2001 Ford Focus Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS EQUIPPED GOODYEAR EAGLE AUTHORITY TIRES (SIZE 225-50-16). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AS AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BARRIERS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ACTUAL TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED.

FIRST, I HEARD A NOISE IN MY REAR WHEEL WELL. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE NOISE GOT WORSE AND I COULD FEEL LIGHT SHIMMYING IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT IMMEDIATELY TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A BROKEN REAR WHEEL BEARING THAT MY WHEEL TO WOBBLE AND LOSE STABILITY. REPLACEMENT REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW DRUM, AT THE COST OF $300. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE MERGING OFF THE HIGHWAY AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ROLLING BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. SHE RECOVERED THE TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS, LUGS, NUTS, AND WHEEL BEARING WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I017000 (WHEELS LUGS, NUTS, BOLTS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD PROVIDE A WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE THEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIRE HOWEVER; HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

COOPER COBRA GT RADIAL - MODEL: 87TP195/60R15 M + S PROBLEM: (2) TIRE SEPARATIONS AND (1) SEPARATION WITH BUBBLE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT NEW TIRES SHOULD BE INSTALLED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE PRESSURE WAS 44 PSI. 20,000 MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE TIRES WERE CUPPED AND THE BELT BROKE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS REGULARLY CHECKED WERE ROTATED REGULARLY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO ADMITTED THAT FORD HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO ALSO ADMITTED TO THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT OFFER TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. MAKE TIRE: DAYTON/MODEL: UNKNOWN/SIZE: F15/MANUFACTURED: DAYTON.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A NOISE IS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S REAR WHEEL, THE WHEEL ALSO STARTED WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE ROUGHLY. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND REPLACED THE ALL FOUR TIRES. THEN, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

I HAVE DISCOVERED AFTER HAVING WHEELS REMOVED FOR TIRE ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT THAT THE LUGS: NUTS HAVE A STAMPED SHEET METAL CAP ON THEM WHICH MAKES THE PLAIN NUTS LOOK LIKE ACORN NUTS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS CAP IS RATTLED LOOSE BY THE IMPACT WRENCH AND FALLS OFF - LEAVING A NUT OF 17.4 MM ACROSS THE FLATS. SINCE THE LUG WRENCH IS 19MM, IT WILL MERELY SPIN AND ROUND-OFF THE NUTS - LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED, UNABLE TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT THIS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THEIR INVITATION TO "E-MAIL US" IS A ROUSE - THEIR E-MAIL DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME "THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT" AND OFFERED NOT RESOLUTION.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *SC

I HAVE A 2001FORD FOCUS. MY DAUGHTER JUST HAD A BLOWOUT OF THE FRONT TIRE WHILE DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN DANBURY CT. THE TRACKS DO NOT STICK UP VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE 3RD BLOW ON THIS CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE FORD FOCUS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO CLAIM THEY ARE AN ALL SEASON TIRE AND IF YOU LOOK ON TIRERACK.COM EVERYBODY SAYS THEY ARE TERRIBLE IN THE RAIN AND SNOW. THEY ARE THE LOWEST RATED TIRE ON THE SITE IN THEIR RELATIVE CATAGORY. MY BROTHER TALKED TO FIRESTONE WHEN THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PRORATE THE TIRE. THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. WE ENDED UP GETTING 2 DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES AND THOSE ARE FINE. I NOW WILL GO AND PURCHASE 2 MORE, I WILL NOT WAIT FOR THE 4TH TIRE TO BLOW OUT! THEY STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD ON THEM SO ITS A SHAME, BUT I FEEL THESE TIRES DEFINITELY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A HIGH SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR WOBBLING. THE DRIVER PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS UNDRIVEABLE. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE PREMATURELY. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RECALL 01I01700 BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

THE WHEEL/HUBS/ BEARINGS, AND ALL THE WAY AROUND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED THE DEALER. BUT, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE WHEEL BEARINGS, HOWEVER IT WAS FOR THE 2000 MODEL NOT THE 2001. *JB

THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 HAVE A DEFECT IN THE SIDEWALL. MULTIPLE LARGE BUBBLES AND SMALL SEPARATIONS IN THE RUBBER OF THE SIDEWALL ARE OBVIOUSLY APPARENT. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VIOLENT TIRE MALFUNCTION ESPECIALLY IF TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. I CONTACTED A FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THERE IS NO TIRE RECALL AT THIS TIME, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR NEW TIRES FOR THE SAME TIRE MADE BY FIRESTONE WHICH WILL PROBABLY MALFUNCTION ALSO. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *LA

FAULTY WHEEL BEARING SEALS ON 2001 FORD FOCUS.*MR THE SEALS FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH WHEELS TO FAIL COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

ON FEB 28, 2004, DRIVING ON I-10 FROM LOUISIANA TO HOUSTON, FIRST HEARD A POP NOISE, THEN IMMEDIATELY FELT LOOSING CONTROL OF WHEEL, TRIED TO HIT BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, AND THEN MY 3 YEARS OLD FORD FOCUS FLIPPED OVER, AND THANKS GOD NOBODY GOT INJURED, AND EVERYONE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. CHECKED THE CAR, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE(GOOD YEAR) LOOKED RIPPED OFF, ASSUME THIS TIRE BLEW OR EXPLODED DURING THE DRIVE ON HIGHWAY, WHICH IS VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. INSURANCE IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE CASE. BUT MORE RIDICULOUSLY THE LA POLICE GAVE A TICKET FOR 'CAN'T MAINTAIN THE CAR". WE GOT 4 NEW TIRES FOR ONLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS, EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD MAINTENANCE, AND THERE WAS NO DRIVING FAULT OR OTHER ACCIDENT ASSOCIATED WITH MY ACCIDENT, PLUS WE WERE THE VICTIMS OF THIS TIRE EXPLOSION, WE ALMOST LOST OF LIFE DURING THE DEADLY FLIP OVER. THE INSURANCE IS DOING THE INVESTIGATING ABOUT TIRES, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TO COMPLAIN, BUT IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO DEAL WITH GOODYEAR THEN. NOW FOR THIS 170$ TICKET, 5 HOURS DRIVE FROM MY HOME IN MISSISSIPPI, WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO DEAL WITH THE LA POLICE? I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD TICKET GOODYEAR INSTEAD OF INNOCENT VICTIMS LIKE US, BUT 5 HOURS DRIVING TO COURT IS REALLY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY WE ARE STILL DRIVING A RENT CAR DURING THIS MOMENT. IS THERE ANYWHERE WE CAN DISCUSS THIS POLICE MANNER EXCEPT 5 HOURS DRIVING TO LA COURT? FRUSTRATED CAR OWNER LINGYUN JIN SUN. *JB

REAR AND FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, BUT THE EXCESSIVE WEAR STILL PERSISTED. DEALER AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TIRES WITH SECOND SET OF DUNLOP SPORT AZ TIRES. *PH

FIRESTONE FIREHWAK GTA 02 TIRES THAT CAME WITH FORD FOCUS. AFTER READING REVIEWS ON THIS TIRE, I FEEL I'M NOT ALONE, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPLACE ALL MY TIRES WITH NEW TIRES, HELL I JUST GOT 2 NEW FRONT TIRES AND IF I READ REVIEWS BEFORE HAND I WOULD HAVE CHOSE A DIFFERENT COMPANY, WOW. PLEASE IS THERE ANYTHING FORD CAN DO TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, THEY HAVE NO TRACTION AT ALL IT SEEMS. I SLIDE OFF THE ROAD LAST MONTH GOING 2- MPH WITH 100 FEET BRAKING DISTANCE AND INTO SOME CONSTRUCTION ON A SLIGHTLY WET ROAD, I KNOW I'M A CAREFUL DRIVER, AND ALL THESE BAD REVIEWS GOD. *AK

BULGE FORMED IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02 TIRE, SIZE 205/50R16, AS PROVIDED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3. THE BULGE SEEMED TO INCLUDE THE AREA WHERE THE STEEL BELTS JOIN WITH THE SIDEWALL, SO I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY FOR FEAR OF A TREAD SEPARATION EVENT. *NLM

(1) DRIVING ALONG I-80 IN ILLINOIS BETWEEN THE IOWA BORDER AND PERU, ILLINOIS. (2) REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. IT WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED. (3) THE TIRE (FIRESTONE FIREHAWK) WAS REPLACED. *LA