This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Stalling problem-check engine light-cracked cylinder head at 32655 miles also leaking transmission line, brake dust, broken trunk lock and malfunctioning keyless entry on driver door.
I purchased a 2000 (4dr) Ford Focus wagon SE on 06/17/00 and I have had nothing but trouble ever since. Here is a list of my complaints constant clicking and screeching noise when I turn or go over a bump sounds as if the car has arthitis problems sometimes my car will not start until after 3 or 4 attempts left back window will not roll down & although I have not heard it since summer the windows make noise when operated like glass rubbing against metal lubericate all of the car doors once a month because they screech extremely loud when opened or shut I have been in almost 4 accidents because of the enormous amount of severe blind spots on both the L & R sides of the car night driving bad - the car sits at a downward angle which allows rear vehicles headlights to blind you with your own rearview and side mirrors - this makes visibility impossible & very dangerous a sour-vinegar like smell appears sometimes on 02/23/02 @ sears auto center I had to replace my tires due to bowed/buckled - odometer was at 22114 - paid out of my pocket to replace tires $508.46 mechanic could not explain why this happened but instructed me to call Ford & get reimbursed for the tires - I was told it was normal wear and tear no reimbursement. I do not feel this is a direct tire issue but a cause issue from the car itself saftey recall 00S31 everytime I hit a puddle after rain the engine makes a screaming sound & loses some power. After take the car hesitates like it slips into neutral gear" what is going on? why is Ford not held responsible for a bad product and a total recall on the car itself" this car has numerous complaints, Ford does not give you a loaner for its bad product & the most they will say is we are sorry to inconvenience you or we apologize for this situation. I do not want their sympathy I want a car not just priced at $19,750.97 but valued at $19,750.97. I want a car that is safe & reliable!
In April 2000, my car died. Ford had to give me a brand new engine. Now in December 2002, more car problems and they have to replace the transmission. This car is not even three years old and has too many major problems for a vehicle this new.
First purchase Focus it had a loud engine we took it back and they had to replace top of the engine. Then other parts of the vehicle started to fall apart. In a 2 year span, mostly the occurances happened in the first yr, molding around the headlights came off along with the molding around the windshield back and front, trunk will not shut the molding around the key hole fell out and the lock inside was loose(taken in twice only the lock was fixed once the molding was just replace the last time, still won't shut) ignition got stuck key would go in but would not turn, engine is stalling all dashboard lights come on and then car stalls in park and just starting to move.
I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle just last month the cable and motor in the rear passenger side door window burned up and now will cost over $600. To fix I can not get the front rack & pinion fixed because it will cost $1800. The transmission is going out now it slips out of gear sometimes not at all. I just got the brakes repaired for the third time in may and they are again squeaking. I have all of my receipts for work done to this car. I am now having to put power steering fluid in once or twice a week. The automatic locks on the doors lock and unlock all the time, and the electric instruments turn off by themselves. (radio) the driving lights go out at times and will not come back on. Please help me, I am a single mother and have complained to courtesy Ford they want to charge me diagnostic $90 for each item I am complaining about and then the amount it will take to fix all of the things wrong. This vehicle I just recently found out has had six different owners before me and one was rental car company. I do not know who the rest of them were. Courtesy Ford had said there was only one owner. They will not listen to me and now the Focus' have a front suspension recall that may have been the problem the whole time with the brakes and the tire replacements and the power steering problems.!!! please help me.
These problems have all happened at different times and seem to be completely unrelated. The rotors had to be replaced with the brakes at approximately 13K miles. The engine just went into idle while I was driving. This happened three separate times, but when I took it in to the dealer. They didn't see anything wrong with it and couldn't duplicate the malfunction. My rear wheels started making a very low noise around 8/15/02. After an accident at the end of August. The noise was much worse and the rear bearings were replaced by the shop that fixed my car after the accident. South Florida is a "high-salt/corrosion" area because of our proximity to the sea. This was never introduced before. When the cigarette lighter is pushed in, it does not merely pop out when it is hot. It ejects and is thrown on the floor. Having it land on my leg twice and my carpet scorched by it twice, it could have cause a serious accident. Thank you for your assistance.
The main concern is the engine overheating. The dashboard indicator does not show when the engine overheats. Currently we are taking it back into the shop because of the smoke that come through the hood. We feel the car could catch fire at any moment and that is is undependable. It has been towed twice. We do not feel we can sell it because of all the on going defects and yet we still owe $9,000 plus to the bank on it. We feel trapped in an unsafe, undependable vehicle. The problems continue. We don't know what to do.
Car stalled along side a road seemed like "vapor lock" would not start, had the car towed to dealer, he checked it out and reported found nothing wrong, car started, computed checked out ok. It took dealer two days to check out car did not get a write up from the dealer concerning this check out of the vehicle. The car has been through 4 sets of rear tires plus one set of snow tire in less than 55,000 miles all rear tires show the same pattern cupped and bald within 5-8 thousand miles dealer has provided 3 sets of tires we have provided 2 rear end allignment has been done twice. This car was also part of rear axel recall tires slide sideways.
When I get close to 1/4 of a tank of gasoline, my car begins to die or sputter. It has died several times and wont restart. The other day I was coming off an exit ramp from the highway and it died coming around the sharp turn. I was almost hit by several cars while trying to get the car started long enough to move it off the ramp. After about 20 or so times of turning the ignition and gunning the pedal, I got it moved into a safe area off the highway. It took about 45 minutes and a lot of conk outs to get it moved. I was stranded and very angry. I was even more angry when I got home and did a little research to find that this same complaint has been made to Ford/NHTSA and never reported to the public. I have had 6 recalls this year on this [xxx] car and I am very concerned for my safety now. I got the car because of its great ratings for safety- now I am afraid everytime I put my son in the car of it blowing up on me. I want to get rid of it but I cant because I owe more on the loan then I can get for trade in (my guess is the value of the car has totally fallen because of all these recalls). I am so angry with Ford and I am afraid for my safety while driving this car. Please do something about this! thank you. Oh and the gas gauge never reads correctly. I have to count my miles to make sure I am okay on gas between fill ups. The gauge will just drop to below E and the light comes on for no reason. Then after a bit of driving it will go back to normal. Very odd. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
1. July 26,2000 was the first incident when the fuel gauge light came on and even though the tank was full, the gauge registered empty. Dealer replaced sender and pump assembly. 2. Oct.11,2000 fuel gauge light came on, and the gauge registered the tank as empty even though it was full. Dealer replaced the sender and pump assembly. 3. Feb. 6, 2002, engine check light came on, returned to the dealer who replaced fuel filler cap. 4. Aug. 19, 2002, service engine light came on, returned to dealer who replaced the gasket-fuel tank sender.
Last month, I replaced the right rear wheel bearing on my Ford Focus when it failed. I have heard reports that other people have had the same problems, and I believe this problem is related to a flaw in design. More dangerous than that, though, is the problem I had with the fuel system. The car lost power on several occasions after right-hand turns or going uphill. It did not stall, simply sputtered and lost power for between 2-5 seconds. One of the most frightening incidents happened when my husband and I were merging onto the capital beltway on our way to visit friends, and the car lost power, nearly causing an accident. I took the car to the dealer and they were quite familiar with the problem, as Ford has issued a service bulletin about it. The repairs cost over $425, and involved replacement of the fuel pump and complete flush of the fuel tank. I was told that Ford claims the problem is created by contaminated gasoline, which means that at any time, this problem could resurface. I am frightened to drive the vehicle in traffic or on the highway, because my confidence in its safety has been shattered by this problem. I believe that Ford is aware of this safety issue and should issue a recall on the faulty system.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alpharetta, GA, USA