Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10213564January 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3, THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. SEVERAL THINGS DO NOT WORK OR HAVE SHORTS, OR THE SWITCHES OPERATE OTHER THINGS. RIGHT NOW, THE DEALER IS INSTALLING A NEW WIRING HARNESS FOR $500 AT LEAST. I JUST FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 200 FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS THE SAME CAR AS MINE. MINE SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MINOR AND I COULD LEAVE IT ALONE. THE DEALER IS ALL-AMERICAN FORD IN HACKENSACK, NJ. CAN YOU HELP ME?*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213398January 2, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE THEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIRE HOWEVER; HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213399January 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213400January 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK INSIDE THE IGNITION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS PREVENTS THE IGNITION FROM TURNING. AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT SHE TAKE A HAMMER AND GENTLY TAP THE KEY WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION IN AN ATTEMPT TO LODGE IT OUT. THE CONTACT HEEDED THE ADVICE AND THE REMEDY WORKED TEMPORARILY. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE FAILURE WORSENED AND CURRENTLY OCCURS THREE TIMES PER WEEK. THE STEERING COLUMN STICKS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A FLAT ROAD SURFACE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED UPRIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IS WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213410January 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED THE 2001 FORD FOCUS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD LOSS OF POWER. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS AND ALSO HAD REPLACED A FEW RECALLED PARTS. THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF IT CURRENTLY HAS 128,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAD TO REPLACE SERVERAL PARTS WHICH ARE OXYGEN SENSORS CATALYC CONVERTER, STRUTS, SHOCKS AND IDLE PULLEY. I GET MY OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ONE MORNING WENT TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS ACTING AS IF IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS BUT I HAD OVER A HALF OF TANK OF GAS IN IT. AFTER TRYING TO START IT IT FINALLY STARTED AND WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. IT RAN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS THEN DIED. I LEFT IT ALONE THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTOREPAIR SHOP AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A BEARING HAD BROKE OFF AND HIT MY THIRD CYLINDER AND SMASHED MY SPARK PLUG. IT ALSO HIT THE PISTON AND THE PISTON WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AND I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CLUE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE AUTO REPAIR PLACE SAID THE I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED AT HOME AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. I AM NOW HAVING TO GET A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE COSTING ME $3,300. WHICH I HAVE TO HAVE FINANCED. IS THERE ANY THING THAT I CAN DO?*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213509January 2, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BRAKES FAILED WHICH CAUSED CRASH. THE VERY DAY BACK BRAKES WERE FIXED, THE FRONT BRAKES THEN WENT OUT WITHIN A MONTH, RESULTING IN ALMOST ANOTHER ACCIDENT. EVEN THOUGH FORD RECALLED THIS BACK IN 2000, (BOUGHT CAR IN 2005) THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT. THERE HAVE BEEN 14 TOTAL RECALLS, ALL SEEM TO BE WRONG WITH MY CAR TOO. I SHOULD HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK PRIOR TO BUYING BUT WHY WAS ANYONE EVEN ABLE TO SELL THIS TO ME CONSIDERING ALL THE RECALLS?*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213284December 31, 2007
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I017000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE RESIDING ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE WHERE HE RESIDES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN DECEMBER OF 2007 DURING MASSIVE FLOODS AND SNOW STORMS. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE HEAD SALES DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN THE REGIONAL LOCATION AS THE RECALL STATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213194December 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TONIGHT (12/29/2007), FOR THE FOURTH TIME (SIX TIMES TOTAL), THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DIED, LEAVING ME STRANDED YET AGAIN. THIS TIME, I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN 12 DEGREE WEATHER FOR SEVEN HOURS. IT IS AMAZING I DIDN'T GET FROSTBITE - OR WORSE. I BOUGHT MY FOCUS IN 2002, WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. THE PRIOR OWNER HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE ON THE CAR - ONCE ABOUT 12,000 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) AND ONCE ABOUT 42,000 MILES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AT 58,000, 72,000 AND 102,000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 137,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE [XXX] IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN, AFTER BEING ASSURED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN ("IT'S BEEN REDESIGNED, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED.") '!@#$%. THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT, AFTER TAKING $300-$375 OF MY MONEY EACH TIME, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES LATER, I'M HAVING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY WARRANTY THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR A LOUSY 12,000 MILES. WHAT IS PARTICULARLY AGGRAVATING ISN'T THE MONEY SO MUCH AS THE CAVALIER ATTITUDE FORD HAS THAT THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE." TELL THAT TO MY STILL-COLD BODY! YOU SIT FOR SEVEN HOURS IN A CAR, STUCK, UNABLE TO TURN THE HEAT ON, IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE DYING BEFORE FORD OWNS UP TO THIS PROBLEM? *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213197December 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS. FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS NOW I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DISCHARGING. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE AND THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, MY CAR DID NOT START 12/22 AND AGAIN ON 12/26, 12/27 AND NOW TODAY, 12/30/07. I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE JUMPSTART MY CAR EACH TIME EXCEPT THIS MORNING. NO ONE IS AVAILABLE THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING. I AM TIRED OF FORD SAYING THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WE NEED FORD TO COME FORWARD AND ADMIT OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND EITHER FIX OUR CARS AT NO CHARGE OR ISSUE A BLANKET RECALL OR SOMETHING. I CANNOT AFFORD THE TOWING CHARGES, THE DAYS OFF WORK WHILE THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP ETC. THIS WILL GO ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN I CAN GO 3 MONTHS, MAYBE 6 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRIED NOT USING MY DOME LIGHT AND KEEPING IT IN THE OFF POSITION. I MANUALLY TURN OFF MY RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS BEFORE LEAVING THE CAR IN CASE THAT WAS WHAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOTICE THAT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE BATTERY GOES DEAD THE CAR WILL START LUNGING A COUPLE OF DAYS IN ADVANCE BUT ONLY ABOUT ONE TIME PER DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213161December 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH LOCK BARREL FAILURE. THIS IS AN ONGOING WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT THE FORD FOCUS THAT FORD SEEMS HAPPY TO IGNORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213165December 29, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
NOTICED A CREAKY SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES. REPLACES BOTH FRONT SPRINGS. HAVE NEVER KNOWN COIL SPRINGS TO JUST BREAK ON A CAR. AND JUDGING FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED HERE AND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS YEAR CAR, IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. SHAME ON FORD FOR NOT FOLLOWING UP ON THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213072December 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I HAD A FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAK WHILE THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD AS A JAGGED POINT WAS ENGAGED WITH THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. DEALER ADMITS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE TAURUS, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE PART OR LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213080December 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
'02 FORD FOCUS ZX5 HAS SHOWN CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION. FIRST, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 'P'. THEN, THE KEY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS OCCURRED WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, AND IT IS NOW STUCK PERMANENTLY. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO GET FIXED, BUT BASED ON PHONE INQUIRIES TO REPAIR SHOPS IT WILL COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $200-500 TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213089December 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
CRACKED IGNITION. JAMMED STEERING COLUMN. BOTH WERE REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213017December 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES BUT ITS ALREADY CAUSING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213068December 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TWO COMPLETE TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT ON THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST AT AROUND 18,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT AROUND 50,000. IT IS BEGINNING THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN 4TH GEAR (AUTOMATIC). DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THE 2003 TRANSMISSION TO HAVE RELATIVELY FREQUENT FAILURE OCCURRENCE BASED ON WEB AND OTHER INVESTIGATION. DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212910December 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
EVENT: IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND START THE CAR. CONSEQUENCE: HANDICAP EQUIPPED CAR: EVENT LEFT MY WIFE HELPLESS IN HER CAR IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR (WINTER COLD) (3) TOWING SERVICE REQUIRED, CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT, REPLACEMENT COSTS AT FORD CAR DEALERSHIP ABOUT 500 USD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212714December 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD RECURRING CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER/TUMBLER ON OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. ON DECEMBER 23, 2007, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER HOURS OF TRYING TO JIGGLE OR CAJOLE THE KEY AND/OR CYLINDER. I WAS FORCED TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AND I WAS WITHOUT A PRIMARY CAR OVER CHRISTMAS. THE FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS "A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM." THE "RESOLUTION" WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE PART AND A SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212635December 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND I STRUGGLED FOR AN HOUR OR MORE TO GET IT TO TURN. VERY FRUSTRATED AT THAT POINT THAT I FINALLY HAVE RESIDED TO KEEPING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD IDEA,BUT AFRAID OF BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212636December 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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