Ford Focus Complaints

22,326 consumer complaints on file.

#10143672November 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED THE 2ND TIME IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. WHEN I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WILL NOT TURN REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DO. WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT (10/15/2004) I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ENDED UP PAYING $115.42 OUT OF POCKET--THE REMAINING $155.09 WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LOCK CYLINDER. TODAY, 11/24/05, MY HUSBAND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME I AM GOING TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO DO THE WORK -- APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FOCUS (MANY FELLOW FOCUS OWNERS ON A WEBSITE RECOMMENDED A LOCKSMITH OVER GOING TO A DEALERSHIP TO SAVE BOTH TIME AND MONEY). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COSTLY, INCONVENIENT AND UNSAFE--AS WE HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143606November 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON OCCASION, IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. HAPPENS AT LEAST ONE TO TWO TIMES PER MONTH ON THE AVERAGE. IN AUGUST, COULD NOT START CAR FOR 4 DAYS. DEALER SAYS NEW IGNITION WILL COST AROUND $300. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143611November 24, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION NEAR MY HOME. THE STREET WAS WET, AND WHEN I DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP, I APPLIED FULL BRAKING. MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE ABS, BUT MY WHEELS FULLY LOCKED. I REAR ENDED A 1994 FULL SIZE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. MY CHIEF COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ABS BRAKING WAS ESSENTIALLY NON-EFFECTIVE. THIS ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, HOWEVER, I DID EXPECT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON MY VEHICLE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED FOR REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143553November 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
UPON TRYING TO START MY CAR, I FOUND THAT THE KEYS (BOTH OF THEM) WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE IGNITION, THUS PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE SECOND TIME (THE FIRST TIME--2 DAYS AGO--I GOT IT IN AFTER 3 OR 4 TRIES), AND NOW I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS VEHICLES, AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. I WILL NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143558November 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED, AND THE KEY/STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143434November 22, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WILL REV WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS ON MORNING STARTS AND IN COLD TEMPERATURES. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNS OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTS THE VEHICLE. THIS PROCEDURE REMEDIES THE PROBLEM. HE PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143447November 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN. I NEVER GET BETTER THAN 25 MPG HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE FORD DEALER TELLING HOW GREAT IT WAS ON GAS. THAT I WOULD AVERAGE 32 MPG. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID I WAS AVERAGING 31.7 MPG ACCORDING TO THERE COMPUTER. THAT IS NOT TRUE! THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDS A BREAK IN TIME OF 5000 MILES. I HAVE 15000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY DAY. MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT FORD IGNORES US. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143464November 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED, THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED IT WAS A BATTERY NOT CHARGING PROPERLY LIGHT. LATER IN THE DAY, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR, AND THE ALTERNATOR IS BEING REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143509November 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY CAR WAS KEPT UP TO DATE ON MAINTENANCE AND RECALLS. APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS BEFORE MY ACCIDENT, MY HUSBAND EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT DELAY IN BRAKE RESPONSE ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. HE CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND LOOKED FOR LEAKS. EVERYTHING SEEMED GOOD. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. ON THE DAY OF MY ACCIDENT, I DROVE TO WORK AND MOST OF THE WAY HOME. I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY DESTINATION WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT I HAD KNOWLEDGE OF A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES, WITH NO INDICATOR OR WARNING LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED TO ALERT ME OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, I CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE, INJURING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE IS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10143296November 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, WHEELS:HUB, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEMS STARTED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEAR, THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS NEVER SEALED IN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. THE FRONT WHEELS CLICK WHEN DRIVEN. THE BRAKES WENT OUT QUICK. THE BACK HUBS ARE SEALED FROM RUST. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET MY DISABLED CHILD TO THE DOCTORS BECAUSE THE IGNITION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE LOCKSMITH SAID I WAS LUCKY I WAS PARKED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143303November 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE (AND VICE VERSA). TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM I MAINTAINED HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143314November 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE SENSORS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTED REPAIRS THAT HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM HE WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT ALREADY SPENT ENOUGH MONEY HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, AND SHOULD NOT BE OUT ANY MORE MONEY FOR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143381November 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES, THE RADIO, AND WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE BRAKES SQUEAK EVERYTIME I APPLY THEM. THE RADIO ONLY WORKS FOR ONE MINUTE AND THEN IT FADES OUT, ALL YOU CAN HEAR IS STATIC. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE PROBLEMS IS THE LEAK. IT HAS RAINED REALLY HARD THREE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH, AND ALL THOSE TIMES I HAVE FOUND THE CARPET IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SOAKING WET. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I BOUGHT IT, BUT THEY SAY THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 90 DAY WARRANTY. I HAVE REASERCHED ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURERS OF THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143396November 21, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. IT WAS PUSHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WHERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10143254November 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL ONE MORNING (FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE, NO LESS!) THE KEY WOULD NOT INSERT INTO THE IGNITION. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO INSERT IT--JIGGLING, CLEANING THE KEY, BLOWING OUT THE CYLINDER--WITH NO LUCK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE IGNITION BARREL HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS JUST A HAIR OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE EXPENSE CAME OUT OF MY POCKET. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FOCUS'. WHAT A PAIN!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143114November 18, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BRAKE PROBLEM. AT ABOUT 2000 TO 3000 MILES BREAKS STARTS TO SQUEAL AND GRIND. TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE AT DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEM, AS IT GOT WORSE AND WAS NOT NORMAL IN 6,000 MILES. WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM, ROUTINE BREAK IN. THEN AT 12,000 MILES STILL A PROBLEM. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THE SAME THING. NOW WITH NEARLY 18,000 MILES, ROTORS ARE GROOVED VERY BAD. EVIDENCE AND WARNING WAS EVIDENT IN THE EARLIER MILES AS WELL. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP. I FEEL THEY OWE ME A NEW PAIR OF ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO, COMPLAINED OF CLUTCH NOISE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OF A TSB CLAIMING CERTAIN 2004 FOCUS HAVE A TRANSAXLE MISALIGNMENT CAUSING PRE-MATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND NOISE. WIPER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY RC LACY FORD, BETTER SERVICE, BUT THEY WON'T SERVICE ME ANYMORE, SINCE I DID NOT BUY IT THERE, AND RAVENA IS SO CLOSE. I NEED TO CONTACT CROSSROADS ABOUT ALL FUTURE WARRANTY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS. DOORS IN THE REAR ALSO STICK, AND WEAR OF DOOR STRIKER IS EVIDENT. TIRES HAVE ALSO BEEN WORN PRETTY BAD PIRELLI 195/60 R15. BACK PAIR ARE TOTALLY BALD, AND ONLY HAVE HAD LIKE 18,000 MILES, I THINK IT WAS A ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHICH FOR A CAR 17 MONTHS OLD SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I NOTICED WEAR AT AROUND 13,000 MILES. DURING MY SECOND TIRE ROTATION. HAVE HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE. ALSO ISSUES WITH EXTREME CHIPPING AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL. ALSO HAVE HAD A HESITATION PROBLEM AT ABOUT 25 MPH. #RD GEAR USED TO BE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. I GOT NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS MYSELF. THE VIN IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE VIN. MY CAR IS A 2004 ZX5 DURATEC 2.3E 5 SPD. ALMOST ALL OPTIONS INCLUDED. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143129November 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1. WENT TO START CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN 2. IGNITION CYLINDER WHICH I HAVE LEARNED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. LATE FOR WORK 3. $411.00 FOR LABOR TO DRILL OUT AND REPLACE AND TO PURCHASE A NEW SET OF KEYS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143139November 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION SWITCH; DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE TUMBLERS WERE WORN OUT; THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD AND HAS 39K MILES! DEALER REFUSED TO COVER CHARGES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142999November 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143034November 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT FORD WOULD LET THIS GO ON SO LONG. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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