2000 Ford Focus Tires & Wheels Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the road. The contact allowed the vehicle to sit for several minutes and then restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed passenger’s side rear-wheel bearing, and a failed brake drum. The contact was informed that the passenger’s side rear-wheel bearing, and brake drum needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that within a week the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times, and two times the vehicle had to be towed. The contact stated that a local dealer owner went to the residence and inspected the vehicle. The contact was informed that the rear passenger’s side wheel had a lot of play. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000.

THE REAR PASSENGER BEARING HAS FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THE BEARINGS APPEAR TO BE RECALLED ON THE YEAR AND MAKE OF MY VEHICLE BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM. NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01I017000,

COMPLAINT AGAINT GENERAL ALTIMAX RT TIRES, SIZE 195/60R15. EXTREAMLY LARGE BUBBLES IN SIDEWALLS IN 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES ON OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS. I JUST PURCHASED THE 2 FRONT TIRES 4/2/2014 AND THE BACK 2 TIRES JULY 2013.. 1 TIRE, RIGHT REAR WENT FLAT THE OTHER DAY, FOUND LARGE HOLE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE, IT APEARED NOTHING HAD PUNTURED THE TIRE. I DID NOT THINK NOTHING OF IT AT 1ST. TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER TO HAVE TIRE REPACED, WHICH THEY DID. WHILE AT THE FORD DEALER, THEY POINT OUT LARGE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES, THOSE 2 TIRES WERE JUST PURCHASED A LITTLE MORE THAN 1 MONTH AGO AND ONLY DRIVEN 2870 MILES. I CALLED GENEAL TIRE COMPANY AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT THE SELLER OF THE TIRE, TIRE SELLER SAYS TO SEE THE TIRE COMPANY TO GET ADDRESSED. THE TIRE BUBBLES ARE VERY LARGE AND A DANGEROUS CONDITION, THESE TIRES COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME, THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITH THESE TIRES. I JUST PURCHASED 2 TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND FOR THE FRONT OF THE CAR, WHILE I FIGHT WITH GENERAL TIRE COMPANY. I WORKED AS A TECHNICIAN FOR A FORD DEALER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AS MY PRIOR PROFESSION. I HAVE NEVER SEEN TIRES FOR HUGE BUBBLES LIKE THESE GENERAL TIRES. THESE GENERAL TIRES ARE SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE. I WILL NEVER BUY GENERAL TIRES AGAIN. *JS

THE WAL-MART STORE 4379 ON BUSH RIVER RD IN COLUMBIA SC HAS FAILED TO GIVE/ FILL OUT THE TIRE REGISTRATION CARDS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THEY SELL BETWEEN 100 AND 150 TIRES A WEEK AND ABSOLUTELY NO REGISTRATION CARDS ARE BEING FILLED OUT. THIS CAN BE PROVEN BY LOOKING UP THE TIRE SALES FOR ANY DAY AND THEN WATCH THE VIDEO RECORDINGS OVER THE FRONT COUNTER AND YOU WILL SEE THAT NO CARDS ARE BEING HANDED OUT. I KNOW WHAT A SAFETY ISSUE THIS IS AND I HAVE TRIED TO HANDLE IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND THE STORE IS REFUSING TO START HANDING THEM OUT. I KNOW THAT THERE IS AT LEAST A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE PER CARD NOT HANDED OUT AND BY MY CALCULATION THIS WALMART ALONE HAS AROUND $3,250,000.00 IN FINES. I HATE FOR WALMART TO BE FINED THIS MUCH BUT I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY ARE JUST NOT FIXING IT AND I AM AFRAID THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON TIRES AND PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR TIRES THERE WANT KNOW AND MIGHT GET HURT. FOR THE DATE BELOW I JUST PUT A RANDOM DATE BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 7 MONTHS. THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THEM START DOING THINGS RIGHT IS A HEFTY FINE. IN MY MIND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND PEOPLES LIVES COULD BE AT STAKE. I BE LEAVE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN 7 MONTHS, BUT ALL I CAN SPEAK FOR IS THE LAST 7 MONTHS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE WAL-MART IS REFUSING TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS FOR BEING A TIRE RETAILER. IF YOU LOOK INTO IT AND THE CARDS HAVEN'T BEEN HANDED OUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND SAY THEY ONLY SALE 100 TIRES A WEEK AT 5000 DOLLAR FINE PER TIRE THEN THE FINES ADD UP TO $26,000,000.00 PLEASE HELP ME TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF A TIRE RECALL LIKE THE FIRESTONE INCIDENT A FEW YEARS BACK. I CALLED TO FIND OUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINANT AND THE MAN SENT ME THIS FORM BUT MY COMPLAINANT IS FOR ALL TIRES THEY SALE NOT JUST GOOD YEAR. ITS FOR ALL TIRES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR END OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD FEEL LOOSE DRIVEN OVER 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE FELT SIMILAR TO THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V303000 (WHEELS: LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) YET WHEN THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL IN 2002. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE BEARINGS FAILED EVEN AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1470,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SHE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. SHE PULLED OVER BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. SHE SMELLED SMOKE BUT THERE WAS NONE VISIBLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE WHEEL. THE TIRE BEARING AND DRUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS ALSO BURNED AS WELL. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL 00V303000 (WHEELS: LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) WHICH SEEMED TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ

FALKEN ZIEX ZE-512, AUTOMOBILE TIRES, SIDEWALL RUBBER BADLY CRACKING ALMOST TO THE RADIALS, NOTICED AFTER 2.5 YRS AND LESS THAN 17000 MILES. ALL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE EQUALLY AFFECTED/ DAMAGED. NO VIN HAS BEEN SUPPLIED AS THESE TIRES WERE AN AFTERMARKET PURCHASE, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THERE WAS A BUMPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. HE NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED AWAY. THE TIRE WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE WHEEL. HE MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TIRE AND RIM WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 196,400. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF THE CENTER OF THE RIM REMAINED BOLTED TO THE VEHICLE, BUT A LARGER PORTION OF THE RIM SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/18/09.*JB

LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED AT 109,563 KILOMETERS (68,000 MILES). LUCKILY STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED CAUSE OF NOISE. WHEEL WAS WOBBLING, AND WOULD HAVE SHORTLY FALLEN OFF, OR SEIZED, POTENTIALLY CAUSING CAR TO SERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. REMOVED WHEEL AND REPLACED BEARING MYSELF. ROLLER BEARINGS IN PIECES, WHEEL HUB VERY HOT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT BUT APPARENTLY MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED AS I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED. 2000 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. SPORADICALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A VIBRATING SENSATION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AND BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY WERE ABNORMALLY LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. HE SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT BACKED OFF THE HUB ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,056 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,040.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000 (WHEELS, LUGS, NUTS/BOLTS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NUMBER 01I017000 (WHEELS, LUGS, NUTS/BOLTS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS OVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I017000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS) ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE RESIDING ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE WHERE HE RESIDES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN DECEMBER OF 2007 DURING MASSIVE FLOODS AND SNOW STORMS. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE HEAD SALES DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN THE REGIONAL LOCATION AS THE RECALL STATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I017000 (WHEELS: LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF ON THE FREE WAY AND 2 PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. *TR

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL LITERALLY ALMOST CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO ADVANCED WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I SIMPLY HEARD A WHINING NOISE (AND A COUPLE OF CLICKING SOUNDS) MOMENTS BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

2000 FORD FOCUS. VEHICLE WAS WESTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE LEFT LANE, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE INTO THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OFF CONTROL AND SPUN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD STRIKING THE MEDIAN WALL. *MC (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF HIS VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE RECURRED, ESPECIALLY WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V303000 (WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES NOW. I GET A FLAT TIRE. PULL OVER, JACK UP THE CAR, TAKE OFF THE LUG NUTS, THEN FIND MYSELF UNABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. IT IS LIKE THE WHEEL RIM HAS FROZEN OR SEIZED ONTO THE HUB. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST YESTERDAY NIGHT. I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK HIGHWAY WHEN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT (NAIL IN THE TIRE). I WAS ALONE, AND I'M A FEMALE - WITH GOOD UPPER BODY STRENGTH. IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF SO I COULD PUT ON THE SPARE, A TRUCK PULLED OVER AND A STRANGE MAN OFFERED TO HELP. THIS GUY WAS BIG, LIKE ARNOLD SCHWARZENNEGER, BUT EVEN HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF! THANK GOD HE WAS A NICE PERSON AND NOT SOME FREAK RAPIST OR MURDERER. HE CALLED A TOW COMPANY FOR ME, WHO TOWED ME TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY HAD TO USE A SMALL JACK-HAMMER LIKE THING TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN! AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *NM

TIRE SEPARATION/CRACKING LINGLONG L688 TIRES 205 40 ZR 17. *NM