2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

ENGINE STALLS UNDER VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE CYLINDER HEAD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICAL WAS THREE YEARS OLD AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,2002. STALLING STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 2002. REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRENTEE, EXTENDED WARRENTEE DISALOWED BY THIRD PARTY INSURER WHO CLAIMED IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIR TO FIX THE PROBLEM +$2,000. ALTERNATE PROCEDURE INVOLVES CHEMICAL CLEANING, RECOMMENDED BY DEALER WITHOUT GUARENTEE OR WARRENTEE.

WHILE TRAVELING ON A SIDE STREET WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPED AND THE RIGHT WHEEL BROKE . THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP THREE TIMES, EACH TIME VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, BECAUSE IGNITION DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KEY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SOME WIRES MELTED ON THE BATTERY CAUSING THE CAR TO START. MR

AFTER READING IN MY 10/13/02 DETROIT NEWS/FREE PRESS ABOUT PROBLEMS REGUARDING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS , I DECIDED TO LODGE THIS COMPLAINT. THE ARTICLE LISTED ONE PROBLEM BEING A SUDDEN STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH MY CAR JUST STALLED OUT. I COULD NOT RESTART IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION ABOUT 1 BLOCK FROM WHERE IT STALLED. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. I PAID $625 FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER READING THE ARTICLE I AM NOW WONDERING IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY FAULTY FORD PARTS. MR

THE ENGINE ON MY FORD FOCUS HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING 4 SEPERATE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING IT 2 YEARS AGO, IT HAPPENS WHEN I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND PUSH IN THE CLUTCH WHILE TURNING. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET ONLY BY PURE LUCK ON MY PART. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS MY IGNITION WENT BAD WHEN THE KEYING MECHANISM IN THE IGNITION LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING MY KEY TO ENTER, AFTER TALKING TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HE SAID THAT HE GETS CALL ALL THE TIME ABOUT FOCUS IGNITIONS GOING BAD. IT COST ME ALMOST $500 FOR THE TOW AND REPAIR WORK. DT

ENTIRE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD PART XS4Z*11582*AA CYL ASSY STRG COL IGN LOCK. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES - CAR IS ONLY 26 MONTHS OLD! MR

FUEL PUMP IN 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL ON SHARP RIGHT HAND CORNERS. IT STUMBLES GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS UNLESS THE FUEL TANK IS OVER HALF FULL.*AK

CONSUMER STATES ABS LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE SHIMMY'S, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS WOBBLING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL BEARING GOT SO HOT IT MELTING THE HUB CAP OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

UPON GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WAS SO SHARP THAT IT CUT THE CONSUMER'S LEG. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT EMISSION CONTROL LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER ALSO ADVISED THAT IF PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR, VEHICLE WILL STALL OR SURGE FORWARD. MR

THE VEHICLE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. THE KEY WAS NOT COMING OUT WHEN IN PARK. THE DEALER SAID BECAUSE OF A SPILL ON THE SHIFTER IT CAUSE IT TO FAIL. WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALER ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IF APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR OVER. VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNLESS BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE PADS EVERY 3 MONTHS. MR

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. DT

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. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED BLACK BUILD UP IN THE TANK. *MR *NLM

UNABLE TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION. 2 DEALERS SAID ITS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. TOWED TO DEALER AND IT HAS TEAKEN 2.5 DAYS TO GET DONE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS. NLM

CAR CAME TO A FULL STOP

CONSUMER HAS HARD TIME STARTING UP VEHICLE. *MR

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE LOCKED UP CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO BREAK LOOSE. INSPECTION REVEALED ~1/8" OF LATERAL MOVEMENT IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL/HUB ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED DESTRUCTIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH REAR TIRES, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAS A SIGNIFICAN FLAT SPOT WILE THE RIGHT REAR HAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE WARRANTY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRES WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND NOT IN ANY TIRE FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER. NLM FORD CHECKED AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FROM AN ACCIDENT ON 3-9-2002. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT DURING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLES WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

DT: THE BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT IS A DUMP TRUCK STOPPING. WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. HE CHANGED THE BRAKE SHOES TWICE AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY TO REPLACE THE LINING AND MAGNETS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED, BUT IT IS NOT EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT COVERED. CONSUMER HAS CALLED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND HAS A REFERENCE NUMBER, 6397393. *NM

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. DT

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF IGNITION WILL LOCK ITSELF, PREVENTING KEY FROM BEING TURNED TO RESTART. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED TWICE, THEN ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE IN BATTERY AREA. PLEASE NOTE THAT I LIVE IN CANADA, AND SITE DOES NOT PERMIT CANADIAN ADDRESS. ACTUAL ZIP IS M4K 1M6 IN TORONTO ONTARIO, CANADA. VEHICLE IS TOTAL WRITEOFF. FORD DEALERSHIP DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF FIRE OR STALLING PROBLEMS WITH FOCUS.*AK

THE BEARINGS IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. THE WHEEL IS NOW LOOSE AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AND A NOTICEABLE WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR HUB ALSO WAS REPLACED LAST WINTER FOR THE SAME ISSUE AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES. THIS SITUATION CONCERNS ME BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NEVER RECALLED FOR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE(??), YET BOTH REAR WHEELS HAVE NOW FAILED. THIS STRIKES ME AS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NLM

BRAKES SQUEAKED BADLY SINCE THE DAY PURCHASED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WERE NEW AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE BRAKES. THEY TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, BUT WERE ANTICIPATING A RECALL. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY FRONT PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE TOO WAS AWARE OF A NUMBER OF VEHICLES LIKE MINE THAT WERE BEING SERVICED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CNATCTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AT FORD AND TOLD ME UNTIL AN OFFICIAL RECALL WAS IMPLEMETED THEY COULD DO NOTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 45MPH HAD EXTENDED STOPPING AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. NLM

WHEN PUTTING KEY INTO THE IGNTION KEY WILL NOT TURN, IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF LOCKED POSITION. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON FAILS TO WORK, NOW THE LOCK IS MALFUNCTIONING ALSO.*AK

WHEN ENTERING A DRIVEWAY OWNER PROCEEDED FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, STRIKING A WALL. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM EXTENT OF IMPACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IN FRONTAL COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY ON IMPACT, BUT LIQUID FROM AIR BAGS BURNED DRIVER SO BADLY THAT DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK *JG

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2002, AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING WORK, HE SMELLED GASOLINE AND THE CAR HESITATED WHEN HE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO GET GAS SINCE THE GAS GAUGE READING WAS BETWEEN 3/8 AND 1/4 FULL. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW SOME GAS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. CONSUMER THOUGHT MAYBE THE GAS AND THE SMELL WAS THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF PRESSURE BUILDUP CAUSING AN OVERFLOW.) HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THE CAR FILLED UP, HE THEN STARTED THE CAR AND WENT TO PULL AWAY. CONSUMER COULDNOT EVEN PULL AWAY FROM THE PUMP, WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, GASOLINE WOULD POUR OUT UNDER THE CAR FROM THE GAS TANK. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PACIFICO MARPLE FORD (BROOMALL, PA). THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK PROBABLY WAS DUE TO THE TUBE ASSEMBLY BECOMING DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL PUMP. (THAT DIAGNONSIS WAS LATER CONFIRMED.) A NEW TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING JUST FINE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

WHEN REMOVING KEY FORM IGNITION, IT STUCK. EVEN A LOCKSMITH COULD NOT REMOVE KEY.CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

3 RECALL NOTICES HAD BEEN RECEIVED REGARDING DEFECTS ON DIFFERENT PARTS. CONSUMER WILL FURTHER DETAIL NOTICES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS LE WITH LESS THAN 23,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE, ONCE IN 2002 AND ONCE IN 2005. THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY, BUT WITH THE CYLINDER ITSELF. BOTH TIMES, THE CYLINDER LOCKED UP AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. *NM

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES' THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINGING NOISE AND A SQUEAKING NOISE, LIKE THE BRAKE PADS ARE RUBBING ON WHEELS. THE VEHICLES BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED THREE TIMES AND THE NOISE KEEP RETURNING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR CAN NOT BE DISENGAGED. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE REAR SEATED PASSENGER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT FROM VEHICLE. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT JACK EQUIPMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PROPER SIZE LUG NUT WRENCH. INCLUDED WRENCH IS TOO SMALL AND CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND PROPER SIZE ANYWHERE. MFR ADVISED CONSUMER THAT IT'S THE DLR'S RESPONSIBILITY. DLR ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE PROPER SIZE WRENCH. VEHICLE'S TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL/16 INCH.

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. DT

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED FUSE, AND WHILE DRIVING STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, CONSUMER TURNED KEY TO OFF POSITION AND ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. CONSUMER THEN REMOVED "REPLACED" BRAKE FUSE, AND ENGINE STOPPED. WITH FUSE REMOVED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED. BUT, CONSUMER WILL OCCASIONALLY SMELL SMOKE FROM FUSE BOX.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER 30000 MILES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF WEAR UNTIL GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. BY THAT TIME ROTORS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY MULTIPLE SPEEDS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL BROKE AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, BOLTS SHEARED OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK

ALL FOUR DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICLY AFTER GETTING INTO VEHICLE. WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE THE DOOR BECOMES STUCK, UNABLE TO OPEN WITH KEY ON THE OUTSIDE OF DOOR. PULLED WINDOWS, STILL COULD NOT OPEN DOORS.*AK *JB

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION FOLLOWED BY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. IF THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED, AND THE KEY BROKE IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK *NM

I SENT A FORM IN YESTERDAY BUT DID NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. MR

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.*AK