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.
I bought my Focus in 2000. Since then I have suffered 2 blowouts that neither Ford or Firestone would fix. I've had brake pads replaced once and now have to have brakepads and rotor replaced. Sometimes the key won't turn the ignition. And of course this morning (one of the coldest days we've had) something has gone wrong with the heater.
I have replaced the ignition switch 3 times in least that 2 years and twice in three months. The dealership tells me to call Ford and Ford tells me it a dealership's problem call them the old run around. I also have replace all four brakes and tires with only 25000 miles on the car and they still squeeze and grind when applying the brake. I brought the car used so I do not know if anything was replace before I purchased it lovely vehicle.
Numerous problems with Focus. Bought car in 2001. Since the day that I drove off the lot I had squeaky brakes. Took to servicer and was told dust on brakes & it was normal. After three attempts, they changed pads & rotors. Now I hear the squeak again. Car cut off while going up a hill. Was told by the servicer that it happened because the weather had recently gotten hot and it "shocked" the car. Key wouldn't enter the ignition. Had to have the car towed to servicer. Car shuts off if under half a tank. Servicer told me " keep the gas over half a tank". sometimes I smell something burning while heat on in car. On 2 occassions saw smoke coming from the vents while A/C on ( didn't take to servicer for these problems because they never occured again). Today 11/10/03 the check engine light came on and the car started shaking and stalling eventually cutting off. Took to the servicer and explained the problem, without even mentioning the make and model of my car the technician said, " you must have a Focus". no longer under factory warranty and can't afford to pay for these defects that Ford is very much aware of. Also, the car no longer has value. Tried to trade it in before factory warranty ran out last year, and was told car only worth $4,000 while I still owed $10,000, which means I would have had to come up with the $6,000 difference to be free from the car. The car was only 2 yrs old when I tried to trade it in! so, I feel I got ripped off with a lemon that I can't even get rid of. I am seriously considering calling the finance company and voluntarily giving the car back, but then my credit will show a repossession, which is not fair being that the consumers were never told about the history of problems with the Focus before we bought them.
1st recall,6/2000 shop for A/C problem,9/2000 shop for 7 days for ac problem,1/2002 shop 7days for engine work, recalls X 4 or 5 not sure about dates there has been so many on this car, problems with not starting, gas gauge, tire replacement 3 sets in less then 3 years, hesitation, poor gas milage, brakes squealing, trunk does not close properly,10/2003 has been in shop for 3 weeks for possible engine work. Dealer can not seem to find or repair the problem, I am not happy with this car it has had serious problems from day one there are more to mention can not list them all I need help.
Consumer was on 7th set of tires at 60,000, an alignment with each set. Radio had been replaced twice/ brakes had been completely replaced twice/ wheel bearings had been replaced, and ignition was replaced once after vehicle had been towed. Low and behold, consumer's Focus was sitting in driveway needed to be towed for the same problem again. Car was getting horrible gas mileage, sometimes had brake failure which caused 2 accidents. Also, lugs:nuts had been replaced. The car would sometimes stall for no apparent reason, and was in need of an alternator.
- Columbia, MD, USA
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Consumer states while driving at 65 mph, the front left tire came completely off of the vehicle. Consumer loss control hit a guard rail before coming to a stop on the shoulder.
2000 Ford Focus LX 4-door sedan - numerous complaints: 1) currently have 75,200 miles on car and have gone through 5 (yes five!) complete sets of tires.2) engine stalls at any speed with no warning lights or indications, car bucks and gas pedal can be depressed to floorboard and car will not move - barely avoided three accidents (two of which would have involved my two small children) 3) all four doors will stick - really need to pull to open - and once open, they will not close again (you need to try to close the doors repeatedly before they finally latch). They also popped opened while driving. Afraid one day one of my children or a passenger or myself may be injured. They are manual door locks and latches. 4) same with trunk - often needs repeated tries to close and latch 5) leak in front passenger footwell - when it rains, or when going through carwash 6) front brakes have been replaced twice at my cost - horrendous, irritating, embarassing squealing is incessant - brake dust accumulates every day! in some instances, brakes need to be applied very firmly to stop vehicle (again, I do not feel safe with my children in car). 7) extremely foul smell when air conditioning use is attempted. 8) stereo was replaced - original factory installed would not work after 2 months of ownership. 9) paint is flaking off of skirts - I was informed by Ford that this is "sandblasting" and that I must drive on dirt roads all of the time - I live on an asphalt street, drive on asphalt roads and asphalt highways - not dirt! 10) fuel pump was replaced once already - was told I must be buying "dirty" gas - if it is dirty gas, is that my fault? I don't exactly run the gas stations, and I don't buy fro one specific station - I fuel up when I'm low, wherever it is convenient. 11) I have had three alignments to try to stop the horrible shaking of the car - the steering wheel vibrates so badly that my arms are sore by the time I get to my destination.
Squeaking brake, extreme wear and tear of front tires, back tires with wear and tear issues, alignment issues on front tires and cruise control issues.
There is a vibration felt in steering wheel when driving at freeway speeds. I have had the car aligned 2 times, replaced the tires 3-times, replaced the brakes 3-times and had the tires rotated and re-balanced 6 times, in two years. I have had all of the recalls completed. The vibration still exists and the dealer cannot fix it. The dealer just keeps telling me to get the tires re-balanced, or get new tires again.
60000 miles on car, 4 sets of tires, 7 recalls, defect in gas tank cover filler, 2 sets of brakes, rear alignment not adjustable (advised by independent shop) and horrible shaking at highway speeds after all this. Dealer has been no help with tire problem. Never buying a Ford again.
After about 10 days of buying my 2000 Ford Focus the problem. Started and one year later the problems are still coming like clock work. First my breaks were squealing I called the dealer, he said not to worry about it until I had time to come in. 1 to 2 months later, after several calls asking if it was still okay to drive, I took my car in and the routers and breaks were bad, they sd I should have brought my car in sooner. Well per there request I took my time. I had to pay the get this taken care of. It didn't stop there, my tires kept getting flats so I has to once again replace at my own expenses. Now the real problems start, my cruise control was just out of control, my car would accelerate every time I would put in on cruise. The windshield wipers would not work and my radio kept turning off by itself. I had once again at my own expenses replace my windshield wipers calling the maintenance. Dept. At meridian Ford. They fixed the problem. With the cruise control and it was working fine for about 2 months it is now happening again! now I have problems with the key getting stuck and will not turn, the trunk will not shut, and my car will shut off when the car is in idle. It turns off if in park or drive after about one min. Idle. This is very frustrating. And has caused so many financial and stress problems. I don't feel safe in this car and I feel cheated! I was sold a lemon! a list of what was wrong with my new car..bad breaks, bad routers, bad windshield wipers, bad cruise control, bad trunk, bad tires, the key gets stuck and will not turn, and now it turns off while in idle. All these things are still wrong with it and its costing me money, stress, time and it is costing me to be late on my car payments and other bills because I have to pay for all this crap to be fixed! why is this happening! do I need to get a lawyer or do you need to replace or fix my car at your expensive. I have lost so much and feel helpless. I hope this does not fall on deaf ears.
There was an excessive vibration coming from the rear passenger tires, the dealer was unable to determine cause of vibration or excessive wear on tires.
Ignition failed, had to be replaced, tires wear incredibly fast (4 sets of tires at 45000 miles), radio cut out, had to be replaced twice, brakes failed at least three times causing two accidents, dealership said they replaced them, but lied and never did, was forced to spend $500 having them replaced, trunk doesn't close, bad suspension, spun out on an exit ramp
The key would not turn once in the ignition and was difficult to remove, the dealer replaced the ignition tumbler. The consumer has also replaced the brakes, tires and radiator deflector.
Consumer was exiting a parking garage and placed vehicle in reverse. Without warning, car suddenly accelerated and rear tail spun around 2 times then hit a parked vehicle. Consumer did apply brakes with no success. Ph insurance company informed dealership that there were two recalls that dealt with a defective throttle and speed control which was not performed on the vehicle prior to the accident. Other problems included weezing noise while turning. Power steering racked failed and replaced. Lack of power steering in steering wheel. Rear brake pad replacement. Rear wheel bearing noise. Defective wheel bearings replaced. Tire punctured and replaced. Hesitation on acceleration. Fuel pump and gasket replaced. Tires rotted out. Key stuck in ignition. Replaced malfunctioned shifter assembly. Trunk lid wouldn't latch. Latch replaced.
Vehicle starts giving a rocking motion. This failure was due to the tire becoming detached. The dealership replaced tires but the problem still occured causing an accident.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Louisville, KY, USA