2001 Ford Focus Complaint Log

TWICE SINCE BUYING THIS CAR EXPERIENCED COMPLETE STALLING ON THE HWY--ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND NEARLY HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT

AT ABOUT 14,000 MILES I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS CUPPING AND MAKING NOISE. FORD CHARGED TO REVISE ALIGNMENT AND THEN RECOMMENDED FOUR NEW GOODYEAR TIRES.*AK

# OF THE ORGINAL WHEELS BENT. WARRANTY REPLACED 2 OUT OF 3, NOW ALL 4 ARE BENT AGAIN. FORD IS FINDING THIS PROBLEM AT THERE PROVING GROUNDS IN ROMEO MI. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS! THE WHEEL HAS BEEN CHANGED FOR THE 2003 FOCUS. DT

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH TACHOMETER DROPPING TO ZERO OR NEAR ZERO WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR 6 TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AS IF IT HAD RUN OUT OF GASOLINE WITH AN ALMOST FULL TANK. AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART.THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 15 TO 65 MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JG

EXCESSIVE DUST AND DIRT ENTERING CAR. BELIEVED TO BE COMING IN THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP 5 OR MORE TIMES FOR REPAIRS FOR THE EXCESSIVE DUST PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM... CAR IS NOW JUST ABOVE MILES FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE AND FORD WILL NOT RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE STRUCTURE CAUSING INSIDE OF REAR DOORS TO BE COVERED IN DUST AND AS DRIVING CAR DUST LEAKS INTO CAR CREATING A CIRCULATING CLOUD OF DUST FLOATING INSIDE THE CAR. DAUGHTER HAS ALLERGIES AND CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEM. HARD TO EVEN BREATH WHILE DRIVING CAR DOWN 1 MILE OF GRAVEL ROAD. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN AND FORD IS REFUSING TO EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. PROBLEM FIRST BEGAIN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. DUST CONTINUED TO WORSEN SO REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP MAY 2002. DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON VEHICLE 5 TIMES SINCE MAY 2002. DUST CONTINUES TO WORSEN. FORD REFUSING TO HELP. CANNOT KEEP ANYTHING IN CAR OR WILL BE LAYERED IN DUST. REAR DOORS BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN UNLESS OILED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK... MUST CLEAN CAR (DUST INTERIOR) AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IF NOT MORE OFTEN DUE TO SO MUCH DUST LAYERING INSIDE OF DOORS, SEATS ARE FULL OF DUST.*AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS BODY. *AK CONSUMER WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BURNT HIS LEFT HAND. *JG

VEHICLE DELIVERED ON 6/14/01. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING GEAR WAS NOT STABLE. THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE SPEED WOULD HIT UP TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FRONT END REPAIRS ON TWO OCCASIONS 8/16/01 & 2/14/02. SHORTLY BEFORE 5/26/02 I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF VIBRATION ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE MEDIAN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

VEHICLE DELIVERED ON 6/1/01. SOON AFTER I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING GEAR NOT BEING STABLE. THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE ONCE I WOULD BEGIN PICKING UP SPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR FRONT END REPAIRS ON 8/16/01 & 2/14/02. ON 5/26/02 I LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, HIT THE MEDIAN AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT I NOTICED A GREAT DEAL OF VIBRATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP THE REAR END OF VEHICLE GOES FROM SIDE TO SIDE LIKE ITS LOOSING TRACTION OF THE ROAD. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. JBCONSUMER FURTHER STATES THE VEHICLE USED TO GIVE THEM 300 MILES WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL TO EMPTY. NOW THE VEHICLE GIVES THEM 180 MILES. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS AND HAS BEEN STALLING. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING MECHANISM IS GETTING LOOSER THE MORE CONSUMER DRIVES, THE LOOSER STEERING WHEEL GETS. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN STEERING AND THAT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *JB THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS DECREASING FROM 300 MILES TO 200 MILES AND THEN TO 180 MILES FOR A FULL TANK OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES STALLING AND CHANGING GEARS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. *YH

TOLD WALDORF FORD THAT THE CAR WAS LEANING WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. WENT OUT OF TOWN AND A FAMILY MEMBER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, "DID YOU KNOW YOUR REAR AXLE IS BENT AND THE WHEELS ARE BRRING INWARD." I TOLD THEM WHAT WE WERE TOLD, THEY SAID WE NEED TO TAKE IT BACK & HAVE FORD FIX IT. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE OUR CALLS TO MAKE APPOINTMENT TO FIX.*AK

BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE CAR, THEY DIDN'T LOCK, AND I DON'T HAVE ABS. RADIO LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THEN CLEARS UP AND IS GOOD FOR A WHILE. HAD INCIDENCES OF CAR JERKING/STUTTERING WHEN COASTING AT SURFACE STREET SPEEDS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD NOTHING WRONG. DEAL WITH JONES WEST FORD, BOUGHT CAR FROM INTERNET AUTO SALES. DT

STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE TRANSIMISSION WOULD CLATTER AT ANY SPEED. CLATTER BECAME PRONOUNCED AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND IT HAD A BAD BEARING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ONE. WHILE THE CAR HAS 60K ON IT ALL THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY AS I DRIVE IT 100 MILES ROUND TRIP PER DAY.*JB

AT 75 MPH ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, AND THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER REPORTED BATTERY FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED. *TT *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN 45 MPH, ANYTHING OVER FELT AS IF HE WAS LOSING CONTROL AND DRIVING THROUGH A CONTINUOUS PUDDLE, SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, TIRES ONLY HAD 6500 MILES ON THEM, DUNLOP SP SPORT W-10, P205/50R16, DOTU22V4M61501MA2520. *YH

THIS VEHICLE HAS HESITATED/STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS SINCE NEW. FINALLY IN MAY, 2002, THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, WITH NO SHOULDERS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN LESS THAN A WEEK THE ENGINE HESITATED AGAIN, AND HAS DONE SO SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN FIND NOTHING ELSE WRONG. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. SINCE OUR WARRANTY WILL BE UP IN A FEW MONTHS, I GUESS THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR. WHY ARE YOU WAITING?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STARTS TO FLICKER, WITHOUT WARNING. THEN THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE BURNS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT, KEITH COUTURE, STATES NOT TO CONTACT CLIENT, ADDRESS AND PHONE ABOVE ARE THAT OF THE ATTORNEY). *YH

WHILE DRIVING THE TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE ABOUT 60MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT INTO TWO SEPARATED PIECE OF TREAD. FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK , DOT NUMBER W279. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT LESS THAN 20MPH. NECK INJURY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

BRAKES WILL MAKE SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE PASSENGER' SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO BUMPS OR SUDDEN STOP THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, MOST OFTEN WHEN COMING OFF OF A RIGHT TURN RAMP. *SCC

VEHICLE WAS GOING 20 MPH AND ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT STALLED WHEN PUT IT IN DRIVE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INSISTED THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE DETECTED. *AK THE DEALER UPLUGGED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE'S STALLING BUT, AND PROBLEM HAD NEVER REOCCURRED. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUT DOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FOCUS WAGON ON INTERSTATE OFF RAMPS IT STARTS TO STALL AND HESITATE. THE RPMS DROP OUT WITH ABSOLUTLY NO POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS REALLY SCARY. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY WHILE IWAS MERGING FROM A RAMP AND MY CAR DIED OUT INFRONT OF A SEMI TRYING TO GET ONTO THE RAMP.I PULLED OVER AS FAR AS I COULD TO GET OUT OF HIS WAY HE LOCKED UP HIS BRAKES. I TAKE THIS SAME RAMP ALL THE TIME SINCE ITS ONMY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THIS PROBLEM STARTS IF I LET THE GAS GET BELOW A 1/2 TANK. I BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I AM BRINGING IT BACK TOMORROW AGAIN TO HAVE THEY FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM AT MY WITS END WITH THIS. I TOLD MY FAMILY ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAID IF I GET KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON A RAMP IT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OF IT DYING. AND TO GO AFTER FORD FOR THIS. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS SO THEY KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I WENT OVER YOUR OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHISCLE/ IT IS UNREAL THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE IN COMMON WITH THEM, IT WORRYS ME. I WAS GOING TO GIVE THIS CAR TO MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE SHE 16 BUT NOT NOW. I WANT HER TO COME HOME IN ONE PIECE. I HAVE HAD A WATER NOISE IN THE DASH THEY CANT FIND, STICKING GAS PEDAL NOW FIX FOR NOE AFTER 2 TIMES IN THE SHOP. THE OIL SMELL IN THE CAR. LEAKING OIL I SEE IN IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND WHERE ITS COMMING FROM. I WISH I KNEW MORE ABOUT THE LEMON LAW A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME NOW BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE. I DRIVE ABOUT 100 MILES A DAY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL AFTERWARDS JIGGLE AROUND. TOOK TO DEALER, AND TUMBLERS REPLACED. ALSO, TAILGATES ARE TOO HIGH. CONSUMER HAS INJURED SHOULDERS OPENING AND CLOSING THE TAILGATES.*AK

DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON ARM FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 40 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS LISTED AS USED BUT HAD ONLY 600 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. WE HAVE NOT SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT I FEEL THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 14,800 MILES ON A NEW CAR. THE SERVICE MANUAL STATES THAT YOU DO NOT NEED A BRAKE INSPECTION UNTIL 15,000 MILES, HOWEVER, MY CAR ALREADY HAS ROTOR DAMAGE. THE DEALER AS WELL AS FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAID THE MANUAL IS "WRONG." I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN BRAKE SYSTEMS GIVE OUT, WITHOUT WARNING, WELL BEFORE THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. I AM HAVING MY BRAKES FIXED TODAY ELSEWHERE SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $500 TO FIX THE DAMAGE. THERE IS A WEBSITE OUT THERE CALLED WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM WHERE YOU CAN FIND A LARGE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FORD FOCUS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. YH

I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AT APPROX 20 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG BURST A FLAME AND SMOKE, BURNED MY BLOUSE AND BRA, AND BURNED ME WITH SECOND TO THIRD DEGREE BURNS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

GRINDING, POPPING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

THE DATE LISTED IS THE FIRST FAILURE DATE. THE SENSOR WENT OUT AND THE CAR KEPT RUNNING. ON 7/1/02, THE SENSOR FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME A FUSE BLEW AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WITH 3 PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHO "REPAIRED" THE CAR AND I ARRIVED ON 7/3/02 TO PICK IT UP. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PART FAILED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THE PART FAILED ANOTHER TWO TIMES WHILE THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY, THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE CAR HAS RUN SINCE THEN. I FINALLY PICKED UP THE REPAIRED CAR ON 7/10/02. I CONTACTED FORD (THE CORPORATION), WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THERE WERE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED MY CAR, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS "A BAD FORD PART" AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT UNTIL FORD CAME OUT WITH A NEW PART. I TOLD FORD WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONTACTED THE TECHNICIAN WHO DENIED SAYING THAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON FORD TO ASSURE THAT THIS VEHICLE RUNS PROPERLY AND PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS, BUT MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY THE NEXT TIME.*AK

BRAKES MADE NOISE AT 2057MILES ON 6/22/01 - DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME AFTER INSPECTION "COLD PADS" - BRAKES MADE NOISE AT 2383 MILES ON 7/3/01 - DEALER ADVISED ME AFTER INSPECTION "GLAZED PADS" - NOW AT 16,000 MILES - (ALWAYS MADE NOISE) BRAKE PADS GONE - ROTORS RUINED - (TOM RIVERS) AT DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE.

VEHICLE SPUTTERS IN WARM WEATHER LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. NLM

VEHICLE IS SPUTTERING IN WARM WEATHER, LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER YET. NLM

VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AT ANY SPEED. DEALER DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP IS RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW CAUSING STALLING. NLM

VEHICLE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AT ANY SPEED. DEALER DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP RESTRICTS THE FUEL FLOW, CAUSING STALLING.

CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, ONLY ABLE TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. NLM

CAR HAS STALLED OUT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER(S) COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. CAR STILL SPUTTERS FREQUENTLY. MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO PROBLEM EXPERIENCED WITH TRANSMISSION OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WHEN "CHECK TRANSMISSION" LIGHT CAME ON; THAT WAS FIXED BY DEALER. LAST INCIDENT WAS FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2002 WHEN CAR STALLED OUT.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A NOISE LIKE A BING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ALL OVER THE PLACE. LATER, FOUND OUT THAT TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH.*AK

CONSUMER STATES HIS AUTO CUTS OFF ON HIM ALL THE TIME, IT STARTED AROUND JUNE OF LAST YEAR. HE STATES THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. NLM