2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BATTERIES WILL DIE, THEN ENGINE WILL START AGAIN WITHOUT TURNING IGNITION.*AK

C V JOINT AND SHAFT FELL APART WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. PIECES THROW EVERYWHERE.WHEEL BEARINGS MELTING TO REAR DRUMS . BACK DRUMS REPLACED AND ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS. DOOR LOCK SYSTEM REPLCED AFTER STOP WORKING. *AK

BRAKES WERE CHECKED AT 13,OOO MILES. MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE OK. ALWAYS BLACK GRIT ON RIMS ON FRONT TIRES. HAVE GONE INTO MANY LEMON SITES AND NEUMEROUS OWNERS SAY THEY HAVE HAD PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT VARIOUS LOW MILEAGE'S. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER TELLS ME THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS. BULL. FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, FORD MUST OWN UP TO. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU BRAKES CONSTANTLY SCREECH WHEN BRAKING, OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL!*AK

CONSUMER HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE AS LISTED IN RECALL 00 F 001 000. *AK

WHILE PRESSING ON BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT IS HARD FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

AT 65MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO COME OFF OF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND WILL NOT GET ENOUGH POWER WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

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. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING UP HILL WITH LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS THE ENGINE LOST. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE VEHICLE REACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS. *NLM

ACCELERATER PEDAL GOT JAMMED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN.*AK

THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING MANY TIMES WITH THE FOCUS. I CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY - "NO, AND YES IT IS THE FUEL PUMP, WE HAVE DONE 4 IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS."*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE . SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED ON VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS DURING THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF FOUR 2000 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACKS THAT OUR COMPANY OWNS. THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WASN'T UNDER 36,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. AFTER POINTING THIS OUT TO FORD THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY ARE NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE NHTSA SITE FOR COMPLAINTS ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING .*AK

THE MAIN CONCERN IS THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR DOES NOT SHOW WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATS. CURRENTLY WE ARE TAKING IT BACK INTO THE SHOP BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE THAT COME THROUGH THE HOOD. WE FEEL THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY MOMENT AND THAT IS IS UNDEPENDABLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE. WE DO NOT FEEL WE CAN SELL IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE ON GOING DEFECTS AND YET WE STILL OWE $9,000 PLUS TO THE BANK ON IT. WE FEEL TRAPPED IN AN UNSAFE, UNDEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. DT

SUB FRAME BOLTS LOOSE FROM FACTORY, TRANSMISION SLIPS, BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES, DLR ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THIS VEH IS BUILT IN GERMANY ITS A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEH AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT LAST MORE THAN 12,000 MILES WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB, FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS AND HAVE REPEATDLY DENIED THAT THEY HAVE ANY BRAKE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

LAST MONTH, I REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ON MY FORD FOCUS WHEN IT FAILED. I HAVE HEARD REPORTS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FLAW IN DESIGN. MORE DANGEROUS THAN THAT, THOUGH, IS THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAR LOST POWER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER RIGHT-HAND TURNS OR GOING UPHILL. IT DID NOT STALL, SIMPLY SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER FOR BETWEEN 2-5 SECONDS. ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MERGING ONTO THE CAPITAL BELTWAY ON OUR WAY TO VISIT FRIENDS, AND THE CAR LOST POWER, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM, AS FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. THE REPAIRS COST OVER $425, AND INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP AND COMPLETE FLUSH OF THE FUEL TANK. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS CREATED BY CONTAMINATED GASOLINE, WHICH MEANS THAT AT ANY TIME, THIS PROBLEM COULD RESURFACE. I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE MY CONFIDENCE IN ITS SAFETY HAS BEEN SHATTERED BY THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE FAULTY SYSTEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WILL LOCK UP AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR WHEEL WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARERS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

BEARING FAILURE DAMAGED ABS SYSTEM. ONLY WARNING WAS ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 75 MPH, CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER BEFORE CAR COULD BE CONTROLLED. PREVIOUSLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 22,764 MILES. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT ATTACHED TO THAT FAILURE, AS WE COULD HEAR THE SLIGHT ROUGH OR GRINDING NOISE, AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANT SERVICE. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED, AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK

ENGINE STALLED ON INTERSTATE. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK REAL HARD. CONSUMER IT WAS HARD TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TOWED TO DEALER . LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS DUE TO DEFECTED BEARINGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO THE FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD FACTORY BRAKES ALWAYS SQUEAK AND SO I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL THING FOR THIS MODEL CAR. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE BRAKES STOPPED SQUEAKING AND BEGAN TO SQUEAL AND GRATE THAT I BEGAN TO BE CONCERNED. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I AM CONTACTING YOU. I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT A CAR WITH JUST OVER 31,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! I HAVE BECOME VERY DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF FORD VEHICLES. IN MY RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, I DISCOVERED THAT I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS DIFFICULTY. IN FACT, I CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO FORD FOCUS BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE THIS COMPLAINT VERY SERIOUSLY AND RESEARCH THIS ISSUE YOURSELVES. IT COST ME $248.00 TO DEAL WITH THIS TODAY, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHERS' EXPERIENCES THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE NEW BRAKES WILL DO THE SAME AS THE OLD. I AM FRUSTRATED AND NERVOUS. I HAVE A VERY SMALL CHILD WHOM I TRANSPORT IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF THESE FAULTY BRAKES AND ROTORS CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE.*AK

DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON DRY ROAD SURFACE VEHICLE WHEEELS WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. ON WET ROAD SURFACE WHEELS WOUND LOCK UP CONTINUALLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

PE O2 040 /ENGINE STALLING: ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WHILE COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES SPREAD THROUGH OUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM THE TIRE ROD HAS LOOSENED, THE BATTERY HAD BLOWN, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD STAYED ILLUMINATED. SCC

BRAKE PADS HAVE WARPED AT 14000 MILES. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES TO GET BRAKES FIXED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND NOISE WHEN BRAKING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHEN PLACING KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION SO THAT THE VEHICLE CAN START, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION / SWAY CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED. MR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE HIT HIGHWAY DIVIDER ON LEFT SIDE. THEN SKIDDED TO LEFT SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND HIT A GUARDRAIL AND WENT INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE BEARING HAD FELL OF WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED. THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WOBBLE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE WOBBLE, THE CONSUMER HAD THE BEARING REPLACED ALONG WITH A PURCHASE OF FOUR NEW TIRES. MR SCC *JB

ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR IN EXTENDED TURNS (SUCH AS FREEWAY ON RAMP). PROBLEM FIRST NOTICE WHEN FUEL INDICATION AT JUST UNDER 1/4 TANK. PROBLEM OCCURRING AT OVER 1/4 TANK NOW.*AK

REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL STARTED TO WOBBLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED BEARING AND RETAINING NUT. TWO WEEKS LATER, REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER FEELS WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME LOOSE AND BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL START MAKING A ROARING NOISE. *YH

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL AND I AM TURNING RIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, IF IT DOES NOT STALL, IT WILL JERK INTO DIFFERENT GEARS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. ONE TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS ON A SHARP CURVE AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE AND ALMOST HIT SOMEONE.*AK

GAS GAUAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, VEHICLE DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT GAS LEVEL.*AK

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. TODAY WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME MY KEY WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION. I PLAYED WITH IT AND GOT IT TO GO IN BUT THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS IT IS A COMMON ONE AMONG FOCUS OWNERS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FOR THESE CARS CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THEY HAVE CAUSED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED OTHER DRIVER. BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CHEMICALS THAT CAME OUT OF AIRBAG SENT PASSENGERS TO HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS BURNS TO FACE. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CHEMICAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR SOMETIMES STALLS OR EXPERIENCES HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING...SUCH AS MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND HAVING CARS SWERVE AROUND YOU. ONLY NOTICE THE ACCELERATION AND STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN GAS GOES BELOW HALF A TANK. AFRAID TO MERGE ONTO FREEWAY FOR FEAR OF ACCIDENT AND BEING STRANDED.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED INTO THE IGNITION. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION COLUMN. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND HAS DENIED ANY KNOWEDGE OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. *AK

MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON ADAMS ROAD THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN. SHE THEN PULLED THE CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE NEGINE AND PROCEED. THE FUEL TANK WAS 1/2 FULL. NO WARNING LIGHTS (IE. "CHECK ENGINE") WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE STALLED ENGINE CONDITION. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON APRIL 18, 2002 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION AND THAT WE "SHOULD WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN" BEFORE BRINGING IT IN FOR A CHECK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT REPEATING ITSELF IN A HIGHWAY SITUATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED TWICE AT 65 MPH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK JG *JB

FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEEL. UPON INSPECTION AT BRAKE SHOP IT WAS FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE FRONT PADS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE, BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE FORD DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AGO. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO FORD FOR A RECALL ON THE REAR BEARINGS AT 23,757 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE REAR DRUMS WERE REMOVED BUT APPARENTLY THE DRUMS WERE NOT WARPED OR THE MECHANIC DID NOT INSPECT PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THESE PROBLEMS ARE APPARENTLY COMMON TO THE FOCUS AS DOCUMENTED AT WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM, WHICH INCLUDES REPORTS OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. NLM

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WILL STALL OUT , ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER ATVARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW AND CAUSING THE STALLING. NLM

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

SOMETHING WAS BURNING WHILE DRIVING, AFTER PARKING FOUND BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES LOUD NOISES. *AK THE WHEEL BEARING SPONTANEOUSLY LOOSENED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM PROMPTLY. *JG

VEHICLE HAS BEEN HESITATING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ALMOST STALLING. ON 8 JUNE 2002 VEHICLE STALLED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. DEALER CANNOT FIND A CAUSE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING A COLLISON, IN WHICH THE AIRBAG BURNED CONSUMER'S ARM.*AK *JB

THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PREVELANT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING IGNITION KEY TO GET STUCK AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. *YD

IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN IGNITION. HAD TO CALL IN LOCKSMITH TO REPLACE. FORD DEALERSHIPS NOT HELPFUL. APPARENTLY THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH FOCUS. LOCKSMITH SAID HE HAS WORKED ON 100'S OF FORD FOCUS WITH SAME PROBLEM. CAR RENTAL AGENCY SAID SAME THING ABOUT THEIR FORD FOCUS FLEET. IGNITION KEY EITHER LOCKS UP IN IGNITION OR FAILS TO TURN.*AK