2003 Ford Focus Complaint Log

2003 FORD FOCUS SVT. (850 MILES) CAR HAS A HIGH SPEED SURGE AND A BAD MISS OFF THE LINE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PLAY WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE GAS THE CAR ALWAYS FALLS ON ITS FACE THEN PICKS BACK UP.(REALY BAD WHEN ITS COLD) ITS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE 1ST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A PINCHED FUEL LINE AND THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE DROPED. 2ND TIME WAS THE SAME A PINCHED FUEL LINE. AND NOW THE 3RD TIME THEIR TELLING ME THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WAIT TILL FORD FIGURES IT OUT. IM PRETTY SURE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE.(WHO KNOW HOW LONG I WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FORD ON THIS MATTER). *AK

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN ONE OR TWO GEARS, CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OFF, TRANSMISSION TROUBLE LIGHT IN DASH COMES ON, THEN GOES AWAY, DEALER CHECKED ON 04/28/03 AND FOUND NO CAUSE CODE, DEALER PERFORMED FLUID PUMP CHECK AND TESTED OK, TRANSMISSION DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON 04/29/03. *JB

FRONT END SHIMMIES AND PULLS TO THE LEFT AT SPEED OF 70 MPH AND FASTER. IF VEHICLE ISN'T SERVICED IMMEDIATELY THE PROBLEM WILL PROGRESS AND OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP BALANCED AND ROTATED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES, AND REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES TWICE. THIS ONLY PROVIDES A TEMPORARY SOLUTION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURS. *AK

I HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION KIT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT CAR NEW. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT MY 2003 FORD FOCUS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER 3 TRIES THE CAR FINALLY RESTARTED AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM WAS BAD AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 1500 MILES ON IT AND IS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OLD. *JB

AFTER FORD BOUGHT BACK MY 2002 LEMON AND EXCHANGED IT FOR A 2003, THE TRUNK LATCH BROKE ON THE CAR. THE TRUNK OPENED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IT IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR.*JB

CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR, ALL INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHILE BRAKE WAS BEING USED. HAVE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM (HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER 2003). THE FIRST TIME, TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR AND CONTROL MODULE WERE ALL REPLACED. ENGINE STALLED TWICE IN ONE DAY A FEW WEEKS AFTER THIS REPAIR. SECOND SERVICE VISIT, TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, SO CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. NOW I'M JUST WAITING AND WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME THE NEXT TIME THE CAR STALLS, SINCE I LOSE 90% OF MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN IT HAPPENS. I FEEL LIKE A SHOULD PUT A GIANT SIGN ON THE BACK OF MY CAR, WARNING DRIVERS TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE AS THIS CAR CAN SUDDENLY STALL AT ANY TIME. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE SLIGHT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY CAR IGNITION HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO START MY CAR. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL STRANDING MY FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME WHILE TRYING TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE HOSPITAL. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT HER MEANS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL AS IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE PURCHASED AN UNRELIABLE CAR. AS I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT SEEMS ALMOST ALL FORD FOCUS OWNERS ARE ENCOUNTERING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN READ THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN HENCE THE LACK OF RECALL! I LIKE BILLIONS OF AMERICANS RELY ON MY CAR IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. I HOPE TO GOD THAT I DO NOT HAVE A FORD FOCUS IF ANYTHING DESPERATE SHOULD BECOME OF ME AND I NEED SAFETY BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON'T LIKE TO EVEN START! *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK CAR FROM SERAMONTE FORD ON 7-4-2003. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE UNTIL FRIDAY, 2-6-2004. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN ON THE WAY COMING HOME FROM STONESTOWN SHOPPING CENTER. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN. NEARLY GOT HIT FROM THE BACK ONCE. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. MY WIFE WAS REALLY SHAKEN UP. . I WAS AFRAID TO USE THE CAR UNTIL TUESDAY, 2-10-2004. I STARTED DRIVING TO THE DEALER THAT MORNING AT 8:30 AM AND WHEN I ALMOST GOT INTO THEIR PARKING LOT THE CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THEIR LOT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WALKED OVER TO THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE MAN NAMED CARL TO GO OVER TO THE INFINITY LOT TO SEE IF HE COULD CHECK ON THE CAR. IT WAS ABOUT 9:15 AM AT THAT TIME. CARL TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY REGULAR SERVICE MAN -KEVIN- WHO WILL BE IN AT 10 AM THAT MORNING. I WAITED 45 MINUTES AT THEIR LOT FOR KEVIN. KEVIN WALKED WITH ME OVER TO THE INFINITY DEALER'S LOT AND TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. MY CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE FORD DEALER'S SHOP AT ABOUT 11:30 AM. I WAITED THERE UNTIL 1:30 PM AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE LEFT AT THEIR SHOP OVER NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS AT THEIR SHOP SINCE 2-10-2004. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER RAY WERTZ THE NEXT DAY TO ASK IF HE HAS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE CHECKING ON IT STILL AND AN IMPORTANT PART HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY AND WILL KEEP ME INFORMED. THAT WAS WEDNESDAY, 2-11-2004. RAY WERTZ CALLED 2-16-2004, AND SAID THAT IMPORTANT PART TO BE HERE ON THURSDAY, 2-18-2004. MY WIFE AND I FEEL UNEASY ABOUT THIS CAR. SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE WOULD BE SCARE TO RIDE IN IT. SHE FEELS WE SHOULD GET A NEW CAR FROM SERRAMONTE FORD. PLEASE HELP THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE THREE TIMES AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPECTS FORD TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE APPLICABLE LEMON LAW IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, BECAUSE OF CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD BUSHING, BEARING ASSEMBLY, AXLE SHAFT AND JOINT, FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND NUMEROUS WHEEL AND TIRE ADJUSTMENTS *JB

SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE. SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES? PH

A STOPPED 2003 FOCUS SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A MAZDA 626 RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE TO THE FORD FOCUS, BUT SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES?

AFTER LEAVING MY AUTO, I RETURNED TO FIND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, BUT IN TACT/IN PLACE. THERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT OR ATTEMPTED ENTRY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE WINDOW AND APPEARED IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY WINDOW. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER'S SEVICE SHOP, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS FORD REP OF THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT SINCE THE AUTO WAS SO NEW, HE WOULD TRY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO. UPON INVESTIGATING IF THERE WAS A FORD RECALL OR SIMILAR REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I CAME ACCROSS AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASSION WHERE THE WINDOW JUST SHATTERED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE INDIVIDUAL SAID FORD CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO WELDING IRREGULARITIES AND SUCH. WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD, HE CLAIMED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS REAR DEFROSTER WAS CHANGED AND THEY HAD GIVEN IT A HIGHER AMP TO MAKE IT HOTTER. SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 DGREES OUTSIDE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HOT AND SHATTERED WHEN COOLING QUICKLY - HE DID NOT KNOW AND WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. REGARDLESS, THE AUTO HAD 440 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF THIS WINDOWED SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY CAUSING HARM TO ANY PASSENGERS IN THE BACK - OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE HARM TO ANYONE. THE AUTO IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN.

AFTER LEAVING MY AUTO, I RETURNED TO FIND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, BUT IN TACT/IN PLACE. THERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT OR ATTEMPTED ENTRY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE WINDOW AND APPEARED IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY WINDOW. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER'S SEVICE SHOP, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS FORD REP OF THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT SINCE THE AUTO WAS SO NEW, HE WOULD TRY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO. UPON INVESTIGATING IF THERE WAS A FORD RECALL OR SIMILAR REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I CAME ACCROSS AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASSION WHERE THE WINDOW JUST SHATTERED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE INDIVIDUAL SAID FORD CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO WELDING IRREGULARITIES AND SUCH. WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD, HE CLAIMED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS REAR DEFROSTER WAS CHANGED AND THEY HAD GIVEN IT A HIGHER AMP TO MAKE IT HOTTER. SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 DGREES OUTSIDE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HOT AND SHATTERED WHEN COOLING QUICKLY - HE DID NOT KNOW AND WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. REGARDLESS, THE AUTO HAD 440 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF THIS WINDOWED SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY CAUSING HARM TO ANY PASSENGERS IN THE BACK - OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE HARM TO ANYONE. THE AUTO IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE TRAVELING SPEED 40 TO 50MPH. DUE TO BAD SUSPENSION REAR OF VEHICLE WOBBLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TS

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2003 FORD FOCUS RECALL WORK NOT DONE, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS. *TS (RECALL # 05V030000) *JB

THE TRANSMISSION MADE A "SHUTTERING AND FLIPPING" SOUND WHILE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME UNLATCHED WHEN DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE CHILD SEAT TO BE TRHOWN INTO THE BACK OF FRONT SEAT .*AK

THE SUN'S REFLECTION ON THE DIAL SYSTEM MADE IT HARD TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. *AK *SCC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ABRUPTLY VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, AND IMPACTED A GUARD RAIL. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND HEAD INJURIES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 25/30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER PASSENGER'S SIDE NOR DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURES. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH A DOG RAN INTO THE STREET AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE DOG. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE BAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED, IT LOCKED THE DRIVER IN AFTER THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AND REAR SEAT BELTS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.*AK

CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING, CAUSING THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK. THE CLUTCH CAME APART AND HIT THE BELL HOUSING. THEN, BELL HOUSING SEPARATED AND BROKE INTO THE RADIATOR. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE RUMBLED AS IT ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK SO THAT IT WOULD COME TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION, AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *LA

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT MAKES A METAL TO METAL NOISE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES. *AK