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.
My daughter slammed on the brakes at 40mph and the vehicle steering wheel jerked to the right and she felt a drop in the left front side of the car, the car started sliding and hit a curb. When the car came to a stop the front left wheel was broke off. A tow truck took it to the Ford dealership. They said it needed a control arm; hub assembly; tie rod end; tire & wheel; axle; brake line; brake pads & rotor; trans pan and inner tie rod. They concluded it was in an accident and it was her fault and the cost would be $2,387.77 just for the mechanical only. She purchased the car September of 2002, putting over $8,000 down on the day of purchase with a remaining balance of $6,000. At the time of the accident she had no insurance. I beleive there was a problem with car to cause it to go out of control, and feel Ford needs to address it.
My 2001 Focus ZX3 will sputter, lose power, and threaten to stall. This occurs at any speed. It has stalled and left me stranded once. When towed to the dealership, nothing could be found wrong with it and so I was charged nothing. It started up again just fine, but periodically threatens to stall again. Also, the paint over the driver side rear wheel is bubbling up and coming off.
While applying the brakes there was a squeaking noise coming from the front/rear of the vehicle. The pedal had gone down and made a squeak noise. The front end bounced and vibrated due to the pinch bolt that retained the steering knuckled to the lower ball joint. (may not have the proper torque) there was a problem with the front end and rear. The wheel was replaced, the flat tire was balanced and the beam worked okay. The vehicle made noise when released from park mode, stop, and was intermittent. (has been adjust 3-4 times but would go back to the same thing)
As a result of an accident I must have both head light assemblies and the front bumper replaced on my 2001 Focus. My insurance company insists that it will only pay for after market parts, not oem parts. Further, they tell me the after market parts carry no certification that they are equal to the oem parts. I would not feel safe using parts that are safety related that cannot be certified to be of the same kind and type as originally installed. Does NHTSA have a position of the use of non-oem safety parts in the repair of an automobile?
On my way to school this evening all my electrical things in the car started flickering and then smoke started to come out of my vents. I pulled over immediatly, while someone was yelling at me get out of your car. I got out and saw that smoke was coming out of my whole entire hood area. Then it went up in flames, melting through the hood, scattering my windshield.
Have had numerous problems with the car hesitating and stalling. Have taken the car in a total of 7 times. 5 of which were related to hesitation. 3 of the those 5 times they found problems with the car. 2 times for an egr emissions sensor and 1 for a fuel pump (they think). The other two times they coulndt find anything wrong at the time. I have called Ford directly and they can do nothing about the car, because they say it is repairable. I have had the car back now for a little over a week since they have replaced the fuel pump. Seems to have a little hesitation still, but has not stalled. We have had the left rear tire replace once for cupping of the tire. Ford dealership wasnt sure what caused it, but they say I could have run over something hard. The new tire starting cupping like the one they replaced, then that is when the recall for the rear wheel bearings was issued. No problems since then with the tires.
The problem is that the car always shakes when its in park or at a stop light and it stalled 2 time. Have taken it to dealer numerous times and still cant find the problem.
My vehicle has just been turned into our dealership this morning, for the same repeated problem of engine check light coming on while driving vehicle. This is our 5th visit, and we are on our 4th egr valve. Same complaint, the car drives sluggishly, shutters and about 2 months ago shut off while driving. This happened while my 14 year old daughter were driving the vehicle traveling through a major intersection at night. We were in the process of a left hand turn, at this particular intersection, 2 lanes of traffic are turning left at the same time. We were on the inside lane, making our turn and the Focus shut off. We were nearly rear ended, and barely avoided a large intersection accident with traffic behind us quickly braking and swerving into the other lane. It was terrifying! we have had the fuel pump replaced, and each time of our complaint, the dealer cannot diagnosis the direct problem. I have read numerous articles regarding other Ford Focus vehicles having similar problems. Just recently have read about the paint chipping off from the inside of the gas tank, causing a blockage, so that fuel cannot flow through into the pump. There is a definite problem. How many other Focus owners are experiencing these same repeated difficulties? I purchased this vehicle for a good reliable car for my 16 year daughter to eventually have, and considering the experiences I have had with shuttering, shut offs..do not want to put her behind the wheel of this car for safety reasons. Our paperwork from the dealership seems to accumulating, with no direct answers.
While driving my 2001 Focus wagon on interstate off ramps it starts to stall and hesitate. The rpms drop out with absolutly no power. This has happened numerous times and is really scary. The last time it happened was yesterday while iwas merging from a ramp and my car died out infront of a semi trying to get onto the ramp.I pulled over as far as I could to get out of his way he locked up his brakes. I take this same ramp all the time since its onmy way home from work. This problem starts if I let the gas get below a 1/2 tank. I been to the dealer and they can't find anything wrong. I am bringing it back tomorrow again to have they find the problem. I am at my wits end with this. I told my family about the problem and said if I get killed in an accident on a ramp it because of the problem of it dying. And to go after Ford for this. My family has been in the car when this happens so they know what I am talking about. I went over your other complaints about this vehiscle/ it is unreal the amount of problems that I have in common with them, it worrys me. I was going to give this car to my daughter to drive she 16 but not now. I want her to come home in one piece. I have had a water noise in the dash they cant find, sticking gas pedal now fix for noe after 2 times in the shop. The oil smell in the car. Leaking oil I see in in the driveway but can't seem to find where its comming from. I wish I knew more about the lemon law a couple of months ago. It doesn't apply to me now because of my mileage. I drive about 100 miles a day. If you have any question please contact me. Thank you.
Purchased car in December 2000 within days brakes squealing and grinding..called dealer said to let wear in..problem persisted..engine light came on..took car to nearest D dealership..in January 2001..brakes shoes back and pads on front replaced. Oxygen sensor, and parking brake replaced..brakes still had problem engine light still on..took to dealership where purchased..kept 12 days..brakes adjusted and computor and ignition were replaced..light off..brakes still trouble..took back numerous times..for check-ups..at 16,000 told brakes need to be replaced in front and tires where all worn away on inside of tire..bald!!..manufactor and dealer would not pay for..replaced all four tires, alignment, and new brakes put on front brakes..car still not right with brakes..shaking violently of car while braking at any speed. Or going downhill.took back to dealership rotors were no good as well as front brakes. They replaced..inner tires already wearing out...brakes still giving noise and grinding..took back within month..they said fine..took back again when oil changed..brakes where said to be fine..brakes noisy and grinding as usual..3 weeks later brakes failed..had car towed to dealership....they state needs new brakes on front and backshoes cracked and need new rotors...they keep saying its the way we drive car...no way..never had this much problem with any brakes in any car we have owned...car is very unsafe and made with inferior products.. (tiresize: 15)
Avance trac control doesn't engage and/or mulfunctions-disabling it total. Many elect problems. Twice it has shut down on interstate I40 at rate of speed of 50 and 60 and once at maybe 5 mph in the driveway. When it shuts down there is no warning. Other problems w/this car have been radio had to be replaced, fuel pump module, key gets stuck and key willn't turn.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sacramento, CA, USA