2005 Ford Focus Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING A POP SOUND AND MY CLUTCH WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEARS. I HAD TO FORCE IT INTO SECOND GEAR ALL THE WAY HOME. TOTAL OF 3 FAILURES APPROX. 1 MONTH APART FINAL RESULT ON MY THIRD TRIP FOR REPAIRS ENDED WITH ME UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME WHICH CAUSED ME REAR ENDING THE BACK OF A TRUCK. I DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY CAR BOTH ENGINE AND BODY I STILL HAVE NO CAR. MY CAR HAS 1,200 MILES ON IT. 2005 FORD FOCUS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM DEALERSHIP AND UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE IN IT. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THE LADY TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD CHECK INTO IT TO SEE IF THE DAMAGES WOULD BE COVERED BY THEM. CONSIDERING THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT OF HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THEY WOULD OF FIXED MY CAR RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. EITHER WAY SHE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT. *TR

CAR REV'S UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND ALSO WILL KEEP REPEATING THAT FOR ABOUT 2-3 MINS. SO FAR I HAVE ALMOST DROVE THRU 3 INTERSECTIONS AND RAN INTO MULTIPLE CARS AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERS ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZXW SE 4 DOOR STATION WAGON, VIN [XXX] FROM SCARFF FORD IN AUBURN, WASHINGTON. WHILE RETURNING FROM OUT VACATION A BLACK PLASTIC PIECE OF VENT MATERIAL ABOUT TWELVE INCHES LONG FELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH AND LODGED BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WITH A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY I WAS ABLE, FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT TO REACH AND DISLODGE THE OBSTRUCTION. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO AVOID A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY, JULY 13, 2005 I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SCARFF FORD AND THEY REINSTALLED THE PART AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS INCIDENT COULD REPEAT ITSELF WITH OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS AND HAVE A FAR WORSE OUTCOME. ONE THING I DID NOTICE WAS WHILE THE ''VENT PIECE'' HAD PROVISIONS FOR FOUR ATTACHING SCREWS, THERE APPEARED TO BE ONLY ONE IN USE. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY TO BLAME, BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH. THE FIRST INDICATION WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT RIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 3RD GEAR. THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER, AND THERE WERE SO MANY ON ORDER THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN DATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. *JB

WHEN MY VEHICLE SHIFTER IS IN NEUTRAL (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANS) AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED CLUSTERS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATE (OIL LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT.) THE ENGINE STALLS AND I LOOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP AND STEER ESPECIALLY IF I AM ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65!. IT SEEMS TO DO IT MOST OFTEN WHEN I AM ON THE FREEWAY GOING DOWN A HILL IN NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN. I NEVER GET BETTER THAN 25 MPG HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE FORD DEALER TELLING HOW GREAT IT WAS ON GAS. THAT I WOULD AVERAGE 32 MPG. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID I WAS AVERAGING 31.7 MPG ACCORDING TO THERE COMPUTER. THAT IS NOT TRUE! THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDS A BREAK IN TIME OF 5000 MILES. I HAVE 15000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY DAY. MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT FORD IGNORES US. *NM

CAR SURGES WHEN BRAKING USUALLY UNDER 5 TO 10 MPH. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO GEAR DOWN. ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING FAST. PROBLEM NOT CONSTANT. TALKED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU HAVE STAND ON BRAKE OR PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP FORWARD SURGE. *TR

WHEN BRAKING COMING UP TO STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN USUALLY UNDER 15 MPH TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GEAR DOWN AND SEEMS TO SURGE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. YOU HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. SURGE MAY LAST APPROX 5 SECONDS. VARIES DEPENDING ON SPEED YOUR BRAKING FROM. IN THE BEGINNING TALKED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. HAD A FORD ESCORT FOR MY SON IN MID 80'S AND HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 72000 MILES AND SEEMS TO GETTING WORSE. I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *JS

DT: THE DASHBOARD PANEL FRAME IS SEVERLY RUSTED.*AK

DT: BRAND NEW FORD FOCUS HAS HEAVY RUST ON THE DASHBOARD FRAME. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS THIS IS NORMAL OXIDATION ON UNTREATED METAL. *AK

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE CAUSES SLIGHT NOISE AND LEAKS CONNECTING. TO THE ENGINE. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE A LOOK THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE MUFFLER AND EXHAUST PROBLEMS CAUSING A LOT TO BE REPAIRED OUT THE POCKET ON THE HIGHWAY IT SEEMS TO SUCK AIR STALL A LITTLE WHOLE IN MOTION

HARD STARTING, AFTER IT STARTS THEN IT IDLES ROUGH FOR 10-15 SECOND. SLIP IN 5TH GEAR. ALL PROBLEMS ONLY HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

2005 FORD FOCUS BEGIN TO SPEED UP QUICKLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE SEEM TO NO PATTERN WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN TIMES AND THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE THEN WILL SLOW DOWN. *BF *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD EXHIBIT PREMATURE WEAR DUE TO THE FRAME ALIGNMENT FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS WERE PERFORMED BUT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE DEALER INSPECTED, ALIGNED AND CHANGED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS WERE CORRECT AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE CONTACT'S TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2005 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES.*MR THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WHERE BAD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER ALL FOCUS DISC BRAKES WEAR LIKE THAT, WITH GROOVES ON ROTORS AND PADS . CONSUMER'S SON WAS ON I-95 AND HAD TO STOP FAST AND TIRES GOT SOFT SPOTS AND FLATTEN OUT AND TREAD CAME APART. MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T WARRANTY THE 2 FRONT TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY NEW ONES. *BF

HOOD LATCH WAS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY TO BODY. CAUSED HOOD TO BRAKE FREE AND FLY UP UPSTRUCKING VISION AND CAUSING A WRECK. NO AIR BAGS DEPLORED AND CRUSE CONTROL STUCK ON. NEW VEHICLE VIN # DID NOT MATCH VEHICLE DESCRIPTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN 2005 BUT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

FRONT BRAKES WERE UNEVEN BADLY IN SHOP AT BARTOW FORD NUMBER OF TIMES NEVER FIX WORK ON IT TILL THE WARRANTY WAS UP NOW MY FAMILY IS STUCK WITH PAYMENTS ON A UNSAFE CAR. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HANDLE FAILED AND BROKE SO WAS OPENING IT FROM THE INSIDE. NOW MY DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE/LATCH IS NOW BROKEN. I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE HATCHBACK TO OPEN THE DOORS. THESE HANDLES/LATCHES ARE VERY POORLY MADE AND WHAT HAPPENED IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR/HANDLE FAILED AT THAT TIME WHERE THEY COULDN'T OPEN IT AND GET SOMEONE OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS LOOKED INTO. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE IN YOUR DATABASE. THESE HANDLE SHOULD NOT GIVE OUT THIS EASY. *TR

IGNITION PROBLEMS, CD PLAYER MALFUCTION, WAS REPAIRED BUT FAILED AGAIN 3 TIMES TO START AND TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER. *AK

I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 FORD FOCUS THAT IS SIMILAR TO ALL FOCUS BUYERS AND IT BECOMING A SERIOUS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BRAKE ISSUE.*AK

ENGINE ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS AT A STOP. THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT STILL RACED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AT NO TIME WAS MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WAS RACINGBY ITSELF. I MADE A COPY OF THE NHTSA THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURING WITH THE FORDS BUT THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MY SON HAS A FORD ESCAPE AND HE JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAS TO BE RELACED. I HAVE A FORD FOCUS. SINCERELY, MIKE PAGLIA. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

SAFETY ISSUE WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE INJURY. WHEN THE HEATER IS ON, IT GET EXTREMELY HOT. *BF WHEN THE HEATER WAS DIRECTED TO THE FLOOR ONLY, THE BACK OF THE STORAGE TRAY BENEATH THE CONTROLS FOR THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITION SYSTEMS BECAME HOT. *JB

THE STORAGE TRAYS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WHEN DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITH THE HEATER ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN DIRECTED TO THE FLOOR ONLY. *NM IN THE OWNER'S GUIDE BOOK THERE WAS AN ERROR THAT STATED; AM/FM STEREO WITH SINGLE CD/MP3 PREMIUM SHOULD BE FOR A 6 CD UNIT AS NOTED BY THE CD 6 ABOVE THE CD SLOT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL FILTER WAS DAMAGED FROM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FILTER. FORD SERVICE CENTER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY WERE TO BUSY TO ASSIST HER, AND FOR HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A QUICK LUBE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. QUICK LUBE CHANGED THE OIL, AND GAVE THE VEHICLE BACK. SOMEHOW, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER.*AK

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 IN DECEMBER OF 2005. UPON DELIVERY I NOTICED MY CAR HAD A HARD TIME STARTING AND THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE AND KNOCK. AFTER A MONTH I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION CONTINUED AND I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT ASKED TO KEEP IT FOR AN OVERNIGHT START. I BROUGHT IT IN A FEW DAYS LATER SO THEY COULD KEEP IT OVER NIGHT AND THEY FOUND A BULLETIN BY FORD SAYING THEY KNOW THERE IS A HARD START PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T UNLATCH OCCASIONALLY. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CASING REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DISCOLORED. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 62 MILES AN HOUR AND MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND HAD TO WEIGHT IN 90 DEGREE WEATHER FOR 2 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD AND THEY SAID MY FLY WHEEL HAD CRUMBLED AND MY CLUTCH WAS BAD. IT TOOK THEM 9 DAYS TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH. A DAY LATER MY CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT WITHOUT GRINDING AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THIS TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS RUINED AS WELL. TO THIS DAY MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 32 DAYS JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR OR DIAGNOSIS FOR A TOTAL OF 45 DAYS SO FAR. NEITHER WENDLE MOTORS OR FORD WILL REPLACE THE CAR SO I AM PERUSING A LEMON LAW CASE. *JB

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER HIT A DEER. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WERE UNAVAILABLE. OWNER SAYS THAT WHEN USING THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT SEATS THE BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE MAY BE TWO OR THREE MONTHS BEFORE PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2004. AS THE WEATHER BEGAN GETTING COLDER AND DAMPER, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. THE ENGINE WOULD STUMBLE AND CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WOULD HAVE TO TRY 3-4 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACTUALLY START. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN DECEMBER 2004 AND TSB 04-23-4 WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY STARTED FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT, BUT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN NOW.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ELEVEN TIMES WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,463 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212.

WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT/REAR BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

2005 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS.*MR THE TRANSMISSION WHINED AT LOW SPEEDS (40-50 MPH). FORD REFUSED TO SEND A FACTORY REP. *NM

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. PROBLEM CONCERNED ANNOYING LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION AT 40-50 MPH. FORD REFUSES TO SEND A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM PERTAINED TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT. EVOQ FILED BY ABIGIL LIVINGSTON 478-788-1497. *AK

CAR BOUGHT SEPT 2004. CAR REGULARLY DOESN'T START, AND IF IT DOES ALWAYS RUNS AT OVER 3500 RPM FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES WITH NO ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. ALARM GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING, FOR NO REASON. CAR SWERVES AND VIBRATES ON ROAD IN DRY AND WET CONDITIONS (SEEMS LIKE STEERING AND / OR SUSPENSION BROKEN / DEFECTIVE). BRAKES ALSO CREAK. ALL PROBLEMS FROM CAR PURCHASE TO NOW, MARCH 2005. TAKEN TO 2 DEALERSHIPS ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHO COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE CONCERN". REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN JANUARY WHO INFORMAED ME THAT THE ORIGINAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WOULD CONTACT ME. SO FAR, 7 WEEKS ON, AND NO CONTACT. POSSIBLE LEMON LAW CASE.

OWNER SAYS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ROCKS OR STONES THAT MAY HAVE ACTIVATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB CONSUMER INJURED BY AIRBAG. *TC

THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *MR THE BACK REST DID NOT LOCK, SO THE SEAT BELTS WERE INEFFECTIVE. *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION SLIPS & ERRATIC SHIFTS. *NM

THE ICON SEAT BELT INDICATOR COMES AND GOES AS LIT AND THEN SOME TIMES IT IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (ENGINE RUNNING).

2005 FOCUS BLOWS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING AT 20 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR *JB