2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

FORD FOCUS 2000 ZX3 IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BECAME JAMMED UNEXPECTEDLY. KEY ENTERS LOCK BUT LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE, AND SO CAR WILL NOT START. RESULTS IN STRANDED MOTORIST WITH NO WARNING SIGNS BEFOREHAND, HENCE SAFETY ISSUE. REQUIRES EITHER TOW TO REPAIR SHOP OR SITE VISIT FROM LOCKSMITH. MANY REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB, AND EVERY DEALER OR LOCKSMITH I CONTACTED HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES.*AK

I AM VERY ANGRY, I AM HAVING THE FORD FOCUS STALLING PROBLEM, DEALER ALREADY REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND STILL STALLS, THE CAR HAS BEEN 30 DAYS AT 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS BUT HAVEN'T FIX IT, THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY CAN'T FIX IT, I HAVE ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM THEY ALREADY CHECK THE ALTERNATOR AND IT IS FINE. I HOPE SOME ONE CAN GIVE ME A HAND ON THIS I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SUIT FORD, AND I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I DIE BECAUSE THIS CAR IS HAZARD, LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN I DO. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

THREE DIFFERENT INSTANCES WHERE THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR FLEW OPEN WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE DOOR WAS PROPERLY CLOSED AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE DOOR FLEW OPEN. NO ONE WAS HURT THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE THEY HAD THEIR SEAT BELT ON. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE CAR. IF YOU HAD A PET IN THE CAR THEY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. ANOTHER TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE DOOR FLEW OPEN. SHE IS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER BEING ONLY 16YEARS OLD. SHE COULD OF HAD A ACCIDENT. I NO LONGER LET HER DRIVE THIS CAR. IT IS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. I SAID WILL I BE CHARGED THEY SAID POSSIBLEY....*AK

THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IS A SOURCE OF CONSTANT HEADACHES. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM TO ME...I'VE HAD MY IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS ON MY CAR. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY WITH THIS PART....I AM NOT THE ONLY FOCUS OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.*AK

PROBLEM IS THAT I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN, WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT. UPON FUTHUR INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE DOOR LATCH ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO BE AT FAULT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERINS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICALS WITH NO RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY VERY UNSAFE AS TO MY SELF AND MY FAMILY, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERVIERLY INJURED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CAR IN MY LIFETIME AND NEVER HAD A DOOR LATCH FAIL. NOR DID THE CHILD RESTRANT LOCKING SYSTEM ON THE LATCH WORK AND IT WAS ENGAGED.

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR RUNNING, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DID NOT UNLOCK. *JB

IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. *NM

IGNITION LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MALFUNCTIONED. *AK *MR

DT: THE OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT LOCKED UP TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE KEY AND CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT, AND ALL PARTS REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, BUT EVIDENTLY IT WOULD. THEN, ONE DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, AND THE COLUMN HAD LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE GARAGE. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

CAR WOULD NOT ACCEPT KEY AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IGNITION LOCK BROKE AND REPLACED IT CAR ONLY HAD 39000 MILES ON IT. 284.39 COST OF REPLACEMENT PLUS TOWING CHARGES. *NM

UPON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL INJECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART DIDN'T NEED REPLACEMENT, BUT IF ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN, TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY AND THE PART WILL BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE SYMPTOMS REAPPEARED, BUT DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

AFTER GETTING THE STATE INSPECTION ON THE CAR DONE, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT THE CAR HAD FAILED DUE TO THE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDING REPLACED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND WOULD COST US 695 TO REPLACE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 36000 MILES, THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL. *LA

WITH ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE WE COULD RETURN THIS PIECE OF CRAP LEASE, OUT GOES THE IGNITION SWITCH. NEVER HAVE I HAD A CAR WHERE THE KEY WOULDN'T GO IN, IT WAS LIKE A JOKE! SO NOW WE GET TO STICK IN A BUNCH OF MONEY FOR NOTHING. I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS AND ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS AS FAR AS RECALLS GO. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE PUT OUT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? MY HUSBAND NOW HAS TO TAKE A DAY OFF OF WORK IN ORDER TO GET ME TO WORK AND TO GET THE CAR FIXED. HERE I SIT WITHOUT A CAR NOW BECAUSE IT IS THE WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT OPENED. OH WHAT A JOY IT IS HAVING A FORD VEHICLE!*AK

PROBLEM STARTED IN MID-FEBRUARY 2003. WHEN THE FAN SPEED LEVEL FOR THE HEAT IS TURNED TO THE 3RD POSITION THE FAN NOISE DROPS DOWN & THEN A VERY ACRID BURNING ODOR IS EMITTED. CAN NOT PUT THE LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE 2ND LEVEL DUE TO THE BURNING (WIRE?) ODOR AND CONCERNED THAT A WIRE IS BURNING. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEATER SWITCH WHICH HE PROCEEDED TO ORDER BUT WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE ITEM IS BACKORDERED DUE TO A HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS PART. WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED YET & NOW AM CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FORD DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR TSB, I HAVE CALLED THE NHTSA, & I'VE CHECKED THE ALLDATA.COM WEBSITE WITH NO LUCK. I SUPPOSE, GIVEN THE PROBLEMS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH THE REAR TIRES, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A MINOR PROBLEM, HOWEVER I DON'T THINK SO. MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS THAT I DEFINITELY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO THE VIBRATION OF THE WHEELS & HOW WOBBLY THEY FEEL. WE HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES OFTEN BECAUSE THEY CUP. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME OR ANY DIRECTION YOU CAN POINT BE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, ALSO VEHICLE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS AND ARMS. *AK

I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONSISTENT DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH/ IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ON MY 200 FORD FOCUS. SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL NOT GO IN ALL THE WAY, OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT TURN. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. I WENT TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED TONS OF THEM. ALSO, THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN RESEARCHING IT ONLINE AND AT VARIOUS NEWSGROUPS. *LA

ENGINE STALLING - THE LAST TWO OCCURRED WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY (FROM ANOTHER FREEWAY). I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING HAPPENS - FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND STILL NOTHING. THEN THE CAR DIES. FORTUNATELY THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME. THE SECOND TIME I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON THE FLASHERS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS MIRACULOUSLY ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ME. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE.*AK

TIMING BELT BROKE DUE TO DEFECTIVE BELT TENSIONER BEARING, CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND TIMING BELT AND BELT TENSIONER ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 39,324 MILES. *JB

THE DRIVER PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES, POWER LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALARM WAS INOPERATIVE, TRUNK INOPERATIVE, AND THE WINDOW(S) WERE HARD TO CLOSE (MUST BE FORCED DOWN 3-4 TIMES). *SC *JB

IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. I CAN INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT THE LOCK WILL NOT TURN. THE ENTIRE IGINITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AND RE-KEYED.

WENT TO START MY CAR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO IGNITION. I TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO GET THE KEY IN. I ENDED UP CALLING TWO DEALERSHIPS WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 FOCUS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE MECHANIC I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL HE SAID HE WAS VERY SUPRISED THAT THERE HADN'T BEEN ONE. I ALSO ASKED IF THE NEW CYLINDER WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HE REPLIED THAT IT WAS AN UPDATED MODEL BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING- THEY STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE PURCHASED OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS IN AUGUST OF 2003 IT HAD LOW MILES AND WE FIGURED I WAS A GOOD CAR. IN OCTOBER IT BROKE DOWN ON US AND IT WAS A CLUTCH DISK THAT WENT OUT. WE SAID OK AND THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE DAY AFTER WE GOT IT BACK FROM THE SHOP IT STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE SO WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO MAKE A ADJUSTMENT. THEN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER WE ENDED UP HAVING IT BREAK DOWN ON US ONCE AGAIN THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WELL HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION. GOING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE ENGINE HESITATION AND LOSS OF POWER AND THEN WOULD STALL OUT. NOW THEY ARE TELLING US THAT WATER GOT IN OUR FUEL TANK AND RUINED THE FUEL PUMP. I JUST FOUND OUT BY DOING SOME OF MY OWN RESEARCH THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS RECALLED IN NOV OF 2003 FOR CARS EXHIBITING THE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAS NOT INFORMED US OF THIS RECALL AND STATES THAT THE WATER WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEMS. *LA

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE BUT KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION...CYLINDER LOCKED UP, BOUGHT A NEW ONE FROM A FORD DEALER AND HAD IT PUT IN AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. ALSO HAS STALLING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS LIKE THE GAS IS BEING SHUT OFF, AND HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION GRIDING WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS OR GO ACROSS DIPS IN THE ROAD.*AK

THE BATTERY CABLE CORODED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM. *AK (IN RE: DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG) THE DRIVER ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A STORE. THERE WAS A HESITATION THEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE AIRBAGS RELEASED AN UNKNOWN CHEMICAL. *SC

WHEN APPLYING GAS VEHICLE BEGINS TO HESITATE AND ENGINE STARTS TO PRODUCE A LOUD NOISE. *AK

IGNITION WON'T TURN. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THIS HAPPENS ON A LOT OF OTHER FOCUSES, AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A RECALL. WHEN I CALL THE DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER HE SAID HE'S DONE THREE OTHERS. HE THEN TOLD ME THE COST WOULD BE ABOUT $330. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! *LA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS). FORD STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,324 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,492.

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE WE PURCHASED IT.OUR BATTERY DIED AT 25000 MILES, HAD TO BE REPLACED NO EXPLANATION GIVEN. THE IGNITION TUMBLER HAD TO BE REPLACED BE CAUSE IT BROKE, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY GAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR IT. *AKALSO WE HAVE HAD OUR BRAKES REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 1 YEAR AND NEED TO HAVE THEM DONE AGAIN(LAST DONE IN JULY 2003).AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE GOING UPHILL WHILE LOW ON GAS. I ADDED 2 GALLONS OF GAS AND THIS MADE IT 1/4 TANK, BUT IT FAILED TO START. I COASTED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND CALLED EAST HILLS FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A FUEL PUMP IN STOCK. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND ONE AND I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED .*AK

IGNITION LOCK HAS BROKEN.*AK

2000 FORD FOCUS FUEL PUMP REPLACED IN WARRANTY AT 35000 MILES. FUEL PUMP OUT AGAIN AT 69000 MILES. *AK

MY PAINT IS PEELING ON THE HOOD OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS.

FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

KEY LOCK MECHANISM ON STEERING COLUMN FAILS (WON'T ACCEPT THE KEY). THIS LEAVES THE MOTORIST AND HIS (HER) PASSANGERS STRANDED. I'VE SEEN MANY IDENTICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED IN NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET. PROBABLY A MANUFACTURING REFECT.*AK

WHEN MY AIRBAG ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DEPLOYED, IT BURNT MY HAND. HAD I NOT BEEN WEARING GLOVES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRING WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE OR FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. INJURIES WERE RELATIVELY MINOR, FORTUNATELY. CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE. NO MECHANICAL INSPECTION TOOK PLACE BUT ON VISUAL INSPECTION THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR. *AK

200 FORD FOCUS ZX3: IGNITION IS LOCKED IN POSITION. KEY WILL NOT TURN. STEERING IS LOCKED UP ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPEND 2 TIMES BEFORE. THERE IS A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BA A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT IS AFFECTING THE FORD FOCUS. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS JUNE OF 2003. IT CHECKED OUT FINE BUT JUST TO COVER MYSELF I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SO I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND A HOSE. ALL WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AGAIN. WHEN I WOULD STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND MY ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT A STOP LIGHT I WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. AROUND THIS TIME I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS JUST LIKE I WAS EXPERIENCING. I WAS HAPPY TO KNOW THIS ISSUE WAS BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER IN TOWN. LATER THAT DAY THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS NOT MY FUEL PUMP AND THEY NEEDED MY OK TO DIAGNOSIS. WELL THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING SO THEY CALLED FORD. FORD EXPLAINED THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED CARBON BUILD UP AND SOMETHING TO "STICK" IN THE VALVE. NOW FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, THE WARRANTY COMPANY WON'T COVER IT AND THE REPAIR IS OVER $2000.00! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR A SINGLE MOTHER WHO PURCHASE A BASIC, WHAT I THOUGHT ECONOMICAL & RELIABLE CAR. NOW I AM FORCED TO USE EVERY PENNY I HAVE SAVED TO USE TOWARD OWNING A HOME SOME DAY INTO A CAR THAT FORD DESIGNED WRONG. DOES FORD THE BIG COMPANY PAY?NO, THE CONSUMER DOES. THIS CAR ATTRACTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF CUSTOMER, NOT ONE WITH A LOT OF MONEY TO SPARE! ANY ADVICE? *JB

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN 2000 FORD FOCUS SE CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE FAILED AT JUST OVER 50,000 MILES.*AK

I'M WRITING TO YOU ABOUT (PART # XS4Z*11582*AA CYL ASSY STRG COL IGNITION LOCK) I'VE HAD IT REPLACED 2 TIMES AND IT'S AT FORD AS I WRITE THIS FOR THE THIRD TIME. TWO TIMES IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY FORD ESP (EXTENTED WARRANTY) AT A $200 DEDUCTABLE.I CAN'T FIND PAPER WORK ON FIRST TIME BUT SECOND TIME WAS (DEC. 9, 2003) 74960 MILES ON CAR. THIS TIME IT HASN'T BEEN 12 MONTHS OR 1200 MILES (CURRENT DATE AND OFFICALLY AT FORD SERVICE CENTER JULY 17, 2004 (83500 OR SO MILES) I DON'T THINK I'LL BE CHARGED THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME BUT I WON'T BE SURE TILL MONDAY. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY NEIGHBOR JUST WENT THROUGH THIS A WEEK AGO AND MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE ARE TEAMING WITH HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITLY A PART PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO OWN UP TO. FORD DOES NOT GIVE OLD PARTS BACK. A SOON AS I FIND PAPER WORK I WILL UPDATE FIRST INCIDENT UNLESS IT COULD BE GOTTEN FROM FORD. I SHOULD BE IN THERE COMPUTER DATA BASE.

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

FORD FOCUS 2000. SQUEAKY BRAKES, IGNITION PROBLEMS - LOCKED UP -? CAN'T TURN KEY. *LA

ZX3; AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL STAYED LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *PH *SC *JB