2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

THE REAR SHOCKS ARE MAKING NOISES AND ARE CUPPING THE REAR TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TIRES ONCE AND THEY ARE GETTING DESTROYED AGAIN. I PLAN TO REPLACE THE REAR SHOCKS WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT.*AK

VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH - DEALERSHIP SAID FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACING; DONE;THEN TWO DAYS LATER THE #3 PISTON BROKE AND THE ENGINE IS NOW UNREPAIRABLE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR TO CHANGE THE TIRE. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK AND A FORD DEALER BILL OF OVER $250 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION.

WHILE VACATIONING IN MICHIGAN, I FOUND MY SELF LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR. MY KEY WOULDN'T EVEN GO INTO THE IGNITION. I TRIED AND TRIED THEN CALLED THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID I COULD HAVE IT TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY AND THEY MAY GET TO IT TOMORROW . I'M ON VACATION! THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A LOCKSMITH TO FIX IT. SO I CALLED SOMEONE FROM THE PHONE BOOK. HE CAME AND BROKE APART MY IGNITION AND GAVE ME A KEY. NOW MY IGNITION IS LOOSE AND THE KEY ONLY GOES IN PART WAY. THE KEY WON'T UNLOCK THE DRIVERS DOOR...IT JUST KEEPS RELOCKING IT AS FAST AS I UNLOCK IT. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY OTHER COMPLAINT....I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE DOOR-LOCK SWITCH TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD LOCK/UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. IT STILL DOES IT.

FUEL GAUGE LIGHT CAME ON AND TANK INDICATED EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED. DEALER CHECKED SYSTEM AND FOUND NO FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM BUT SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LEAVING THE KEY ON (LISTENING TO RADIO) WHILE FILLING THE TANK. WITHIN 1 WEEK OF DEALER VISIT THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. HOWEVER, KEY HAS BEEN IN OFF POSITION DURING REFUELING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF LATEST INCIDENT. *AK

WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BREAKS AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT IT WAS SCARY. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS HOT. HE SAYS THAT HE HAS HAD THE HEADS AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED,. HE HAS ALSO HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN HOT. HE STATES THE MECHANIC CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY, AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *PH

RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE IGNITION REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH. I COULD NOT PLACE THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TUMBLER, I BELIEVE. THE LOCKSMITH SAID THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL FORD FOCUS VEHICLES.*AK

WATER LEAK IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. UPON READING THIS WEBSITE I REALIZE THE OTHER PROBLEMS I'VE HAD ARE SIMILAR TO THIS CAR. CAR STALLING, FUEL GAUGE STICKING, RADIO GOING OUT, CARPET BEING REPLACED,WIPER PROBLEMS ETC. WHEN IT RAINS THE WATER CAN FILL THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD 2-3 INCHES. I'VE HAD THE LEAK CHECKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND SO FAR NO ONE CAN FIND THE LEAK. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE, AND I WAS INFORMED IF THE LEAKING CONTINUES IT WILL DAMAGE THE "BRAIN" COMPUTER OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IF THAT HAPPENS AND I HAVE TO SPEND A COUPLE THOUSAND TO FIX, BUT IF THE LEAKING IS NOT FOUND IT WILL JUST HAPPEN AGAIN. I FEEL THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. ALSO, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTICE OF ALL THE RECALLS THAT PERTAINS TO THIS CAR. I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE PERTAINING TO THE BACK REAL WHEEL BEARING, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. BUT I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS. WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED? *LA

MY VEHICLE HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. IT GIVES NO INDICATION THAT THIS WILL OCCUR. IT CAN HAPPEN AT HIGH OR LOW SPEED. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHAT IS STRANGE TO ME IS THAT IF THE ENGINE SITS THEN IT WILL START UP AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS FIRST OCCURED IN APRIL 2003 AND NOW IT OCCURING MORE OFTEN. ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT TO FIX OR WHAT CAN BE DONE. I REALLY LOVE MY CAR BUT GETTING STRANDED IS NO FUN.

WHEN DRIVING CAR AFTER SO LONG THE ENGINE GETS HOT AND SPEED REDUCES. WHEN PUSHING ON ACCELERATOR TO TRY TO PICK UP SPEED, IT CONTINUES TO LOSE MORE SPEED AND STARTS JERKING. AFTER IT CONTINUES TO KEEP JERKING AND SPEED KEEPS GOING DOWN ENGINE SHUTS OFF, LEAVING ME SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN WITH TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO. WHEN CAR STALLS AND YOU TRY TO RESTART, IT TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. ONCE IT DOES START IT SHUTS BACK DOWN UNTIL IT SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS. HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. FORD REFUSES TO FIX EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. IT SUPPOSED TO BE SUCH A RELIABLE CAR BUT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT ACTS UP. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT I'M PAYING SO MUCH MONEY FOR TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN. I FIND THIS TO BE A SERIUOS PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE THAT HAS CHILDREN WOULD WANT THIS HAPPENING TO THEM AND FORD NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, TELLING ME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT .

CAR STALLS, HESITATES, GETTING WORSE VERY DANGEROUS!! FUEL SYSTEM SEEMS BAD

LAST WEEKEND AFTER I PARKED MY CAR I FORGOT TO LOCK THE DOORS AFTER HALF HOUR I WENT OUT AGAIN AND I COULD NOT EVEN PUT THE KEY INTO IGNITION I CALLED FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD TRY TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, SO I TRIED MANY TIMES, FINALLY THE KEY WENT IN BUT IT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR, NOTHING MOVES , NO EVEN THE GEARSHIFT TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND MOVE THE VEHICLE, SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S A VEHICLE DEFECT AND ALSO THEY TOLD ME THEY DID HAVE 2 MORE CASES SAME AS MINE. SO I ASKED THEM WHAT I CAN DO... THEY SAID I HAVE TO TOWED THE CAR THERE AND TO CHECK AND FIX IT IS AROUND 400 DOLLARS. MY COMPLAIN IS BECAUSE I THINK IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A WOMAN TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THE SYSTEMS IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ALONE AND YOU LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT SAID AT NIGHT AND YOU COMEBACK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO IF IT IS COMPLETE LOCK? YOU CAN BE RAPED IF YOU ARE ALONE LATE IN A DARK SPOT OR ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU... NOW IF FORD KNOWS THIS KIND THE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHY THEY DO NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ? THEY CAN RECALL THE CARS. PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I THINK IS NOT FEAR I HAVE TO PAY 400 DOLLAR FOR A CAR DEFECT AND ALSO BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELP. SAMANTHA VIDAL. *LA

HI, I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES. I HAVE HAD MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM REPLACED BY FORD, THEN PERSONALLY REPLACED THE DRIVER FRONT WINDOW MECHANISM AND THE DRIVER BACK MECHANISM DUE TO CABLE BREAKS. I HAVE HAD IT IN WITH THE RADIO 3 TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED, THE IGNITION BLOCK REPLACED, THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS. THE TRUNK RELEASE HAS NEVER WORKED. NOW IT KEEPS BREAKING DOWN ON ME IF I DRIVE FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR NON STOP. THIS WEEKEND I WENT TO SAN ANTONIO FROM CORPUS, IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES GOING TO SA AND COMING HOME 4 TIMES & HOW SAFE IS THAT! FORD SAID THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNLESS IT IS MESSING UP WHEN I BRING IT IN WHILE IT IS ACTING UP, HOWEVER IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I AM AWAY FROM TOWN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF THEY HOOK IT UP TO THE MACHINE IT WILL NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK AND I CANNOT BRAKE, I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE HARD WHILE THE RPM'S ARE STILL REVVING AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND WENT OVER THE YELLOW DIVIDER. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? *LA

THE VEHICLES STEERING FAILED. *NLM

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS, WHICH MY 17 YEAR OLD SON DRIVES. TODAY I GOT A CALL FROM HIM SAYING HE WAS STRANDED AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. THE PROBLEM, HE COULD NOT GET HIS KEY TO GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DROVE OUT TO WHERE HE WAS AND FOUND THE KEY WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN, IT ACTS LIKE IT IS THE WRONG KEY FOR THAT SWITCH. *LA

AFTER PARKING AT MY HOME I COULD NOT GET THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE IGNITION TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD ON THE PHONE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *LA

BRAKES/ROTORS/PAD HAVE WORN AND/OR MALFUNCTIONED MORE THAN THREE TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, DEALER REPAIRED, BUT ONLY AFTER PRESSING THE POINT. HAD TO REPLACE THE ABOVE TWICE ALREADY. ONE TIME BRAKES FAILED AS MY WIFE DROVE MY CHILDREN AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BRAKE PROBLEMS HAPPENING YET AGAIN. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALLED ISSUE? I AM OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS. *LA

MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESS WAY, MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI, SINCE WHERE I WAS DRIVING WAS SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE BARRIERS. I LATER FOUND THAT THIS IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR FOCUS OWNERS. *LA

I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN LEAST THAT 2 YEARS AND TWICE IN THREE MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME TO CALL FORD AND FORD TELLS ME IT A DEALERSHIP'S PROBLEM CALL THEM THE OLD RUN AROUND. I ALSO HAVE REPLACE ALL FOUR BRAKES AND TIRES WITH ONLY 25000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THEY STILL SQUEEZE AND GRIND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. I BROUGHT THE CAR USED SO I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYTHING WAS REPLACE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT LOVELY VEHICLE. *LA

LEAKING WATER INTO PASSENGER FOOT-COMPARTMENT. ISOLATED PROBLEM TO PLASTIC COVER THAT SITS BENEATH WINDSHIELD, AND IS MOSTLY ACCESSIBLE WITH HOOD OPEN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLASTIC COMES AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD DUE TO SOME BUCKLING IN THE PLASTIC. FIXED PROBLEM BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO PLASTIC TO BEND IT BACK TO SHAPE SO IT SNAGGED-UP CLOSER TO WINDSHIELD. NOT SEEN PROBLEM SINCE. MASTIC TO ADHERE PLASTIC TO WINDSHIELD MIGHT BE AN OPTION TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE FUEL GAUGE SOMETIMES REFUSES TO WORK. FOUND THIS TO BE CASE WHEN KEY IS PUT INTO IGNITION AND KEY-TURNED TO START ENGINE WAS DONE TOO QUICKLY. IF ENTERING KEY INTO IGNITION AND THEN TURNING KEY EACH CLICK, GIVING EACH CLICK A HALF-SECOND, THEN GAUGE APPEARS TO BE MORE RELIABLE. WHEN ENGINE GOES INTO SLOW-IDLING STATE, ENGINE IDLES VERY ERRATICALLY AND IS NOT SMOOTH. SOUNDS LIKE ONLY SOME OF CYLINDERS ARE FIRING. THIS HAS ONLY STARTED TO OCCUR TODAY AND SINCE READING COMMENTS ON THIS WEBSITE, I'M CONCERNED. HAVE TRIED ADDING FUEL-INJECTOR-CLEANER TO FUEL TANK, AWAITING RESULTS OF THAT. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE PROBLEM HERE WAS FIXED BY REMOVING THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY FROM THE TRUNK-LID AND SIMPLY DOWSING THE MECHANISMS WITH WD40 AND THEN BENDING SOME SPRING-LOADED COMPONENTS.. THERE ARE 2 MOVING COMPONENTS IN THE LOCK. FIRST IS SHAPE OF A LOOP THAT YOU CAN EASILY MOVE WITH FINGER/SCREWDRIVER. THIS COMPONENT LOCKS ONTO STUB THAT YOU CAN SEE WHEN OPENING TRUNK. THE OTHER COMPONENT IS HIDDEN WITHIN CASING AND MOVES IN FRONT OF OTHER COMPONENT TO HOLD IT IN A LOCKED POSITION. PROBLEM WAS WITH THIS COMPONENT. PROBLEM WAS COMPONENT HAD "SOMEHOW" GOTTEN BENT AND NOT FREE TO LEAVE CASING AND BLOCK OTHER COMPONENT. BENDING THIS TO A POSITION FREEING IT OF CASING FIXED PROBLEM. ENGINE LACKED POWER WHEN UNDER LOAD WHEN ACCELERATING, VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND DECELERATE INSTEAD OF ACCELERATE. PROBLEM RESOLVED WHEN FORD DEALER REPLACED SPARK-PLUGS PLUS LEADS AND A FULL ENGINE TUNE-UP. $230 PLUS BUT FIXED PROBLEM. *LA

I PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS WAGON (2000) FROM ROWAN LINCOLN MERCURY IN WINTER HAVEN FLORIDA IN NOVEMBER 2003. SINCE THAT TIME THIS "CHECKED OUT" VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: A NEW IGNITION LOCK (TWICE), A NEW BATTERY, NEW SPARK PLUGS & WIRES, NEW VACUUM HOSE, AND NEW ALTERNATOR. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON THE VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP FOR SELLING ME AN OBVIOUSLY MESSED UP VEHICLE? MY CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNANSWERED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. EVERYONE THAT TOUCHES THE CAR TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR THE NEED OF ANY OF THE REPAIRS EXCEPT THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES AND BATTERY. ANY ADVICE AS I AM NOW FACING ANOTHER REPAIR BILL IN EXCESS OF $1,000 FOR A CAR THAT IS TOUTED AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE ON THE ROAD? *JB

IGNITION LOCKED, WAS UNABLE TO INSERT KEY, AFTER HOUR OF TRIAL. KEY FINALLY GOT INTO THE IGNITION, BUT COULD NOT TURN TO ANY DIRECTION. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, LET DEALERSHIP FIX IT. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $450. *AK

2000 FORD FOCUS - RECALLED IN 2001 FOR REAR WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM - SUPPOSEDLY THE DEALERSHIP - VILLAGE FORD DEARBORN, MI - INSPECTED AND PROCEEDED WITH THE PROPER SERVICE - NOW WITH BAD REAR WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM - MY TIRE WAS READY TO FALL OFF PER THE MECHANIC - WHEN THE MECHANIC CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR PART - HE WAS TOLD THAT WAS A RECALL ITEM AND I SHOULD BRING TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. ON 11-11-03 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO AVIS FORD SOUTHFIELD MI FOR THIS REPAIR - I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT NO RECALL EXIST ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND FURTHERMORE IF ONE DID EXIST THE WARRANTY ON THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE VOID. THE MECHANIC THAT EVALUATED MY CAR ON 11-8-03 STATED THIS NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP - HE TIGHTENED THE WHEEL- WHICH IS WHY I SCHEDULED A REPAIR ON 11-11-03. I WILL NEED TO RETURN MY VEHICLE TO THE FORMER MECHANIC FOR SERVICE BUT WILL BE UNABLE TO DO SO UNTIL 11-15-03. PLEASE ADVISE THE PROCESS FOR FILING COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY - SO I CAN RECOVER MY EXPENSES. THE MECHANIC WILL GIVE ME THE DEFECTIVE PART. I DO NOT THINK THAT VILLAGE FORD EVER CHANGED THE PART OR DID THE REPAIRS UNDER THE EARLIER RECALL. VIN [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE STARTER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

FRONT BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT AT 25,000 MILE SERVICE, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CONTAMINATION METAL PIECES IN THE PLANETARY FLUID OIL TRANSMISSION.*MR *JB

IGNITION LOCKED UP. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT IN 2.5 YEARS. *LA

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH FOCUS. BOUGHT CAR IN 2001. SINCE THE DAY THAT I DROVE OFF THE LOT I HAD SQUEAKY BRAKES. TOOK TO SERVICER AND WAS TOLD DUST ON BRAKES & IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, THEY CHANGED PADS & ROTORS. NOW I HEAR THE SQUEAK AGAIN. CAR CUT OFF WHILE GOING UP A HILL. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICER THAT IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WEATHER HAD RECENTLY GOTTEN HOT AND IT "SHOCKED" THE CAR. KEY WOULDN'T ENTER THE IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SERVICER. CAR SHUTS OFF IF UNDER HALF A TANK. SERVICER TOLD ME " KEEP THE GAS OVER HALF A TANK". SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING WHILE HEAT ON IN CAR. ON 2 OCCASSIONS SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS WHILE A/C ON ( DIDN'T TAKE TO SERVICER FOR THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY NEVER OCCURED AGAIN). TODAY 11/10/03 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND STALLING EVENTUALLY CUTTING OFF. TOOK TO THE SERVICER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT EVEN MENTIONING THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR THE TECHNICIAN SAID, " YOU MUST HAVE A FOCUS". NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THESE DEFECTS THAT FORD IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF. ALSO, THE CAR NO LONGER HAS VALUE. TRIED TO TRADE IT IN BEFORE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT LAST YEAR, AND WAS TOLD CAR ONLY WORTH $4,000 WHILE I STILL OWED $10,000, WHICH MEANS I WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME UP WITH THE $6,000 DIFFERENCE TO BE FREE FROM THE CAR. THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YRS OLD WHEN I TRIED TO TRADE IT IN! SO, I FEEL I GOT RIPPED OFF WITH A LEMON THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CALLING THE FINANCE COMPANY AND VOLUNTARILY GIVING THE CAR BACK, BUT THEN MY CREDIT WILL SHOW A REPOSSESSION, WHICH IS NOT FAIR BEING THAT THE CONSUMERS WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS BEFORE WE BOUGHT THEM.*AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS JAMMED AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO BE WITHDRAWN FOR PROPER USE.*AK

TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 15421 MY IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, PREVENTING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH WHO REPLACED THE SWITH FOR $275. THE LOCKSMITH SAID HE HAD SEEN DOZENS OF FORD FOCUSES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SOMETHING HE BLAME ON A DEFECTIVE SET OF TUMBLERS WITHIN THE SWITCH.

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER ONLY 67,000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE STALL DURING TURN. DEALER SAYS IT WAS DUE TO BAD FUEL PUMP AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

I HAD TWO PROBLEMS OCCUR CONCURRENTLY ON MY 46,000 MILE CAR--AND THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP I BROUGHT IT TO TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS. 1) THE IGNITION BARREL GOES STIFF WITH LITTLE WARNING, AND APPARENTLY LEADS TO A JAM, EARLY IN THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAR. 2) THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING, APPARENTLY DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE ACTUACTOR IN ONE OF THE REAR DOORS, SO THAT THE CAR NO LONGER LOCKS *LA

THE DRIVER PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HARD START. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE TO DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS DIRTY AND BY CLEANING IT WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SCC THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE FUEL PUMP OR THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *AK

REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE THEN STALL. *AK

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS DUE TO VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. (NAR) *LA

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2000 FORD FOCUS.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CAME OFF IN THE DRIVER'S HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A LOANER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. *NLM THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A BOLT BREAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROX. 25 MPH. *MJJ *CB

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS 2000 SE 4 DR SEDAN. IT WAS BOUGHT AS NEW CAR 11/1999 AND CURRENTLY HAS 39500 CAREFULLY DRIVEN MILES. EARLIER THIS AUTUMN AN AMBER DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING. AT FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DECODE ITS MEANING FROM VEHICLE'S MANUAL, I LEARNED IT WAS THE 'AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE/COOLING' WARNING LIGHT ON ZTEC EQUIPPED MODELS (LIKE MINE). I TOOK IT TO LINCOLN MERCURY DEAL (WHERE I HAVE HAD MY FOCUS REPAIRED OFTEN): 'BARON LINCOLN MERCURY' IN FLUSHING, NEW YORK WHERE THEY PERFORMED A COMPUTERIZED CHECK OF SYMPTOMS. I WAS TOLD SERVICE WRITER THERE WERE 'CODES' WHICH INDICATED SOLENOID AND GEAR RATIO PROBLEMS IN 2ND AND 4TH. I WASN'T SURE WHAT ALL THAT MEANT BUT SEEMED LIKE GOOD IDEA TO TAKE ADVICE AND SCHEDULE ANOTHER MORE DETAILED INSPECTION FOR POSSIBLE REPAIRS; THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY WAS AROUND 10 DAYS FROM THAT DAY AND I TOOK IT. I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE LIGHT HAD NOT CONTINUED TO REMAIN 'ON' FOLLOWING THE 1ST TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO BARON ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND ON MONDAY FOLLOWING IT, I SAW SAME LIGHT TO COME 'ON. THAT DAY I CALLED LOCAL AAMCO DEALER AND AGREED TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT THERE THE NEXT MORNING WHERE THEIR COMPUTER FOUND SAME THING. I AGREED TO LET AAMCO OPEN UP TRANSMISSION FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP AND THAT AFTERNOON WAS TOLD THAT NEEDED REPAIRS TOTALLING APPROXIMATELY $2700. I AGREED TO LET AAMCO PERFORM WORK AFTER HAVING FIRST CONTACTED THE SAME SERVICE WRITER AT BARON LINCOLN-MERCURY WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY VERY SELDOM DID TRANSMISSION WORK AND THAT IF THEY DID IT'D COST AROUND $2700. SINCE AAMCO'S SPECIALTY IS TRANSMISSIONS, IT MADE SENSE TO PROCEED. I AM A TWO TIME FORD CUSTOMER ('96 AND '2000) AND WON'T PERMIT THE IDEA OF BUYING ANOTHER TO CROSS MY MIND. *LA

MY CAR STALLED THREE TIMES IN A ONE HOUR PERIOD - TWICE ACCELERATING OUT OF A TOLL BOOTH, ONCE EXITING AND OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A SHARP RIGHT HAND CURVE. CARS SPEEDING OUT OF THE TOLLBOOTH CAME CLOSE TO HITTING ME FROM BEHIND. WHEN MY CAR STALLED OUT DURING THE RIGHT HAND EXIT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO STRAIGHT INTO AN EMBANKMENT. *LA

CURRENTLY OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS WAGON WITH APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WE HAVE HAD 2 BREAKDOWNS THAT COULD OF VERY EASILY ENDED TRAGICALLY. 1ST: 3 MONTHS AGO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING SHEARED IN HALF. THE SHARP SHEAR OF THE SPRING WENT INTO THE TIRE AND ENDED RIPPED IT APART. THANK GOD MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE ONLY GOING 25 MPH. 2ND: 1 WEEK AGO THE FUEL LINE CLIP ATTACHING THE FUEL LINE TO THE GAS TANK BURST INTO PIECES IN A PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL STORE AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND. AGAIN, THANK GOD NOBODY WAS SMOKING NEARBY. *LA

LIKE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENT COMPLAINTS TO THIS SIGHT, I TOO HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS WHAT SET ME OVER THE EDGE WITH FORD THOUGH. I TRIED PUTTING MY KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR TODAY AND IT WOULDN'T GO IN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, I GAVE UP AND CALLED A TOWING COMPANY. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER, I LEARNED THAT THE TUMBLER WAS BAD AND THE WHOLE IGNITION PIECE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHAT WAS I TO DO? I NEED MY CAR TO RUN, SO AT A REPLACEMENT FEE OF $430 DOLLARS, MY IGNITION WAS WORKING ONCE AGAIN. AS SOON AS I GOT HOME, I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SVS. AND MADE MY 2ND FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THE CAR. I WAS DISMISSED AS USUAL AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOUR SITE. AFTER REVIEWING 50 PLUS COMPLAINTS, I NOTICED THAT AT LEAST 5 ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. HOW MANY CARS DOES THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO FOR THIS TO BECOME A RECALLED ITEM? *LA

VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE WIRE HARNESS AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 000 V 411 000, BUT THEIR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. TS BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE AT TIMES ALSO ABS LIGHT COMES AND DASH AND DOME LIGHT GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TRUNK RELEASE INOPERATIVE. LATCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TT

THE STARTER SWICTH ON MY FORD FOCUS BROKE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER DUE TO IMPACT WITH THE AIR BAGS THE DRIVER DIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM CONSUMER STATE THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS HIS MOTHER IN LAW HAD A HEART CONDITION WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PASS OUT AND HUNCH OVER THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE DRIVER VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND RAN INTO A PARKED CAR. AN EYE WITNESS SAW THE DRIVER HUNCHED OVER THE WHEEL PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INTO THE CHEST OF THE DRIVER RESULTING IN BLUNT FORCE CHEST INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIED OF INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE ANY BROKEN BONES. CW

WE HAVE HAD THE IGNITION FREEZE UP ON US THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE LAST TIME BEING YESTERDAY. THE FIRST HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MI. (I CAN'T FIND THE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS, BUT IT IS ON FILE AT HARROLD FORD IN SACRAMENTO, CA). THE SECOND OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAD A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES (NOVEMBER OF 2002). NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES, AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. EACH TIME, WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TRAPPED IN A PARKING GARAGE AT A MED CLINIC WITH A VERY SICK BABY. THE SECOND TIME WE WERE TRAPPED FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND IN LAKE TAHOE BEFORE THE CAR COULD BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE REPAIRS REQUIRED ON THIS SAME EXACT ITEM, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A DESIGN FLAW. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $150 PER OCCURENCE TO FORD TO FIX IT AND AAA HAS TO ASSUME THE COST FOR TOWING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING US UP, IF WE ARE STRANDED OUT OF TOWN (WE HAVE A AAA PLUS MEMBERSHIP). THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS SAME THING HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ON THEIR FOCUSES? I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE INVESTIGATED. *LA

2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS: THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY CAR AND MY KEY WON'T SLIDE IN. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND FIXED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $400. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND ONE THAT OCCURS FREQUENTLY FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY TIME AND IN ANY PLACE. I AM 7 MONTHS PREGNANT...WHAT IF I HAD BEEN STRANDED AND NEEDED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN EMERGENCY? *LA