW! THEY ARE STILL PLENTY ADEQUATE FOR TRACTION. THE REAR ALIGNMENT PROBLEM SEVERELY HAMPERS THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT FEELS AS THOUGH I AM DRAGGING THE REAR END AROUND EVERYWHERE I GO. I AM TURNING THE VEHICLE IN THIS NEXT MONTH FOR A REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE DECIDED I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN DUE TO THE HISTORY OF BAD LUCK I HAVE HAD WITH FORDS IN THE PAST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028756July 21, 2003
AIR BAGS
GOT IN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. GOT FIXED??? FORD LET ME GO BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITH A BRAND NEW SAFETY DEVICE AND IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TIME BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT AND THE TIME I GOT IT FIXED FORD WAS VERY UNCONCERNED AND DID NOT ANSWER ANY OF MY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS. MY SAFETY WAS AT RISK AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028626July 19, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
IT ALL STARTED ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2002. MY CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE STARTER WENT OUT. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. SOMETIMES THE DOORS WOULD LOCK ALL BY THEMSELVES AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT WAS ACTING UP AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. WELL, BY THE TIME I WOULD GET TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS OK AGAIN. ON THE 7TH OF JULY I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ALL THE GAUGES ON MY DASH WERE FLIPPING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND COMING BACK AGAIN. AND MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT RIGHT BACK TO SERVICE DEPT. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND (SURPRISE!) IT WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY MAY HAVE SPILLED SOME COOLANT ON THE BELT AND IT WAS JUST LOSING VOLTAGE. AS SOON AS THE COOLANT WORE OFF IT SHOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. ON JULY17 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I LOOKED AT MY GAGES AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING. IT WAS JUST LIKE THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN STARTED. I MADE A U-TURN AND WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SAME AFTERNOON THEY CALL ME AND TELL MY CAR IS READY. I ASK IF THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THE REP INFORMS ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR (AFTER ONLY ONE DAY WITH IT!). WELL THEY MUST THINK I'M SOME KIND OF HYPOCHONDRIAC FOR MY CAR! I TOLD HER THAT I WAS NOT COMING TO GET THAT CAR UNTIL THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. I CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING AND I'M SURE THEY WOULDN'T LIKE TO PAY FOR ANY SPEEDING TICKETS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028419July 16, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PURCHASED 2002 FORD FOCUS 4 DR SEDAN, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. ABOUT 1-2 WKS LATER, TRIED TO START CAR, IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED FORD ASSISTANCE TOLL-FREE #, THEY ADVISED WIGGLING THE WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE KEY. THEY SAY IGNITION KEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN WHEN WHEELS ARE TURNED OR PARKED UP NEXT TO A CURB. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE, NOT ALL UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. TODAY, 7/16/03, WITH JUST OVER 19,000 MILES ON IT, I BROUGHT IT INTO DON HIND'S FORD DEALERSHIP IN FISHERS, IN, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THEY HAVE PUT A NEW CYLINDER LOCK IN THERE, PER KIP JACOBS OF DON HINDS FORD. MR. JACOBS DID TRY TO GET ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL CARS. I INFORMED HIM I'VE BEEN DRIVING 33 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I RARELY LOAN MY CAR, NOR IS IT DRIVEN BY ANYONE ELSE. NEVERTHELESS, SHOULD I DO SO, AND FORGET TO WARN THEM OF THIS PECULIARITY IN ADVANCE, THEY MAY HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO START THE CAR, AND BE UNABLE TO DO SO. (LIKE, "MY BABY CAN'T BREATH! LET'S GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL FAST!") OR IF I SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, IF THEY AREN'T AWARE OF THIS IDIOSYNCRASY, AND DON'T KNOW THE FORD TOLL-FREE ASSISTANCE #, THEY MAY BE STRANDED UNTIL THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO GET HELP. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028422July 16, 2003
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DEVELOPED SOME ROUGH SPOTS IN THE SURFACE. I COULD NOT REMEMBER DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE SCRAPED OR ROUGHENED THE SURFACE. THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CONTINUED TO CRUMBLE OFF UNTIL NOW, LARGE CHUNKS ARE MISSING OFF ABOUT 6" OF IT, WITH THE METAL OF THE UNDERLYING STEERING WHEEL SHOWING IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS. ANOTHER SEVERAL INCHES ARE STARTING TO DISINIGRATE. THE WHEEL DOES NOT RUB AGAINST ME WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT IS OCCURRING ALONG THE LOWER 1/3 OF THE WHEEL. TODAY, 7/16/03, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO DO SO, BUT NOT BEFORE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF REPLACING IT BY INSISTING THAT I HAD DAMAGED IT MYSELF. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BEFORE THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WHEEL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FOR HAD THEY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN INTIMIDATING ME, OR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL UNSAFE TO HOLD IS WHAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH. I HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026098July 15, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS CAUGHT ON FIRE LATE ONE NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY IS WHERE IT STARTED. THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THE LOSS. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT LISTED BELOW MAY BE INCORRECT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE CORRECT DATE SOON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10027179July 14, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE#P20550R16. PLEASE PROVIDED THE DOT#.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025869July 11, 2003
SUSPENSION
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15-20 MPH AND FELT THE FRONT END DIPPED THEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS AND THE CAR DROVE INTO A CURB CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025880July 11, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LAST YEAR THE CAR WRECKED INTO A WALL ON I75. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS OPENED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS THE OPINION OF THE BODY SHOP THAT EVERY SENSOR THAT THERE WAS TO HIT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS HIT. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME HOW MUCH THEY CARED BUT WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALL. I HIRED A LAWYER, WHO SAID THAT FORD WOULD TELL HIM TO TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, WHICH WAS KERRY FORD IN TRI COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD TELL HIM THAT ITS FORD CORPORATION THAT SHOULD DEAL WITH IT. MY DAUGHTERS LAWYER RESIGNED FROM THE CASE BECAUSE HE WANTED US TO PUT OUT THE MONEY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO EVALUATE THE CAR. RIGHT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS HOLD THE CAR BUT WANTS ME TO LET THEM RELEASE IT FROM STORAGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IN MIND AND FEEL LET DOWN, AND LIED TO AND PUSHED AROUND BY CORPORATE FORD. IF THERES ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. RICK KAISER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10025838July 10, 2003
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025610July 8, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
AT 14053 MILES, THE ROTORS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAD TO BE REMACHINED, NOW AT 20K MILES, I HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE ROTORS ARE EITHER SUBSTANDARD OR DEFECTIVE AND OR THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM, MASTER CYLINDER ETC. ALSO THE REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP PERIODICALLY.1ST INCIDENT-JAN 03.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025675July 8, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONTAMINATION IN FUEL TANK CAUSING ENGINE PULSING AND NEAR STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. FUEL FROM FUEL FILTER TANK SIDE INTAKE IS BROWN, ALMOST THE COLOR OF TEA, FROM CONTAMINATION. DEALER MECHANIC, SERVICE TECH, AND SERVICE MANAGER CLAIM THE CONTAMINATION IN THE PLASTIC TANK IS FROM BAD GAS. I DISPUTED THIS CLAIM AND INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE A MONTH OR SO AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND THEY'VE BECOME STEADILY WORSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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