2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

WHILE TRYING TO PARK IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND PREVENTED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

DESPITE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RECALLS, OUR LEFT REAR TIRES WARPED SO BADLY DUE TO THE BEARING DEFECT THAT WE WERE FORCED TO REPLACE THEM. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGED TIRES AND FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS THE VEHICLE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE DAMAGE. WE REPLACED BOTH REAR TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHICH MADE STEERING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. DESPITE THE NEW TIRES, THERE IS STILL FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE WE ARE NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT THE BEARING RECALL HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH NEW TIRES FOR SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCINGS AND YET WE STILL GET STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WHOLE SITUATION IS CAUSING FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE OUR DEALER TELLS US THAT THE ONLY RECOURSE WE HAVE IS TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR CONSTANT ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCING TO AVOID THE VIBRATION AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL FOR SIMILAR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS THE HONDAS AND NISSANS.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IDLING AT A STOPLIGHT, FORD CONSUMER AFFAIRS STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS THAT TOUCHED THE ENGINE, MELTED THE INSULATION, CAUSING CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE, AND AN IMBALANCE SHORTED THE BATTERY CABLE. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE DIED, CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM BATTERY, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT WIRE GROUNDED WITH THE BATTERY STARTED THE FIRE. *TT

FUEL TANK MEASURING FLOAT IS WRONG . I HAD A LITTLE MORE THAN A1/4 TANK OF FUEL AND IT WOULD NOT START THETOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT THE FOCUS MODEL IS KNOWN FOR THAT PROBLEM. WE THEN PUT 3GALS OF GAS IN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.ALSO WHEEL BEARING IN REAR WENT CAN'T GET INSPECTED TILL FIXED. DEALER SAYS COULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO FIX. I NEED A RENTAL CAR I MUST BE ABLE TO GET AROUNDTILL IT IS FIXED.PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS PROBLEM.*AK

MOLDING ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR COMING OFF; DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE B/C OF ALL THE RECALLS AND CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK FOR ALL OF THESE RECALLS; THUMPING COMING FROM UNDER STEERING COLUMN, TOLD THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR, BUT SOUNDS LIKE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED IN REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; OVERDRIVE OFF BUTTON DOESN'T WORK; BRAKES SQUEAK AND WEAR DOWN TOO EASILY AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET THEM REPLACED;THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR B/C I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET MY OLD CAR FIXED ALL OF THE TIME. I THOUGHT BUYING A NEW CAR WOULD ELIMINATE THIS, BUT I TAKE THIS TO THE SHOP ALL THE TIME FOR RECALLS AND PROBLEMS. THIS IS INSANE! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!

BRAKES SQUEAKING. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE FRONT PADS. TOLD IT WAS B/C OF MY DRIVING HABITS, BUT READ OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME THING.*AK

I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT TO FIX THE BRAKES AND HEMBORG FORD TOLD ME, "THAT'S JUST THE WAY FORD BRAKES ARE, METAL ON METAL".. I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.. AS IT HAS LOCKED ME IN MANY TIMES..THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN HALF THE TIME.. THE GAS GAUGE ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME.. I WISH I HAD NEVER PURCHASED THIS HORRIBLE PRODUCT.. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN AND I ENCOURAGE FRIENDS AND FAMILY NOT TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT EITHER! *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY LEAKED, AND BURNED THE WIRING FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.*JB

AFTER RECAL O1I700000 CONCERNING REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS DONE, THEY STARTED HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 7000 MILES. AT 25000 MILES THE CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS- HESITATION, WHINING NOISES, AND HARD SHIFTING. THE TRUNK DOOR MUST BE SLAMMED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT CLOSES. ALSO A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WATER LEAK HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT WAS FIXED.*AK

CONSMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES ROTOR WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY . NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS: WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, OR DRIVING AROUND EXTENDED RIGHT HAND CURVES (LIKE FREEWAY ON- AND OFF-RAMPS [AKA CLOVERLEAFS]), THE CAR NEARLY STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE TURN. WHEN CONSUMER STEPS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STOP RUNNING. WHEN CONSUMER LETS OFF THE PEDAL, THE ENGINE RUNS AGAIN AND ONCE THE CAR HAS ROLLED IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, (50-100 FT.), CONSUMER IS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM BEGINS TO SHOW UP WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN FULL. AT THAT POINT, THE STALLING PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AFTER MAKING A HARD TURN. THE STALLING PROBLEM IS EASIER TO REPLICATE AS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL INDICATED BY THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS BELOW 3/8 OF A TANK. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED WHEN MAKING ANY LEFT HAND TURNS. REAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS UP UNTIL ABOUT 38,000 MILES, THESE PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT, AND WERENOT EVIDENT MOST OF THE TIME. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT A DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE (OR EVEN REPRODUCE) THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO REOCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY, UNTIL NOW, THEY ARE PRESENT VIRTUALLY ALL THE TIME. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR TOGETHER. IF ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE OTHER PARTS ARE FUNCTIONING AS WELL. THE PROBLEMS ARE, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FLASH QUICKLY. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IF THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON WITHOUT THE BRAKES (AS IN APPROACHING A TURN OR SIGNALING A LANE CHANGE), THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHES NORMALLY. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS NEVER AFFECTED. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. THE LIGHT ON THE SWITCH ILLUMINATES WHEN PRESSED ON BUT THE WINDOW DOES NOT CLEAR SO THERE SEEMS TO BE NO POWER GOING TO THE WIRES OF THE DEFROSTER. TAILLIGHTS AND BACK-UP LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE SWITCH OF THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ON (AND THE DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING) THE TAILLIGHTS AND BACK-UP LIGHTS ILLUMINATE.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HESITATES. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE DRIVING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES, AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORE OUT AT 19,094. HAD JUST TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR 15,000 MILE CHECK UP. DEALER S*AK

WHILE BEING HIT FROM BACK AT 5-10MPH AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS CAUSED BRAKES TO GRIND. HAD BRAKES/CALIPER, AND ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER AND FORD MANUFACTURER CONTACTED.*AK

THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS IT MAKES ME SICK. A QUICK LIST: AIR CONDITIONING LEAKED ALL OVER MY INTERIOR, ONE TIRE REPLACED, ONE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, NOW NEED NEW BRAKES, HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON FRIDAY, IS ALWAYS HAVING STRANGE LITTLE PROBLEMS, CD PLAYER SKIPS AFTER 45 MINUTES OF USE, BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SQUEAKED UNBELIEVABLY LOUD. I WANT TO GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT I CAN'T AFFORD IT BECAUSE I OWE MORE THAN IT IS WORTH. (TIRESIZE: 15)

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP HAD 4 OTHER FOCUS' WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, MY NORMAL MECHANIC HAD ALSO SEEN 4 OTHER FOCUS' WITH THIS PROBLEM, I REPORTED IT TO FORD COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER BUT THEY JUST SAID THEY'D LOOK INTO IT. ALSO, MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, NOR DO THE ELECTRICAL LOCKS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE IGNITION CYLINDER COULD HAVE WENT OUT DURING OPERATION, LUCKILY IT DIDN'T FOR ME. MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND TOOK IT IN FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE. ADMISSION LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK. VEHICLE PULLS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN RAINING BACK OF VEHICLE SLIDES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES SUDDENLY, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE CAR DUE TO THE AXLE BREAKING. DRIVER HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. NLM

FRONT PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 29000 MILES. *AK

AT ONCE SPEEDOMETER/ A/C MOTORS BOGGLES DOWN, AND HEADLIGHT FLICKER DIM AND BRIGHT.*AK

REASON UNKNOWN AS TO WHY AT ONCE SPEEDOMETER, A/C MOTOR BOGGLES DOWN, HEADLIGHTS FLICKER DIM AND BRIGHT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 6MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL.*AK

WHILE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON AND VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. *AK

FAULTY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS CAUSED PADS TO WEAR. *YH

VEHICLE WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 10MPH, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN APPLIED. AFTER 4TH TRIP INTO DEALERSHIP, SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS BUT THAT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ENGINE HAS FAILED ON ME 4 TIMES IN THE 18MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD IT. THE DEALERSHIP JUST REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND SAID THAT IT "SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM." I DOUBT IT! IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL BE CHECKING WITH CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW. THIS WAS MY FIRST FORD AND DEFINITELY MY LAST!

WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATING PEDAL. ALSO, VEHICLE CONSTANTLY STALLS. MECHANIC HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND FOUND NO MALFUNCTION. *AK

THIS CAR IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS BECOMES IN SOME CASES NEARLY UNCONTROLABLE. IT CONSTANTLY SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE BACK END TRIES TO COME AROUND. I LOVE THIS CAR ON THE DRY BUT IN THE SLICK CONDITIONS IS BECOMES THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH IT. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NEW. I'VE HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED ON IT, INSTALLED NEW TIRES ETC. AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A LOW COST CAR FOR THE 1ST TIME CAR BYER BUT I'D NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE MUCH LESS AN ENEXPERENCED DRIVER. I WILL NOT LET MY 16 YEAR OLD DRIVE IT IF THE CONDITIONS ARE EVEN A LITTLE SLICK. IT CAN BE A TERRIFYING CAR TO DRIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES COMPLETEY FAILED AT 12000 MILES. ALSO, ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT, THERE ARE NO HEADRESTS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE FORD FOCUS, HE IS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, BACK SEAT PASSENGERS OVER 5 FEET TALL ARE AT RISK OF SPINAL NECK INJURY. *YD

WHILE DRIVING THE CV JOINT BOOT BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO FOLD UNDER VEHICLE/ VEHICLE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I'VE HAD MY FOCUS FOR 1 1/2 YR. ALL I'VE HAD IS PROBLEMS WITH THE SQUEAKING BRAKES I'VE HAD TO GET MY ROTORS & BRAKES REPLACED @ 15000 MILES. IN THE PAST SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE I'VE TAKEN IT TO GET CK & SERVICES TO MY FORD DEALER NEAR BY I HAVE REQUESTED EACH TIME TO PLEASE CK THE BRAKES, THEY MAKES A NOISE AND EVERYTIME THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS OK WTHE VEHICLE. AT ONE POINT I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS JUST MADE THAT WAY. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPT I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES & ROTORS WERE OUT & I NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS THAT COST ME OVER $900.00. AT THIS POINT I DID CONTACT FORD I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPING TO ME, THEY DIDN'T CARE AT ALL. NOW AGAIN IN NOV/01I HAD THE ROTORS & BRAKES REPLACED AND NOW IT'S JAN/02, I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN MY CAR IS SHAKING WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES, YOU CAN HEAR SQUEAKING NOISE AGAIN,I'M NOT HAPPY, IT'S VERY UNSAFE WHEN I'M DRIVING. I HAVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN IN THE FORD SERVICE CENTER. I HAVE TO PAY & MISS WORK FOR THIS & I CAN'T GET ANYONE ATTENTION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO . I FEEL I'M DRIVING A LEMON. PLEASE HELP, IS THERE A LAW AGAINT WHO MAKES DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO TAKE RESPONSABITLY?*AK

THIS CAR STOPS RUNNING AND CAUSES SEVERE THREAT OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE LOSES POWER/ SHUTSDOWN AND RESTARTS. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME. ALSO, THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES RUNAWAY ACCELERATION, THIS SOMETIMES WILL OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET VEHICLE BACK TO NORMAL IS BY PULLING OVER, PUTTING HER LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THEN PUNCHING THE GAS WITH HER RIGHT FOOT. *SLC

BRAKE SHOE WAS FOUND CRACKED AND ERODED IN MIDDLE. DEALER (LAWRENCE MARSHALL, HEMPSTEAD TX) INDICATES THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM, NO RECOURSE FOR REPAIRS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND TRYING TO GO AGAIN VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WHILE, REPAIR/REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH THREE TIMES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK POSITION, TRUNK WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, FRONT BRAKE DISK PADS HAD TO BE REPLACE, BECAUSE THE PADS SEPARATED FROM THE BACKING PLATE.

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE ROAD ALSO, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS BADLY WORN OUT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WORE OUT DUE TO A DEFAULT IN THE VEHICLE WHICH ALSO MEANT THAT BRAKES WERE NEEDED TO THIS DEFAULT.*YH

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDALWENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK