2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

THE IGNITION TUMBLER FAILED. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE FACT THAT VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED ALMOST 12 TIMES SHOULD INDICATE THAT THERE IS MASSIVE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.*AK

TRUNK LATCH FAILS TO LOCK,ALLOWING TRUNK TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V030000 CONCERNING REAR DOOR LATCHES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SOMETIMES IN JUNE. *AK

I PARKED MY CAR ONE NIGHT, NOTHING UNUSUAL, NO PREVIOUS DIFFICULTIES WITH THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY I GET IN AND CAN NOT INSERT KEY FULLY INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER JIGGLING IT AROUND, I COULD FINALLY FULLY INSERT KEY BUT AM UNABLE TO TURN IT TO START THE VEHICLE. *AK ALTHOUGH NO INJURY OCCURED, THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR (OVER $300 IN ADDITION TO THE TOWING FEES). I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND IN MY DISCUSSION WITH OTHER FOCUS OWNERS; AND THINK FORD IS TO BLAME. I ONLY HAVE 2 KEYS ON MY KEY RING ALONG WITH THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY; THEREFORE, THIS WAS NOTHING I'VE DONE TO IMPAIR THE DAILY PERFORMANCE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS WOULD NOT LATCH AND ARE BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH A RATCHET STRAP. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AROUND A BEND, THE BACK DOORS FLEW OPEN. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH OF 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH); HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE LATCHES AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,631. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE ENGINE STALLED. A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR PROBLEMS AND WHILE PARKED, THE IGNITION AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY NOR THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL ATTEMPTS TO DO SO FAILED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE OLD IGNITION WAS DRILLED AND A NEW ONE ISNTALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER COMFIRMED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS.*AK

WHEEL BEARINGS IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES ALREADY. ALL PARTS HAVE BEEN FORD FACTORY PARTS. RECALL FROM 2000 ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 2001 BUT PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. FORD MOTOR CO. HAS BEEN CONTACTED REPEATEDLY IN REGARDS TO THIS BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN CONTACTED BUT THE KEEP REFERRING BACK TO FORD. COPIES OF ALL REPAIR BILLS IS AVAILABLE. IT APPEARS THAT WHEEL BEARING #9 IS ABOUT TO GO ALSO. BREAKDOWN AS FOLLOWS: RIGHT REAR 3 TIMES LEFT REAR 2 TIMES RIGHT FRONT 2 TIMES LEFT FRONT 1 TIME IN ADDITION, REAR DRUMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY (ON THE AVERAGE OF EVERY 18-20 MONTHS). MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT OF WHEEL BEARING ON 3/4/05 CAN YOU PLEASE HELP! *JB

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FORD FOCUS 2000, HAS HAD 6 RECALLS. *BF THE TUMBLER IN THE IGNITION FAILED. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *MR *SC CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT POSSIBLY THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WAS WORKING FINE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE CAR, I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO START IT UP, AND MY KEY, WHICH HAD JUST WORKED FINE, WOULD NOT START THE CAR. THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE IGNITION WERE LOCKED. MY KEY WOULD NO LONGER GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER, WHICH SEEMED TO BE JAMMED IN SOME WAY. I CALLED AAA, WHO SAID THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN THE FORD FOCUS. THEY BANGED ON THE COLUMN TRYING TO RELEASE THE CYLINDER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. STRANDED, I TOOK A $35 CAB RIDE HOME AND HAVE TO RETURN TODAY TO HAVE IT TOWED OFF A DOWNTOWN STREET TO THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, WHICH IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY AND HAS NO EMERGENCY NUMBER...I GUESS I JUST LEAVE IT THERE WITH THE HOPES THAT THEY WILL LOOK AT IT TOMORROW. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'LL GET TO WORK TOMORROW, HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE TO FIX, NOR HOW MUCH IT WILL COST--- BUT I'VE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER DUE TO WEAK METALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! *JB

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND PARKING IT IN A PARKING SPOT I CAME OUT AND WAS UNABLE TO INSERT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FROZEN IN PLACE. AFTER TRYING REPEATEDLY TO GET THE KEY IN OR JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN, IGNITION, LOCK CY, AND REKEY LOCK CYLINDER. THERE HAS BEEN A VEHICLE: ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH IS A PLASTIC SWITCH IN THE IGNITION THAT BREAKS AND THEN CAUSES THE PROBLEMS. I HOPE THERE IS NO CAR FIRE OR DEATHS AS A RESULT OF FORD NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

TURNING THE KEY BECAME PROGRESSIVELY HARDER, AND FINALLY THE CYLINDER LOCKED COMPLETELY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, IT COST ME $450.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION WAS UNKNOWN. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY STARTING AND THE KEY HAD TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES. THE TRUNK LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. 2) WHEN HEADING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ONE DAY, I HAD DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE I GOT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I COULD NOT START MY CAR AND COULD NOT GET TO WORK 3) WE HAD TO PAY $70 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP IN BUFFALO, MN. WE THEN HAD TO PAY THEM TO DRILL OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND REMOVE IT. THEN THEY BUILT NEW CYLINDER AND INSTALLED IT. COSTING ME $350. I UNDERSTAND ALSO, FROM THE FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (THAT HAD JUST EXPIRED) THAT THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS'. *NM

IGNITION RANDOMLY LOCKED UP. I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER I PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, REMOVED THE KEY, I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH THE KEY. HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEY FOR A COST OF $350. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR HAPPENINGS BY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS. ALSO RECEIVED ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND MECHANIC OF FREQUENCY OF THIS OCCURRING WITH FORD FOCUSES. *NM

AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN. IF I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE. WE TOOK IT AND HAD THE SPRING COILS IN THE FRONT BOTH REPLACED. *JB

(1)NONE (2)2000 FORD FOCUS W/ 55,000 MILES. ENGINE THREW A ROD ON MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, ENGINE LOST POWER AND STEERING MESSED UP. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT AT 60 MPH. 5 QUARTS OF OIL LEAKED OUT ONTO HIGHWAY (3)ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

I COULD NOT INSERT MY KEY MORE THAN HALF WAY INTO THE IGNITION TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAD IT TOWED THROUGH FORD TO A DEALERSHIP AND EXPECTED THE IGNITION PROBLEM TO BE FULLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ITS FAILURE).THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST $585 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND RE-KEY THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL/YEAR.*AK

KEY GOES IN IGNITION, BUT WON'T TURN. REQUIRES WIGGLING AND MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET CAR TO TURN OVER AND START. COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD FOCUSES. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IGNITION REPLACED.

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND WILL NOT BUDGE ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS.*AK

ON 19 FEB 2005 I WENT TO HAVE MY REAR BRAKES REPLACED ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THEY WENT TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES, THEY FOUND THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE SEIZED TO THE REAR SPINDLE. I HAD RECALL #01B85B DONE ON 27 DEC 2001 TO PREVENT THIS. BUT IT DID NOT HELP. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS - KEY WILL NOT GO INTO IGNITION AND START CAR

I PARKED MY CAR. UPON COMING BACK TO THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TUMBLER MECHANISM FAILED AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. MY CAR IS A STICK SHIFT, AND IF I STALLED THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED THAT TIME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2003 AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SHOP FOR MANY OF THE PREVIOUSLY STATED REPAIRS- IGNITION LOCK, REVVING/ GAS LINE STICKING, BROKEN WINDSHIELD WITH NO OUTSIDE CAUSE, CRACKED SIDE MIRRORS FROM COLD, ETC. THIS WEEK MY REAR WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE ESTIMATE IS CLOSE TO $400. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS, SO MANY I CAN'T RECALL THEM ALL NOW. I WOULD ADVISE OTHERS TO AVOID FORD PRODUCTS IN THE FUTURE- I CERTAINLY WILL. *JB

I BOUGHT THE A 2000 FORD FOCUS CAR IN JULY 2004. IT IS TODAY (FEB 2005) THE IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON ME. THE KEY WILL GO IN BUT THE KEY WILL NO TURN. THE KEY DING SIGNAL WORKS AND EVERY THING. I HAVE READ MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FROM AUTOTALK.COM ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND IT IS THE IGNTION CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS REACURRING EVERY YEAR. *AK

I STOPPED IN AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND GOT A BITE TO EAT. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT IT JAMMED. I FLIPPED THE KEY AND TRIED AGAIN AND NO LUCK. I THEN GAVE THE KEY A GOOD PUSH AND GOT THE KEY IN BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CALLED A LOCAL LOCKSMITH AND TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND GOT CHARGED $450 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE IGNITION CYLINDER. I LOOKED UP OTHER FORD FOCUS COMPLAINTS AND NOTICE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.*AK

FRONT DOOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT SHUT. THE ONLY WAY IT WILL SHUT IS TO GET IN THE CAR, LOCK THE DOOR THEN SHUT THE DOOR. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARD TO RECALL ANNOUNCED ON 1/31/05 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000). IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL...HOWEVER, THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE BACK DOORS. WE HAVE TO PAY $250 TO FIX IT. THIS RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO ALL DOORS, MECHINISMS ARE ALL THE SAME.*AK

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE'S ENGINE HAS REPEATEDLY DIED WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DIED EVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, AND HAS ENDANGERED ME SEVERAL TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS GOING AROUND A CURVE. LUCKILY I HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT SO FAR, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50 TIMES. I AM TOO POOR TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT I HAVE HAD AN ENGINE FLUSH AND INJECTOR CLEANING WITH NO EFFECT. *JB

REAR DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPEN, HAS REMAINED THAT WAY FOR ABOUT 4-5 MONTHS. I HAD AN ESTIMATE DONE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY QUOTED ME AT AROUND $300 TO REPAIR THE DOOR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE FOCUS SEEMS TO HAVE A DRIVERS SEAT RECLINER DEFECT. WITH OUR ZX3 THE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF. WE NOW USE A SCREWDRIVER TO RECLINE THE SEAT, HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO FIX IT YET. MY SISTER WHO ALSO OWNS A FOCUS HER SEAT DOES NOT RECLINE AT ALL. SHE USES A PILLOW TO HELP WITH THE RECLINE. SHE IS A COLLEGE STUDENT HAS NO MONEY TO FIX IT. HOWEVER I DO THINK ITS FUNNY THAT BOTH CARS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS BOTH WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, BOTH ARE 2000 FORD FOCUS.*AK

VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, AND OWNER HAD TO TAKE OUT THE KEY FROM IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

TRIED TO SHUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED, WHETHER I WAS IN THE VEHICLE OR NOT. I HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SEVERAL TIMES I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE POWER LOCK IN ORDER TO GET IT TO SHUT.

IGNITION LOCK FAILURE ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS I AM TOLD IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BY THE DEALER AND AAA. PLEASE HELP. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU. *JB CINDY DROHAN

1- THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE, THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO IT, IT JUST HAPPENED. THE IGNITION SWITCH JUST LOCKED. PREVIOUSLY THERE WERE LITTLE EVENTS WITH THE CAR LEADING UP TO ITS FAILURE. 2- IT STALLED AND WOULDN'T START, FUEL WASN'T GETTING TO THE ENGINE AND WOULD LEAD TO POWER FAILURE. 3- AFTER REPEATED TRIPS TO THE GARAGE AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY DID REPLACE THE PLUGS AND WIRES AND FUEL PUMP AGAIN. NOW THE PROBLEM IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. MY COMPLAINT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS 10100616. A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH THAT WOULD NOT TURN. CORRECTED BY DRILLING OUT CYLINDER, AND REPLACING. CERTIFIED LOCK SMITH PRICE WAS $298.00. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER QUOTED PRICE WAS $400.00 LOCK SMITH SAID THEY HAVE 1 - 2 OF THESE WITH THE FOCUS EVERY WEEK.*JB

THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK ON MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 DOES NOT LIKE TO LATCH. THERE IS OFTEN TIMES WHEN THE TRUNK MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AS IF IT WERE GOING TO OPEN. I HAVE A NEWBORN BABY IN THE BACKSEAT IF THE TRUNK WERE TO OPEN I AM AFRAID SHE WILL BE INJURED. I AM SURE THE PART WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ASAP. *NM

ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE KEY ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER TECHNIQUES I COULD TRY AND CAME ACROSS SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH DISGRUNTLED CONSUMERS WHO ARE ALSO OWNERS OF THE FORD FOCUS. THEY ALL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND LOCKSMITH THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TUMBLERS AND A FAILED CYLINDER DUE TO FORD. APPARENTLY FORD USED A SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURED CYLINDER WHICH RAPIDLY DETERIORATES WITH USE AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURES THUS LOCKING THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE CLOSE TO $400 SO I OPTED INSTEAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT. THAT COST ME $60. I'M TOLD THOUGH THAT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND EVEN A NEW CYLINDER WILL NOT PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE THE PART ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO A RECALL WHICH I FIND ABSURD. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ANNOYING SITUATION BUT ALSO A DANGEROUS ONE. I'VE HAD OTHER FORD OWNERS TELL ME THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEM WHILE DRIVING, AT STOP LIGHTS, IN A PARKING LOT ETC. THAT IS DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I AM WRITING A PERSONAL LETTER TO FORD...AND I PLAN TO TAKE THIS AS FAR AS I POSSIBLY CAN LEGALLY. THANK YOU. AMY KENNEDY WINSTON SALEM, NC *JB

WATER ENTERING PASSENGER FLOOR. CARPET PAD SOAKED MOLD SMELL IN CAR.HAD IT IN DEALER SHOP AT 4500 MILES 16000 MILES THEY REPLACED CARPET AND OBVIOUSLY TEMPORARILY FIXED THE LEAK. NOW THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY TO HAVE THE LEAK FIXED. I ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT MYSELF BUT CANT STOP THE LEAK. FORD HAS SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THIS WATER LEAK BUT APPARENTLY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE LEAK EITHER.NOW I AM STUCK WITH A MOLDED SMELLING CAR AND A WET CARPET. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS - REAR DOOR LATCH ISSUE. DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NO LONGER CLOSE. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. *JB

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *AK

FOR THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT'S AS IF THE IGNITION IS LOCKED, ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE KEY TO TURN (ACTUALLY TURN SO THE CAR COULD START). TODAY, HOWEVER, NO AMOUNT OF 'JIMMYING' DID THE TRICK. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD SIMPLY NOT TURN - AT ALL (EVEN AFTER I TAPPED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH MY PALM AS I TURNED THE KEY AS RECOMMENDED BY A FORD SERVICE MECHANIC). SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD IN PORTLAND, OR SO THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS COSTING ME AROUND $290!. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER - WHO ALSO OWNS A FORD FOCUS ZX3 - HAS BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DESPITE THIS, FORD HAS NOT 'RECALLED' THIS FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER AND I FEEL THIS REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND, AT THE LEAST, COMPENSATION BY FORD. *JB

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT IS JAMMING FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES NOW AND GOING BACK FOR THE FOURTH ON FEBUARY 11 2005.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

IN 2000 I BROUGHT MY FORD FOCUS 2000 IN FOR A RECALL ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN 2001, MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE, AND THE CAR FISHTAILED WHEN DRIVEN. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD BEARING IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THEY REPLACED THE BEARING, ABS SENSOR, AND SPINDLE UNDER WARRANTY. ON FEB 3, 2005, MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY LOUD METALLIC POPPING AND GRINDING NOISES WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR DID NOT SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE, SO I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BEARING IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, THE VERY SAME THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2000. THIS CAUSED THE ABS SENSOR TO GO BAD AND NOTCHED LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL OUT OF THE SPINDLE, AND POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE CAUSED FAILURE OF THE BREAKS OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OR THE BEARINGS BEING PUT IN, AND IT WAS JUST COINCIDENCE THAT I HAD TO BRING IT IN 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH 3 IDENTICAL BEARINGS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE 2000 RECALL, BUT HAVE GOTTEN AROUND IT WITH 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIODS, FORCING CUSTOMERS TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS SPENDING OVER $650 A POP EVERY YEAR OR SO.*AK

CAR IS A LEMON. RADIO HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. DOOR LOCKS AND IGNITION LOCK HAVE FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. CURRENT PROBLEM IS CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. EMISSION LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. DEAL CAN NOT FIX.*JB I CONSIDER THE STALLING AT INTERSECTIONS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. IF SOMEONE IS MOVING FORWARD ASSUMING THE CAR WILL MOVE, AND IT DOES NOT BECAUSE OF THE STALL, A CRASH MAY RESULT.

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH IS STUCK. CANNOT START CAR. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS: SEE(HTTP://WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM/MESSAGEBOARDS/MESSAGE.PHP?ID=1784&PAGE=12), DUE IN MY OPINION TO POOR MANUFACTURING. IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY FORD DENIES THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON BULLETIN BOARDS TO DOCUMENT THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP US FIX THIS SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD/COULD COME UNDER A RECALL NOTICE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU, BOB LAMBERT *JB

(1) I PARKED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ON A HILL WITH THE WHEELS TURNED (2) THE KEY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN EVEN AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH IT FOR 4 HOURS! I HAD TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE BEHIND. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE SIGNS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. WHILE THIS IS NOT A MOVING SAFETY ISSUE, THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT CAN STRAND YOU WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN AN UNSAFE AREA. (I CARRY SPARE GAS, JUMPER CABLES, CAR JACKS, ANTIFREEZE, EXTRA OIL ETC.. I EVEN HAD ENOUGH TOOLS TO TAKE APART THE STEERING COLUMN AND TRY HOT WIRING THE CAR, BUT TO NO AVAIL.) THIS IS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT. (3) I LATER BOUGHT AN OWNERS MANUAL TO TRY FIXING THE PROBLEM MYSELF. BUT THE FIRST STEP TO REMOVING THE BROKEN IGNITION CYLINDER IS TO TURN THE KEY!! A CATCH 22. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN SUDDENLY THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED ON THE CONSUMER 2000 FORD FOCUS. *NM THE DOOR WOULD NOT CATCH WITHOUT HAVING TO LOCK AND SLAM THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES. *SC *JB

'RECALL CAMPAIGN; ISSUED FOR POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING IN FORD FOCUS. *BF *SC THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. RECALL #03V482000. *SC