2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

VEHICLE STALLED AT 20 MPH, ALL GAUGES WENT HAYWIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

MY FATHER CHECKED THE BATTERY AREA, AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IGNITION LOCKED UP KEY WOULD NOT TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED, CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED. RECEIVED RECENT RECALL 01 I 01 7000 ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FRONT BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND DURING RAINY WEATHER WATER LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

BOTH BACK DOOR MECHANISMS FAILED DUE TO WHAT LOOKED TO BE CORROSION ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE DOOR TO FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING - MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FELL OUT OF THE CAR, LUCKILY SUSTAINING NO INJURY, ASIDE FROM SHEER TERROR. I ATTEMPTED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM FORD, BOTH DEALERSHIP AND FORD CREDIT, HOWEVER, I WAS GIVEN THE EXCUSE THAT BECAUSE I MISSED A SERVICE CHECK ON MY VEHICLE, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, IN PART OR IN WHOLE. I FAXED, EMAILED AND SNAIL MAILED LETTERS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE "MISSED CHECK UP", WHICH WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE LAST ONE, I AM NOW STUCK WITH HAVING TO REPAIR THE DOORS...OVER FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS IN PARTS FOR THE LATCH/MECHANISM INSIDE THE BOTH DOORS...AND LORD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THE EXPENSE IS FOR LABOUR.

MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL ONE MORNING (FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE, NO LESS!) THE KEY WOULD NOT INSERT INTO THE IGNITION. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO INSERT IT--JIGGLING, CLEANING THE KEY, BLOWING OUT THE CYLINDER--WITH NO LUCK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE IGNITION BARREL HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS JUST A HAIR OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE EXPENSE CAME OUT OF MY POCKET. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FOCUS'. WHAT A PAIN!*JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO WOBBLE. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BEARINGS, HUB, BRAKE SHOES AND WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERMOSTAT WENT FROM REGULAR TEMPERATURE TO HOT. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF BY ITSELF A FEW TIMES IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK *YH

ENGINE REVVED AND VEHICLE JERKED 4 TIMES, VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

PASSENGER REAR TIRE MAKING NOISE AND WOBBLING. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. PROBLEM WITH WHEEL BEARING. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *MR

AFTER NEGOTIATING A CLOVELEAF ONRAMP, THE ENGINE RUNS OUT OF FUEL AND STALLS. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS DANGEROUS AS WE HAVE MANY 18-WHEELERS IN OUR AREA BARRELING DOWN ON YOUR VEHICLE AS IT LOSES POWER.*AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN MINOR IMPACT OF FRONT WHICH DIDN'T CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. BOTH DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, SHATTERING WINDSHIELD AND SPEWING GLASS OVER ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

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.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY SON HAD A WHEEL STUCK ON THE CURB OF OUR DRIVEWAY. HE OPENED THE DOOR AND, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, LOOKED OUT TO SEE THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY HILL, HOPPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE STREET, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND LANDED WITH THE REAR END OF THE CAR AGAINST A TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKES ON THE FOCUS. OUR MECHANIC SPOKE TO AN ASSOCIATE WITH FORD WHO WILL DENY SPEAKING TO HIM. THE FORD ASSOCIATE SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES FAILING, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT SO THEY CAN'T ISSUE A RECALL. IT SEEMS THIS BALL BELONGS IN YOUR COURT! OUR CAR WAS TOTALED, OUR SON SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES; THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. MR

WHILE DRIVING IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND LIQUID THAT CAME OUT BURNED DRIVER.*AK

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING A LOUD CLUNCKING NOISE WHEN I PUT THE VEHICAL IN REVERSE/DRIVE. I'M CONCERN AFTER READING THAT THIS VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION CAN COLLAPSE.INVESTIGATION: PE02-044. *AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

UNABLE TO START VEHICLE,COULDN'T TURN KEY IN IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALER. IGNITION SWITCH WAS BROKEN.*AK

PE 02 040/ENGINE STALLING: VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VEHICLE AT DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THEY CLEANED THE WHEEL SENOR TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURS. CONSUMER AFRAID THAT ABS WILL NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED. MR

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

IGNITION LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

THIS FUEL PUMP HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED ON 10/18/2001 AND 21127 MILES DUE TO COMPONENT FAILURE. THE PRESENT FAILURE (APPARETNLY THE PUMP BROKE AT THE CONNECTION POINT FOR THE FILTER/LINE) RESULTING IN A LARGE QUANTITY OF FUEL BEING PUMPED OUT ONTO A SHEET METAL SHIELD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL AS ONTO THE PAVEMENT AROUND THE VEHICLE. EVERYTHING WAS PRESENT NEEDED FOR A TRAGEDY; FUEL AND IGNITION. THE CAR WAS PARKED ADJACENT TO A RESTAURANT AND SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AND PRESENTED, IN MY ESTIMATION, A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THE DEALER TOOK A CAVALIER ATTITUDE TO THE FAILURE AND MERELY ATTEMPTED TO GET FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THE GAS TANK, PUMP AND FILTER SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZED ON THIS MODEL OF CAR. IF A REPLACEMENT PUMP FAILED ON MY CAR, IT CERTAINLY COULD FAIL ON OTHERS.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WITH LESS THAN 3/8 TANK OF GAS CAR WILL NOT START IF PARKED ON A GRADE. ALSO CAR HESITATED AT FULL THROTTLE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT WAS OK AT PARTIAL THROTTLE, BUT SPEED COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. DEALER DIAGNOSED BOTH PROBLEMS AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DEALER VOLUNTEERED THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS FUEL PUMP. OTHER COMPLAINTS ALSO MENTION SLAG OR CONTAMINATION FROM THE FUEL TANK, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUMP FAILURE.*JB

THE CONSUMER INSERTED THE KEY AND COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN OR COME OUT. THE REASON WAS DUE TO THE TUMBLERS IN THE LOCK HAD DROPPED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE TRANSMISSION START SLIPPING AND DOWNSHIFTING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *MR

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT BRAKES. CONSUMER DID ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AT 30000 MILES.*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLEOVERNIGHT NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE STARTED CONSUMERTOOK IT TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT WIRING HAD MELTED, CAUSING BATTERY NOT TO CHARGE. CONSUMER HEARD SOMETHING ON TV THAT NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING SUCH PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE PADS ON 2000 FORD FOCUS. *PH (NAR) THE CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR $446.44 IN ORIGINAL REPAIR, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF HOW THE PROBLEM COULD BE REMEDIED TO AVOID EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE COST. *CB

WHILE PARKED PUT KEY IN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. TRIED ANOTHER KEY, AND WOULD IT NOT TURN. DEALER NOTIFIED, REPAIRED.*AK

ENGINE STALLS. *AK

WHEEL BEARING ON LEFT WHEEL WERE MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES AT SPEED TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. LAST TIME IT STALLED MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR 2 DAYS AND IT ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ON I5 WITH A FULL TANK, GAS PIPE LINE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BROKE AND I WAS SPILLING GAS ON ALL VEHICLES BEHIND ME. ANOTHER MOTORIST SIGNALED TO ME AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT GAS TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TEMPERATURE ON THAT DAY WAS 115F. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SMELL THE GASOLINE. I AM A SMOKER BUT WAS NOT SMOKING AT THE TIME AND WAS ABOUT TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE WITH MY FLAME LIGHTER. THE PATROL OFFICER MADE ME OPEN THE TRUNK AND THE SMELL TOOK US ABACK. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN OFF FLASHING LIGHTS AND ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHICH I COULDN'T DO AS I DID NOT WANT TO TURN ON THE MOTOR AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO ATHENS AUTO REPAIR IN REDDING. THE GAS PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY BECAUSE THE NEEDLE TO REGISTER IF PUMP WAS FULL OR EMPTY HAD ALREADY FAILED AT 70.000 MILES. I DRIVE 1,000 MILES A WEEK SINCE I WORK EVERY DAY IN OROVILLE (200 MILES ROUND TRIP).*AK

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH TURNING KEY IN THE IGNITION. KEY WILL SOMETIMES GET STUCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A BAD FUEL PUMP. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY FOR NO REASON, IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AS NEW TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS, THE CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTH OLD. I WAS LUCKY THAT ALL THOSE THREE TIMES WHEN IT STALLED I DIDN'T GET INTO ANY ACCIDENT BUT IT'S SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I KNOW SOME OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS HAPPENED TO THEM TOO. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.*AK

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR UNLOCK MANUALLY OR REMOTE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CAMPBELL FORD STATED THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHARACTERS OF THE LOCK AND REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER TOOK TO OTHER DEALER AND FOUND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *YH

FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN BECAUSE LOCKS ARE INOPERABLE. ALSO, DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THE ENGINE HESITATES, IDLES AND FLUCTUATES FROM 4000 TO 5000 RPM, THEN DROPS TO 0. EVERYTHING ON THE CONTROL PANEL STARTS SIGNALING, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HEAD LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. IN GENERAL, THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR GOES OFF AND ON; IT FLASHES..

ON SUNDAY, 21 JULY 2002, THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FOCUS WENT OUT. AT FIRST, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE LOCK, THEN IT WOULD NOT TURN. THIS RAISED THREE MAJOR CONCERNS: ONE IN THE MID 90'S, FORD US RECALLED OVER 8 MILLION CARS AND TRUCKS THAT HAD FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. SOME OF THOSE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRES. TWO ALTHOUGH I WASN'T MOVING WHEN THE DEFECT HAPPENED, WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAD LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL OR LEFT ME STRANDED SOMEPLACE LESS SAFE THAN MY OWN DRIVEWAY? THREE MY FOCUS HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 27 MONTHS I'VE OWNED IT, AND THIS INCIDENT ADDS TO MY CONCERNS OVER THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY/RELIABILITY. DT

FUMES IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHENEVER HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING ON. DEALER CLAIMS SMELLS NOTHING AND ALSO ROTORS ON BRAKE DRUMS ARE MINIMUM REQUIRED BY LAW WITHOUT HAVING TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN MACHINED OR SCARRED. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT AND ROTORS AREN'T UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DEFECTIVE

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH CONSUMER HIT A CURVE, AND BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR