2001 Ford Focus Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR FAILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ABNORMAL CRANKING NOISE WERE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 09/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW REGULATION FAILED AND COULD NOT BE USED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. UPDATED 09/26/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HOWEVER, THE WINDOW OPENED AND FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE WINDOW MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE UNLATCHED DOORS THAT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DRIVE SIDE AND REAR RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE PLASTIC CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WINDOWS TOGETHER WAS BROKEN AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE REPAIRS. THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE SEAT HANDLE WAS STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

I PURCHASED MY 2001 FORD FOCUS SE IN MARCH 2001. THE FIRST WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE IN 2004, LEAVING ONE REAR WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION AND UNABLE TO OPEN; IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE 2ND REGULATOR BROKE IN 2006, LEAVING THE OTHER REAR WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION AND UNABLE TO OPEN; ALSO JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY. THE 3RD REGULATOR BROKE (FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE) ON 6/23/2010 ONLY THIS TIME, THE REGULATOR DIDN'T JUST FAIL AND STOP WORKING, THE WHOLE THING BURST INTO PIECES WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE WINDOW UP AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW WHILE I WAS DRIVING. GLASS CAME RAINING DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE, LEAVING A MINOR CUT TO MY LEG (BECAUSE IT WAS VERY MINOR, I'M NOT CONSIDERING IT AN "INJURY" AND CHECKED THE "NO" FIELD BELOW). FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED SO LOW SPEEDS DIDN'T ALLOW THE GLASS TO BLOW AROUND BUT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DOING HIGH SPEEDS, I COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE CUTS FROM THE SHATTERING GLASS FLYING INTO MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TWO WINDOW REGULATORS THAT BROKE (BOTH REAR) HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AS OF YET, I COULDN'T AFFORD THE PARTS (QUOTED AS $120 EACH AT THE TIME) SO VICE GRIPS ARE INSIDE THE DOOR HOLDING THE WINDOWS UP, BOTH FAULTY REGULATORS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HAD NEW GLASS PLACED IN IT ON 6/24/2010 AND COST $146.00. THEY DID NOT HAVE A REGULATOR AT THE REPAIR SHOP SO THAT WINDOW IS NOW ALSO BEING HELD UP BY OTHER MEANS AND THE FAULTY REGULATOR IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THAT WINDOW AS WELL. I PLAN ON REPLACING ALL 4 OF THEM THIS WEEKEND, EVEN THOUGH ONLY 3 HAVE BROKEN AT THIS POINT, I'M SURE THE 4TH IS SOON COMING SO IT WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT REGULATORS BREAKING ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE SO IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT WHEN GLASS STARTS SHATTERING WHILE DRIVING, THAT SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE RISK/SAFETY FACTOR AND CAUSE FOR CONCERN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE POWER WINDOWS FELL INTO THE DOOR WELL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SET THE WINDOWS TO STAY UP AND TAPED THE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS SO THAT THEY COULD NOT BE PUSHED AS THE WINDOWS WOULD FALL AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN UPDATED 12/10/2012 *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 16 MPH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW SHATTERED ON THE OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT; WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER WINDOWS ARE BROKEN. IT STARTED WITH THE REAR PASSENGER, NOT GOING UP, OR DOWN, THEN NOT STAYING UP AT ALL.. THEN IT WAS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE THAT DID THE SAME THING. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WHEN YOU THINK IT IS UP AND IN PLACE, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS A QUARTER DOWN, OR HALF WAY DOWN. IF IT RAINS YOU MIGHT AS WELL TAPE PLASTIC OVER WINDOWS, TO KEEP RAIN AND COLD OUT. I HAVE BEEN READING THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE FILED ON ODI.NHTSA.DOT AND ALSO READING THE MULTIPLE ONES THAT COME UP ON THE INTERNET WHEN YOU TYPE IN FORD FOCUS WINDOW PROBLEMS. HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES SOMETHING NEED TO AFFECT BEFORE THEY DO AN INVESTIGATION OF AN ITEM? IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE ISSUE II THE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATOR. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR CHILDREN ROLLED DOWN THE BACK POWER WINDOWS AND THEY WOULD NOT GO BACK UP - SWERVED INTO OTHER LANE TRYING TO CONTAIN THE SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE NOISE FROM THE TRAFFIC HAS TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY TO NOTE THAT THE WINDOWS WOULD NO LONGER GO UP - HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THEM UP TO KEEP THEM UP - ALTHOUGH WHILE DRIVING THEY WILL GO BACK DOWN - WHICH CAUSE A JUMP IN REFLEXES. TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM WE HAVE APPLIED DUCT TAPE. ALSO WHEN IT RAINS THERE IS NOW WATER ACCUMULATING ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD AND SPREADS TO THE BACK SEAT FLOOR BOARD - HAS DOOR SEALS CHECKED AND WILL REPLACE ALTHOUGH THIS IS A REAL HEALTH CONCERN BECAUSE OF RUST AND MOLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LAMINATION ON ALL FOUR GLASS WINDOWS EXHIBITED SIGNIFICANT SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT EACH WINDOW WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER TO LATER ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY WORK TEMPORARILY IN THE HIGHEST SPEED. AFTERWARDS, THEY WOULD SLOWLY STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP; HOWEVER, HE SPOKE TO THE DEALER ON THE PHONE AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE CURRENTLY STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,600.

OVER A TWO YEAR PERIO, THREE OF THE FOUR ELECTRIC WINDOWS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PERFORM, SPECIFICALLY OPENED AND CLOSED. ALL THREE REGULATORS AND MOTORS WERE REPLACED, AT A FORD DELERSHIP,FOR APPROXIMATELY $1,200, $400 PER WINDOW. *AK

REAR WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY EITHER FROM THE DRIVER'S MECHANISMS NOR THE ONE BY THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THE FIRST WINDOW, ALSO REAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE TIME. SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW, AND NOW THE DRIVER'S WINDOW IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO BREAK, I FEAR THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECT, AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT USING PROPER MATERIAL TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE WORKS PROPERLY. BEING UNABLE TO OPEN AND/OR CLOSE THE WINDOW PRESENTS A HAZARD, THUS THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MANUFACTURER AND FIXED AT THEIR AND NOT OUR EXPENSE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS-WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE. 5 TIMES THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED, 3 OF THOSE WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE WINDOW EITHER DROPPED OR WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP IF WINDOW WAS OPEN. THE FIRST 3 TIMES IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT COOL THE BACK SEAT WHERE MY NEWBORN WAS SLEEPING. ALL 4 WINDOWS HAVE DONE THIS AT LEAST ONCE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW HAS DONE IT TWICE. FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES AND REFUSED ON THE FIFTH TIME. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD IN DEARBORN, MI HUNG UP ON ME 3 TIMES REFUSING ANY SERVICE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHEN MY WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN THE POURING RAIN. I PULLED OVER AND DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO GET HOME. LUCKILY, FOR ME THE RAIN LET UP ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. IT IS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOUR DRIVING AND WIPERS GO DEAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS THANK YOU. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW OPERATING CABLE MECHANISM BROKE. THIS WAS SHORTLY FOLLOWED (WITHIN A MONTH OR SO) BY THE FAILURE OF THE SAME MECHANISM IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. BOTH WINDOWS FAIL TO RISE AND ANY ATTEMPTS TO USE THE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE ANSWERED WITH GRINDING CRACKING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS ARE CURRENTLY HELD UP USING COAT HANGERS. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE REAR WINDOWS COLLAPSED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HOLDER FAILED AND CAUSED THE CABLES TO INTERTWINE, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE WINDOW MOTOR TO MALFUNCTION. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $300. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

BOTH REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED, WITH NO WARNING, WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE, AND UNLESS IT IS SECURED IN THE FRAME, IT WILL SLIDE DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND STAY THERE. THE WINDOW REGULATOR THAT FAILS IS A FORD (PLASTIC) PART, THAT COSTS OVER $130 AND NEEDS A SPECIAL TOOL TO REPLACE. EVERY PLACE IN TOWN THAT I CALLED ABOUT THIS SAYS THEY REPAIR MORE FORD FOCUSES THAN ANY OTHER CAR, AS THIS PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. I SEE MANY FOCUSES WITH WINDOWS TAPED UP, ETC. I'M CONSIDERING JUST GLUING THE SECOND WINDOW INTO PLACE IN THE FRAME, AS OVER $200 (PARTS AND LABOR) TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART IS MONEY I DO NOT HAVE. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED IN 3-03 WINDSHIELD CRACKED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED. IT WAS STILL LEAKING, AND HE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED IT AGAIN. BUT, IT WAS STILL LEAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED IT A THIRD TIME. IT CONTINUED TO LEAK. IN 4-03 THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SAID HE WOULD SEAL THE WINDSHIELD. A MONTH AGO, IT CRACKED AGAIN. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND HE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE DEALER SEALED IT TWICE. IT WAS STILL LEAKING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS DEFECT IN THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE DOME LIGHT, AND THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID THERE MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON 9/18/2005 BUT ON 9/23/2005 THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IS WAS STILL LEAKING. *NM