2001 Ford Focus Brakes Problems

BRAKES REPLACED AT 48,763 MILES WE ARE NOW AT 77,000. FOR THE LAST 2-3,000 MILES IF FEELS LIKE AIR IN THE LINE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE IT DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE, THERE IS A GAP BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE & THE GAP IS GROWING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS NO NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE ACTIONS. *TR

BEFORE I FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, IT WAS EXAMINED THOROUGHLY BY A MECHANIC. THE 2001 FORD FOCUS' TITLE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME A WEEK AND A HALF PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH, IT WAS A MISTY DAY AND THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. I SLOWED DOWN WHEN I SAW AN ACCIDENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED AND I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH SPACE FOR ME TO STOP SAFELY, BUT I SLID. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED, WHICH SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE PERSON FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAD MENTIONED SHE HADN'T LIKED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKES, EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UTILIZED IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE REAR-BRAKE KNUCKLE LINE HAD FAILED. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 152,000.

I WAS DRIVING FROM HOME TO GO TO MY PARENT HOME. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. MY BRAKES FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BY DOWN SHIFTING AND HAND BRAKES AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR GARAGE. THE REPAIR GARAGE FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER HAD BLOWN OUT AND WAS SQUIRTING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER. THIS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JULY 2007 WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER HAD FAILED ON THE FREEWAY, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE - ODI # 10304293. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND TAKE ACTION TO RECALL THIS SERIOUS LIFE DAMAGING COMPONENT ON A OTHERWISE GOOD VEHICLE. *TR

BOUGHT NEW IN '01 FORD FOCUS. NOTICED RIGHT OFF BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND SQUEAK. TIRES WERE WORN REAL BAD ON INSIDE ON ONE FRONT SIZE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. REPEATED ALIGNMENTS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. STILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IT MISSING DURING ACCELERATION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN FEBRUARY 2005 AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED SENSORS THAT HAD RECALL,WAS RECALL CODE P0401. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY SAID THAT WE WERE USING GAS THAT WAS DIRTY AND WAITING TOO LATE TO PUT GAS INTO THE CAR AND THAT WAS WHY IT WAS STALLING. WE PAID $272.98 FOR THEM TO REPLACE THIS WHOLE SECTION THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL BEING FILTERED. CAR LOSES POWER AND STUTTERS GOING AROUND CURVES WITH EVEN OVER A HALF A TANK OF GAS. STALLING TO THE POINT WE MUST PULL OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AFRAID OF ACCIDENT! I OWN CAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND IT JERKS AND SPUTTERS LIKE SOME PIECE OF CRAP FROM JD BYRIDER! EVERYTIME WE START THE CAR YOU SMELL OIL BURNING FOR15 MINUTES AFTERWARDS. HAD IT CHECKED NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING COULD BE FOUND. APRIL OF 2005 NOTICED WHEN THE CAR IDLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE THERMOSTAT WOULD SHOW SHOOT UP SHOWING IT WAS RUNNING HOT! TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING. WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. RETESTED IT AND WAS TOLD PROBLEM SOLVED. OUR BILL WAS $375.00. THIS WAS FIRST BRAND NEW CAR AND WAS TAKEN WELL CARE OF, IT ONLY HAS AROUND 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SILENT RECALL ON THESE FOR THE ENGINE PROBLEMS AND THEY WERE BEING FIXED FOR NO COST TO THE OWNER. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL AND PAID FOR ALL OF THIS OUT OF POCKET .CAR IS PAID OFF NOW AND CANNOT ENJOY HAVING A PAID OFF CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE BECAUSE WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR THAT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH OUR KIDS! TIME GOES ON AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. SOMETIMES NOT WANTING TO START AT ALL! ENGINE STILL STALLS DESPITE ALL THESE REPAIRS. *TR

2001 FORD FOCUS HAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. *KB

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED, THEREFORE, I USED BRAKES. THE BRAKES FAILED. I HAD BARELY ENOUGH TIME AND SPACE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LANE AND THEREBY HITTING OTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR GARAGE AND BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER BLEW OUT AND THEREFORE BRAKES FAILURE. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE FREEWAY. I AVOIDED KILLING MYSELF AND OTHERS DUE TO MY SAFE DRIVING TRAINING AT THE BARBER SCHOOL, GIVEN TO ME BY MY PARENTS WHEN I TURNED 18. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES SO OTHER PEOPLE WILL NOT DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

BRAKES HAVE BEEN FAILING FREQUENTLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO BE REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR WAS NEARLY II THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE BRAKES WORKED. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF THE BRAKES CAN NOT BE REPAIRED PROPERLY BY EVEN THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZTECH. MY CAR WAS STALLING AT RANDOM IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND FINALLY WOULDNT START AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID MY BATTERY CABLES WERE MELTED, SO THEY REPLACED THEM, REROUTED THEM, ALONG WITH MY CLIPS, ETC. THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY MY CABLES WOULD BE LIKE THAT AND SAID THAT IS PROBABLY WHY MY CAR DOESN'T START ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY COULDN'T BE POSITIVE SO THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE MY STARTER AS WELL. THEY CHARGED ME $998. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME IN PREVIOUS YEARS. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE RECALL SITE AND SEE THAT FORD STARTED A RECALL IN 2003 ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T I RECEIVE RECALL INFORMATION ON MY CAR? I'VE STALLED BEFORE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD MY BATTERY REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS TOO MUCH. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN'S SAFETY TO WORRY ABOUT. WHAT BOTHERS ME IN ADDITION TO THAT IS THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I USED SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS RECALL AND RELATED IT TO MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP GETTING NEW BATTERIES/CABLES AND STARTERS. ALSO, MY KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EITHER, EVEN THOUGH MY DEALER SAID IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AT LEAST $400 TO FIX IT. I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN STUCK AT A STORE TWICE. IT JUST WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. *NM

IGNITION NOT TURNING ON 2001 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE READ A MESSAGE BOARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD BUYER BUT AM CONSIDERING CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT MAKE. *NM

BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 24,000 MILES; CONTINUES GRINDING AND SQUEAKING CONTINUE EVEN FOLLOWING BRAKE REPLACEMENT AND TURNING OF ROTORS; AT HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES TWO TIMES, WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON EACH SET OF TIRES; IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED - I COULD GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT ROTATE; NOW AT ONLY 41,000 MILES, THE ENGINE ATTEMPTS TO STALL IN IDLE - THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERS - AND HAS STALLED TWICE WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY TWO CHILDREN AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. IN REVIEWING THIS SITE, I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. WHY DOESN'T THE NHTSA ISSUE RECALLS ON FORD FOCUS FOR THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS? FORD SHOULD RECALL THE WHOLE LINE AND ISSUE REFUNDS TO CUSTOMERS OR CANCEL THEIR REMAINING LOAN PAYMENTS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO CHILDREN, WHO CANNOT AFFORD COSTLY REPAIRS. THE ATTITUDE OF THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IS AWFUL, AND THEY HAVE TREATED ME BADLY EVERY TIME I HAVE GONE IN THERE, SO THAT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE THE CAR IN WITH THIS LATEST PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE LINE FAILURE, BRACKET FELL OFF AND WORE BRAKE LINE IN TWO NO WARNING. BRAKES FAILED ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF PROBLEM, TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. 2001 FORD FOCUS 120000 MILES. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE DUE TO THIS FAILURE.*AK

WENT SO SEARS AUTO CENTER AT 9570 SOUTH WEST FREEWAY HOUSTON TEXAS 77074. FOR A TIRE CHANGE THEY CHARGE 156.00 AND ALSO TOLD ME THAT MY CAR ROTORS WERE BROKEN AND NEED SHOE/PAD TO BE REPLACED. AND CAR NOT TO BE DRIVEN. TOTAL AMOUNT 571.00. CALLED NEXT MORNING TO CANCEL WORK BECAUSE I DECIDED TO TAKE TO DEALER FORD. BUT THAT TIME CAR WASN'T FIXED YET CAUSE THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FIRST BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD WITH ME THAT NIGHT SO I LEFT IT THERE AND TOOK BUS. THEY CHARGE 271. NEXT MORNING FOR SOME SHOE/PAD WHICH I TOOK MY CAR THE THE REGULAR MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SEARS DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ON MY CAR. SO I PAY THAT MANY MY CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED. I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO MOVE. SO PLEASE HELP ME TO TO GET MY MONEY BACK OR TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *JB

DT: 2001 FORD FOCUS THE ACTUAL BRAKE PEDAL BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH. SHE STATES THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL ON BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE ACTUAL PEDAL TO SWING. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE STILL OWNS THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED. HIS NECK IS FRACTURED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS.*AK

2001 FORD FOCUS ROTORS (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE) WERE SHREDDED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE ONLY HALF WORN.*MR *JB *NM

MY WIFE CALLED ME AT WORK AND SAID SHE HAD NO BRAKES AND RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN. SHE WAS ABLE TO GO TO MY JOB. AFTER LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL HAD BEEN RUBBING ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINE. IT HAD WORN ITSELF INTO THE WHEEL WELL ABOUT A 1/4 INCH. IT FINALLY CRACKED THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING FLUID AND LOSS OF PRESSURE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF ORDERING A NEW BRAKE LINE TO INSTALL, AND HAVE A VERY HARD TIME FINDING THIS PART.*AK

I HAVE REPLACED MY ROTORS AND BRAKES 3 TIMES ALREADY AND NOW THEY ARE STARTING TO MAKE THAT SOUND AGAIN WHERE IT STARTS TO DRAG. I JUST REPLACED MY BRAKES IN MAY OF 2004 AND I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT 8,000 MILES. I STILL HAVE 4,000 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. I TOOK IT IN TO BILL PIERRE FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL TO HAVE THIS NIOSE AND THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF BRAKE LEFT. I AM THINKING THAT THEY ARE WANTING ME TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE WARRANTY IS UP SO I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND PAY OUT OF MY POCKET INSTEAD OF JUST REPLACEING THEM NOW! I AM VERY IRRITATED NOW CAUSE I CAN NOT GET ANY HELP AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME ANOTHER $600.00 DOLLARS!! I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEM 3 TIMES OUT OF MY POCKET . WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH FORD HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS!*AK

2001 FORD FOCUS REQUIRES COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT (INCLUDING ROTORS) EVERY 20,000 MILES. *AK

SO MANY PROBLEMS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, OK LETS TALK ABOUT THE DOORS. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2001 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY STARTED EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES. THE TRUNK WOULDN'T LATCH AND THE DOOR LIGHT WOULD BE ON OR IT WOULD LATCH BUT WOULDN'T COME OPEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THEY WOULD "ADJUST"IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WOULD BE BACK IN A DAY OR TWO, AND IT WAS GETTING WORSE. THE DOORS STARTED TO JAM,AND FLY OPEN WHILE MOVING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US TO CALL FORD COMPANY COMPLAINT LINE AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MILEAGE PROBLEM,AND THEY EXPLICITLY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP. WE HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THE FORD MOTOR CO. MANY TIMES AND THEY ARE NO LONGER HELPING,EVEN THOUGH THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER SAID THE DOORS HAD INTERNAL DAMAGE. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM AND THE LAST TIME OUR 9 YR.OLD WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE CAR HAD HE NOT BEEN WEARING HIS SEATBELT. OH,YES THEN THERE IS THE SEATBELTS,BRAKE LINES, DOOR KNOBS,BRAKE ROTORS,FUEL PUMP,WHEEL BEARINGS THE LIST GOES ON WE HAVE A LEMON PLEASE CONTACT US TO HELP. *JB

MY BRAKES FAILED DUE TO LIP AND WARPAGE CREATED ON FRONT ROTORS. BRAKES FAILED WITHIN 10,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. BRAKES WERE REPLACED AGAIN AND OLD LIPPED ROTORS AVAILABLE. THIS WAS THE THIRD SET ON MY CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES. *NM