2001 Ford Focus Complaint Log

VEHICLE STALLS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

WHILE I WAS PARKED I WANTED TO SIMULATE HOW IT WOULD FEEL HOLDING ONTO THE ASSIST HANDLE AS I WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN AND AS I DIS THIS, THE HANDLE BROKE AND HALF OF IT DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION.

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, I WAS CROSSING THE TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE WHEN I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO A STOP WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CALLED 911 AND A WASHINGTON STATE PATROL VEHICLE RESPONDED AND PUSHED ME OFF OF THE BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD SNAPPED CLOSE TO THE LINKAGE AT THE ENGINE. THE CABLE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE THE STALLING OF MY VEHICLE CAUSED A LARGE TRAFFIC JAM AND LEFT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.*AK

FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK GTA, P195/60R15, DOT UNKNOWN, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2001, FORD, FOCUS WITH 20000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. AT 30 MPH, LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. NO INJURIES.*AKDOTV6V91RR. NLM

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE WINDSHEILD/ BRUNED DRIVER'S HAND, AND MELTED HIS JACKET.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TODEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

BRAKES SQUEAL AT LEAST 4 TIMES NOW. IT WILL BE GOING BACK FOR A FIFTH TIME NEXT WEEK. THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL. I AM VERY EMBARRASSED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BEING SO NOISY. TS

I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON GA HWY 400 AT 7:30 A.M. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHTER THAN NORMAL, SO I DECIDED TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL. I SET THE CRUISE AT 70 MPH & DROVE IT FOR APPROX 5 MILES. WHEN I APPROACHED MY EXIT, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE. THE CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT THE CRUISE DID NOT DISENGAGE. I FOUGHT IT ALL THE WAY UP THE RAMP. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE LIGHT WAS GREEN & THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME (NORMALLY EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION). I EXITED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AS I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE. I GOT THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & ONCE IT WAS ALMOST STOPPED, PUT IT IN PARK & TURNED IT OFF. EVERY TIME I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ENGINE REVVED BACK UP LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REACH THE 70 MPH SPEED IN PARK. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD SERVO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY FATAL TO ME & OTHERS, HAD THE NORMAL TRAFFIC BACKUP BEEN AT THE OFF RAMP. I COULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO ONE OR MORE OTHER CARS TRYING TO GET MINE STOPPED. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RECALLS ON THE 2000 FOCUS CARS, DUE TO DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROLS, BUT HAVE SEEN NOTHING ON THE 2001 VEHICLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALTHOUGH I PAID EXTRA FOR CRUISE CONTROL, I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TRUST IT ENOUGH TO USE IT AGAIN.*AK

PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS IN THIS AREA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE BALL JOINT BROKE, THE CAR ROLLED ABOUT 3 TIMES.*AK

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN CANADA. I HAVE A CANADIAN ADDRESS. THE PROVINCE IS ONTARIO AND THE POSTAL CODE IS N8T 2J2. THE CAR WAS RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECTLY SET. AMBIENT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 30 CELCIUS. ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF TIRE SEPARATED. PHOTO OF TIRE WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.*AK (TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

I'M FROM CANADA IGNORE THE LAST HALF OF ADDRESS THANKS ENGINE SPUTTERED THEN STALLED WOULD NOT START. NOTICED ROUND SILVER DOME ATTACHED TO GAS LINE NEAR THE FIREWALL UNDER HOOD WAS VERY VERY HOT. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ALSO ON JUST BEFORE IT STALLED. THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN RIGHT UNTIL I COOLED OFF THAT SILVER DOME THING ATTACHED TO THE GAS LINES. IT WAS SO HOT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. WE LEFT THE CAR ALONE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN PUT COLD COMPRESS ON THAT SILVER DOME TO COOL IT OFF. WENT TO DEALER THEY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS. I NEVER USE THE AIR CONDITIONER AGAIN AND IN THE SUMMER I OFTEN STOP TO COOL DOWN THAT SILVER DOME. THIS SOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOME FOCUS BLOWS UP. EVEN NOW THE CAR STILL IDLES RUFF AND STALLS WHEN IT GETS HOT USING THE AIR CONDITIONER GETS THE ENGINE EVEN HOTTER ,THE CAR STALLS EASIER. DT

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPENER WILL NOT OPERATE WHILE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER I STARTED THE CAR I TURNED ON THE AC UNIT. MINUTES LATER AS I TURNED A CORNER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE DEFROSTER AREA. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD GOT OUT AND CALLED THE POLICE. THE SMOKE GOT THICKER AND THEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. I FIRST NOTICED IT AS IT ENTERED THE VEHICLE VIA THE PASSENGER SIDE A/C VENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT SPENT ABOUT 25 MIN TO PUT OUT FIRE. CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS, NOTIFIED INSUR AND DEALER. INSUR TO PAY LEASE BALANCE. LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE FROM FORD. *AK

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND IT IS STALLING AND/OR HESITATING WHEN GOING AROUND RIGHT TURNS WHEN THE TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL. A FEW DAYS AGO IT ACTUALLY DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON THIS SITE AND FEEL A RECALL SHOULD HAPPEN FROM IT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH A FRONTAL COLLISION OCCURRED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS VOILENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES TO DRIVER, THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.*AK VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JG *NLM

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING FIRST TIME AT 35 MPH AND SECOND TIME AT 70 MPH. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG.

CAR WAS PARKED, TRANSMISSION WAS IN "PARK" KEYS OUT OF CAR. A CAR BACKED INTO MY PARKED CAR HITTING THE FRONT BUMPER. MY CAR WAS ONLY 3 FEET FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME AND THE BACKING CAR BACKED UP SLOWLY AND ONLY CAUSING A SMALL SCRACH ON THE BUMPER. AFTER THE 2 CARS BUMPED, MY CAR BEGAN TO ROLL AND CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN A SLOW GRADE AND PICKED UP SPEED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR ATEMPTED TO STOP MY CAR BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IN SENCE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. HE ALSO ATEMPTED TO GET THE FRONT TIRES TO TURN AND COULD NOT. MY CAR THEN STRUCK A STAND OF TREES DISTORYING THE REAR END. MY CAR ROLLED OVER 120 FEET FROM THE SPOT IT WAS PARKED IN. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, I CHECKED THE SHIFTER TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN MOVED OUT OF "PARK" IT WAS STILL IN "PARK" AND I SHOOK IT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS. I THEN STARTED THE CAR WITH OUT ANY PROBLEM AND MOVED IT BACK TO WERE IT WAS PARKED. THE CAR DROVE AND ACTED FINE, I EVEN HAD 2 OTHER PEOPLE ROCK THE CAR TO SEE IF WE COULD GET IT TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT. I THEN CALLED A FORD DEAL WHERE I WAS TOLD "THATS NOT A PROBLEM, IF YOUR CAR GETS HIT IT CAN JUMP OUT OF PARK". BEING A POLICE OFFICER MY SELF FOR OVER 18 YEARS AND IN THAT TIME WITH ALL THE ACCDENTS I HAVE SEE I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE WHERE A CAR WITH A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS HIT AND CAUSE IT TO COME OUT OF "PARK" EVEN WHEN IT WAS HIT AT OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR. MY CAR WAS HIT AT LESS THAN 1 MILE AN HOUR AND IT JUMPS OUT OF GEAR? BUT I REALLY CAN'T SAY IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR SENCE IT WAS STILL IN PARK THE HOLE TIME IT WAS ROLLING DOWN HILL AND WAS FOUND IN "PARK" AFTER IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND I THANK GOD MY CAR WAS NOT PARKED WHERE IT COULD OF ROLLED OUT INTO A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND CAUSE THE DEATH OF ONE OF MINE OR SOMEONE ELSES FAMILY MEMBER. *AK

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE, WHEN SOMEONE BACKED UP INTO MY CAR, THEY ONLY MOVED 3 FEET DIDN'T DO ANY DAMAGE TO TEH BUMPBER, BUT FROM THAT SLIGHT HIT IT SENT MY CAR FREE WHEELING IN PARK 175 FEET, ACROSS A ROAD, AND SLAMMING INTO 3 TREES TOTALLING OUT THE REAR OF THE CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT NOR IN THE CAR AT THE TIME FO THIS ACCIDENT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR I EXPECTED TO SEE THE GEER SHIFTER BROKEN BUT IT WASN'T IT STILL WORKED. MY CAR WAS THE WAY I LEFT IT JUST 175 FEET DOWN TEH ROAD. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! TWO OF TEH MAIN SAFETY FEATURE FAILED ON THIS CAR. FORD SENT OUT AN INVESTIGARTOR WHO LOOKED OVER THE CAR, PUSHED ON THE CAR WITH THEIR HANDS, BUT NEVER TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APRT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE. NOW FORD SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND IT IS PERFECTLY SAFE. I AM VERY UNHAPPY, I AM STUCH WITH A CAR I DON'T WANT ANY MORE, DONT TRUST, AND NOW BECUASE OF THE DAMAGE UNABLE TO TRADE IN. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR SINCE OCT OF 2000. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE CAR AND FORD IS JUST TRYING TO COVER IT UP.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT WORK, BUTTON ON HANDLE STAYS IN, DOES NOT ENGAGE BRAKE. FIRST DEALER SIMPLY POPPED BUTTON OUT. THIS DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER THAT. CONSUMER HAS APPOINTMENT WITH ANOTHER DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS CANNOT BE DISABLED. AS SOON AS SHIFTED TO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE , LOCKS ENGAGED. CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE ARE DIABETIC, AND WORRY IF THEY PASS OUT DURING AN ACCIDENT, THEY WOULD BE LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. ALSO, TIRE TREAD SEPARATED , AND THERE WAS WEAR AND TEAR INSIDE OF WHEEL.*AK

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. THEN REPLACED ROTORS AGAIN ON 15 SEP. 2001 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NLM

DRIPPING FROM PASS. SIDE HEAT VENT DURING A/C USE OR RAIN, SEVERE RATTLING FROM TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATION OR AT IDLE WITH CLUTCH OUT, WHEN CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE NOISE GOES AWAY, FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT, PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK

SOME OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS ARE COVERED IN RUST, DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A PROTECTANT NOT BEING USED DURING MANUFACTURING, RUST IS VERY SEVERE AND ALXES ARE BEGINNING TO RUST, CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED, DEALER WILL NOT MAKE REPAIRS UNLESS CONSUMER PAYS FOR COSTS OR UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED. *SLC

TIRED OF GOING TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK ON BRAKES ON NEW CAR. DT

WHEN IDLING VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE INTERMITTANTLY, BEGINNING AT ENGINE AND WORKING IT'S WAY BACK TOWARDS REAR OF VEHICLE.. DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, AND REARVIEW MIRROR DESTROYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WON'T DEPLOY AND REMAINED IN THE FIXED POSITION. MY GIRLFRIEND DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED, AND THE DEALER DIDN'T EVEN OFFER A RENTAL CAR OR ANYTHING TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. IN INSTANCES LIKE THIS, THE DEALER COULD'VE BEEN HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING HER CAR HAD SHE NOT HAD ANY PASSIVE RESTRAINTS.

I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BUT COMMUNITY FORD SAYS THAT IT DOES NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM. UNLESS IT IS HITTING SOMETHING OR SCRAPING SOMETHING . NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

RADIO REPAIRED AND REPLACED 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM: RADIO SOUND CUTTING IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL STICK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT START VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG STICKS OUT OF DASH. CONSUMER FEELS SLIGHTEST BUMP/ OR SUDDEN STOP MAY CAUSE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHR INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WATER IN THE ENGINE, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY MECAHNICAL REASON FOR IT TO GET IN THERE, NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE, WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER IT, ESTIMATE IS $4000. *AK

I BOUGHT A NEW FOCUS 01 IN OCTOBER 00. YESTERDAY, I RECOGNIZED ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE A SIGNIFICANT BUBBLE. MOREOVER, I CHECKED ALL OTHER TIRES, AND ALL THREE REMAINING TIRES HAD DEFORMATIONS AT THE THREADS. I TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE TIRES AND CAN PROVIDE IF REQUIRED. I SHOWED THEM TO MY COWORKERS, AND THEY DID COMMENT THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL FOR THEM TOO. AFTER WORK, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MOONTOWNSHIP FORD DEALER IN PITTSBURGH, THEY JUST SAID EXCEPT THE BUBBLE SUCH FORMATIONS COULD OCCUR, THEY SAID THEY WERE USUAL INDENTATIONS. MOREOVER, I ALSO CALLED IN THE MORNING MY DEALER (PARKWAY EAST FORD). ONE SERVICE MAN SAID THAT THEY HAD A SIMILAR CASE WITH FOCUS RIGHT AT HAND. BUT I FORGOT TO GET THE SERVICE MAN'S NAME. THE NEXT TIME I CALLED THEM, NOBODY KNEW OF SUCH AN OCCURANCE, WHICH REALLY DISTURBED ME. THE BUBBLE AND THE SO CALLED HUGE EXPECTED "INDENTATIONS" FOR SUCH A NEW CAR IS REALLY UNEXPECTED AND I HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS HELPFUL AND ENOUGH FOR YOU. HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )

REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AT 360 DEGREES FOR THREE TIMES.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT. CHECKED OVER 6 TIMES. STILL CAUS EOF PROBLEM UNKNOWN.*AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY FOCUS. ABOUT 3MO AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING, AND MAKING A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP, AND A MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER CAR FOR ME, SO I MADE AN AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK, THEY TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STUTTER I WAS FEELING IN MY CAR WAS PROBABLY THAT. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP, AND THE SHOP SUPERVISOR WENT OUT WITH ME. HE SAID I WAS DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF CONTEXT. WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT, HE WOULDN'T ELABORATE, BUT SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE, AND THE COMPUTER WILL FADE IN AND OUT, BUT I WON'T LOSE ENGINE POWER. MY CAR HAS TO HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, NEW TIRES, AND OTHER MAINTENANCE THINGS. AT LESS THAN 40000 MILES, IT NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRES, WHICH I HAPPILY BOUGHT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $300, BECAUSE THE PLUGS WERE IN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. I WENT TO MY CAR, POPPED THE HOOD, FOUR SPARK PLUGS LINED THE TOP OF THE HEAD COVER. THERE WAS NO FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE ATTEMPTED OVER CHARGE. MY CAR HAS SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. THE POSITIVE CABLE ON THE BATTERY, HAS MELTED BACK, THERE IS A LOUD ROAR IN THE CAB OF THE CAR, AND THREE OF THE FOUR LUG NUTS ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS SNAPPED OFF. THE EXPLANATION FOR THE LUG NUTS, WAS THAT THE TIRE WAS LOOSE, NOT FASTENED PROPERLY. BUT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED 3-4 MO AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN OFF. I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I HATE FORD FOR SELLING ME THIS CAR. I WILL EVER BUY FORD AGAIN, BUT I LOVE THE CONCEPT OF THE CAR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONSUMER LOSES ALL POWER. CONTACTED DEALER, BUT NO RESULT.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF GOING THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND A CHIP WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN UP TO 100 MILES PER HOUR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. DEALER FOUND THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. *TT

I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IT. IT WAS PARKEDFOR 6 HOURS. WHEN I LEFT WORK TO START THE CAR IT WOULDNOT START. THERE WAS NO NOISE NOTHING. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. NOTHING. I THEN PHONED THE ROAD SIDE DSERVICE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED IT SATARTED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK FORD VIA THE ROAD SIDE DSERVICE. THAEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE SAME CONDITION HAS OCCURED 4 MORE TIMES. THE SECOND TIME WAS THE DAY I TOOK IT INFOR THE 6,000 MILE CHECK-UP. IT ACTUALLY WOULD NOT START FOR THE TECHNICIAN. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO PROGRAM THE THE PPATS KEYS WITH THE NGS SYSTEM. THAT WAS ON MAY 30,01. ON JUNE 10 IN OUR DRIVEWAY IT OCCURRED. IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER MULTIPLE TIRES AND PUSHING AND FIDGETING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THEN ON JUNE 13 IT HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE IN THE MORNING AND ONCE IN THE EVENING. AGAIN THE SAME ORDEAL FIDDLE, PUSH, SHOVE, TRY NOT TO THINK YOU ARE STRANDED. I AM CALLING QUIRK FORD TOMORROW AM AND WILL ALSO REPORT TO THIS TO FORD MAIN HEADQUARTERS. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *AK

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH FRAME OF VEHICLE AND WASHER FLUID LEVEL CAN NOT BE DETERMINED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *JB

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL IS HARD, AND STAYS UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE WHETHER AT IDLE OR WHEN SHIFTING. THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES AND MAINTAINED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION TO MAKE NOISE OR CLATTER.*AK

SERVICE BULLETIN FOR OIL LEAKING INTO AIR CONDITIONING FROM MANIFOLD. FORD SAYS DO NOT SMOKE IN VEHICLE. DEALER OFFERED TO SPRAY WITH DEODORANT. *AK

PURCHASED 4-30-2001. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE HOME, NOTICED OIL/GASOLINE BURNING ODOR FROM AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND LOUD THUMP AND GROANING NOISES FROM FRONT SUSPENSION/BRAKE AREAS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

MY VEHICLE HAS JUST BEEN TURNED INTO OUR DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING, FOR THE SAME REPEATED PROBLEM OF ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS IS OUR 5TH VISIT, AND WE ARE ON OUR 4TH EGR VALVE. SAME COMPLAINT, THE CAR DRIVES SLUGGISHLY, SHUTTERS AND ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRAVELING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT NIGHT. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF A LEFT HAND TURN, AT THIS PARTICULAR INTERSECTION, 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ARE TURNING LEFT AT THE SAME TIME. WE WERE ON THE INSIDE LANE, MAKING OUR TURN AND THE FOCUS SHUT OFF. WE WERE NEARLY REAR ENDED, AND BARELY AVOIDED A LARGE INTERSECTION ACCIDENT WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND US QUICKLY BRAKING AND SWERVING INTO THE OTHER LANE. IT WAS TERRIFYING! WE HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, AND EACH TIME OF OUR COMPLAINT, THE DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSIS THE DIRECT PROBLEM. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING OTHER FORD FOCUS VEHICLES HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. JUST RECENTLY HAVE READ ABOUT THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF FROM THE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK, CAUSING A BLOCKAGE, SO THAT FUEL CANNOT FLOW THROUGH INTO THE PUMP. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM. HOW MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME REPEATED DIFFICULTIES? I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR A GOOD RELIABLE CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR DAUGHTER TO EVENTUALLY HAVE, AND CONSIDERING THE EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD WITH SHUTTERING, SHUT OFFS..DO NOT WANT TO PUT HER BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. OUR PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO ACCUMULATING, WITH NO DIRECT ANSWERS.*AK

WHILE BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE HIT TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD MINOR INJURIES DURING THE ACCIDENT BUT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOME KIND OF DEFECT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. *YH