2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. *LA

I HAD TO MAKE A SHARP MANEUVER TO AVOID A CAR CHANGING LANES. MY CAR A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WENT INTO WILD OSCILLATIONS ACROSS 3 LANES. BACK AND FORTH. IT TOOK 3/4 OF A MILE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY CAT I EVER DROVE BEFORE. IT WAS ONLY LUCK THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *LA

ON MY 2002 FOCUS SE MY PASSANGER FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE- MY CAR ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES ARE SEPERATE AND HAD TO BE PRORATED FOR WEAR. THE COST OF THE SAME TIRE PLUS THE COST OF THE LABOR WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM FIXING SOMETING I DIDN'T CAUSE. FORD WON. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE BUT FROM A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 14,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM!*AK

UPON PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT FIT AS IF IT WAS THE WRONG KEY. UPON GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE PA TURNPIKE WHEN SCALDING WATER FROM UP UNDER THE DASH POURED OUT ONTO MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. I SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO MY RIGHT FOOT. THE WRECKER TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER IN EMMAUS, PA FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THAT THE EVAPORATOR LINE WAS PLUGGED, BUT WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE NARRATIVE ON THE SERVICE FORM SAID THAT THE LINE WAS NOT PLUGGED. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR WHICH I UNDERSTAND ENTAILED REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMONG ON, HAD IT IN SHOP 5 TO 7 TIMES AND THEY SAY IT IS THE EVAP SYSTEM, SHUT OFF THE LIGHT AND SEND ME OUT THE DOOR!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? *AK

DRIVERS SIDE LACH BREAKS SO THE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUT SIDE. SO YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS ONLY TWO LOCKS ON THIS CAR.

IN JANUARY 2004 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME (JANUARY, 2004) WAS ON THE I-355 TOLLWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE ROUTE 64 OFF-RAMP. THE LAST TIME (JUNE 8, 2004) I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, SPUTTERING OR GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE JUNE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CARS FOLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND ME ON A NARROW ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY COAST ONTO A SIDE STREET AND OUT OF THE MAIN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED AFTER A SHORT DELAY AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AS SUCH, THEY WOOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND PTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT FURTHER CONVERSATION WOULD BE "JUST GOING IN CIRCLES." I TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM THIS I WILL PERSUE THE MATTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS FOR MATTERS LIKE THIS.;\*AK

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. DEALER QUOTED $400 TO REPLACE LOCK CYLINDER. *AK

UPON PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN KEY OVER OVER VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND KICKED BACK INTO DRIVE WHILE DRIVING. *PH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER'S CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB *SC

HAVE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 WAGON AND IT NEEDS FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED ROTORS AT 23,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND DESIGN DEFECT. *LA

ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NC, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, IT TURNED OFF ON IT'S OWN. A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BEFORE I HAD THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN, IT WENT OFF AGAIN. FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN CAME ON. DURING ALL OF THIS, THE CAR RAN FINE, NO STALLING, NO SURGES OR FAILURES. I PARKED MY CAR AT WORK, AND 12 HOURS LATER CAME OUT TO GO HOME, ONLY TO FIND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, I FOUND OUT THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS SHOT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, AND A FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO PAY $500 OUT OF POCKET FOR FORD USING A FAULTY PART IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THE INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER WAS CLOSED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ENACTED. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY CAR HAD JUST QUIT ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I ALONE ON A BUSY I95.*AK

HEAT SHIELD DROPPED WHILE DRIVING ON WEST RIDGE ROAD CAUSING SPARKS. IT RUPTURED THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO SPEW ALL OVER THE ROAD. 911 CONTACTED, ROAD CLOSED AND TACO BELL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED, WAS EVACUATED DUE TO THE MASSIVE FUEL LEAK AND FUMES. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED, TOW TRUCK PICKED UP VEHICLE.*AK

THE CAP WHICH PRESSES ON OVER THE LUG NUT ON THE WHEEL WAS JUST PRESSED ON, AND CAME OFF EASILY. CONSUMER STATED THERE 3 CAPS WERE LOST WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN MY IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED ACROSS THE ROAD AND STRUCK A MAIL BOX. AT SOME POINT DURING THE SKID OR IMPACT WITH THE MAIL BOX, BOTH REAR WHEELS DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR SEAT DISMEMBERED AND THE REAR SEAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND ANOTHER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

THE TRUNK LID HAS RUST APPEARING ALONG THE CHROME TRIM PIECE AT ONLY 32000 MILES. VEHICLE IS STORED INDOORS. THIS WAS REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT HAS RE-APPEARED EVEN WORSE (AT 35000 MILES). FORD WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS PERFORATION OCCURS.*AK

MY 2002 FOCUS NEEDED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT 20K MILES. MY REPAIR SHOP SAYS FORD USES A VERY SOFT COMPOUND ON THE BRAKES AND ROTORS CAUSING THEM TO WEAR QUICKLY. MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER SAYS I AM LUCKY BECAUSE HE SEES THIS TYPE OF REPIAR NEEDED AT 13-14K FOR THE FOCUS. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, AND FORD DIRECTLY, I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER "WEAR ITEMS". AT ABOUT $300 TO REPAIR, THIS IS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY. I'LL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN, AND I AM JOINING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AT WWW.FOCUSBRAKESCLASSACTION.COM

ON THURSDAY 5/6/04 THE 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF UNDER THE DASH BOARD, DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY, AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BROKEN PIN WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT COULD EASILY BE DETERMINED THAT THE PIN BROKE OFF SOME TYPE OF BRACKET. YOU COULD SEE THE WELDING AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE PART OF THE BRACKET. THE PIECE WAS GIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS ALSO INFORMED NOT TO DISCARD ANY PARTS. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY (UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER THE ALLOWED WARRANTY MILEAGE) HOWEVER, I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD UNLESS IT WAS DUE TO SOME MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME SINCE THERE WERE NO OTHER REPORTS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I INFORMED THEM THEM THAT I WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP WITH FORD MOTOR CO. I WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD COST ME MORE THAN $600. I CONTACTED FORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FORUNATELY THERE WAS NO INJURY, HOWEVER, I DREAD TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CAR WAS BEING FRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH OR MORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE IRONIC THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL IS THAT THE ONLY PART I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED WAS THE PIN THAT BROKE, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE PIN WAS TO GET THE WHOLE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY, AND GUESS WHO PAID FOR THAT? I AM HOPING TO GET SOME SATIFACTORY FEEDBACK RE: THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

WATER LEAK INTO THE TRUNK FROM BODYSEAM, AND WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR FROM COWL PANEL SEAMS AND FRESH AIR VENT::: FUEL PUMP - ELECTRIC ( IN TANK ) REPLACE::: VEHICLE HAS A BAD JERKING PROBLEM, SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T CORRECT PROBLEM::: LR WINDOW SCRATCHED REPLACED WINDOW::: REAR VIEW MIRROR DOOR MOUNT REPLACED::: PREMATURE TIRE WEAR::: ECT.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK IT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER REFUSED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD QUOTED PRICES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM

TREAD SEPARATION ON A 2002 FORD FOCUS. RADIAL TUBELESS TIRE. BRAND FIREHAWK GTA 02 P195/G0R15 87T M45 THIS OCCURRED YESTERDAY WITH MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN HER DEATH. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH BECAME UN-LATCH. THE REAR HATCH IS NOW INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE REAR LATCH WAS CLOSED, IT UN-LATCHED INSTEAD OF LATCHING. THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH LOCKING ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS LEAKS, STALLS, CREAKS WHEN TURNING, THE HATCHBACK DOOR OCCASIONALLY COMES OPEN. *AK

IGNITION FREEZES AND WON'T TURN. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TWICE.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LEFT REAR BEARING FAILED. *AK

TODAY IS THE FOURTH TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN TOWED FOR SERVICE FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM: BRAKE SENSOR FAILS AND CAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK - DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM LAST HAD ME STRANDED IN TENNESSEE. I FEEL THIS IS A VEHICLE FAILURE RATHER THAN DEALERSHIP FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED WHERE I WILL BE STRANDED NEXT. I BELIEVE MY CAR MIGHT BE A LEMON. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE FAILS, IS REPAIRED AND FAILS AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT KNOWING WHERE I WILL BE NEXT WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INSURE THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED; AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE EVENT I CANNOT BE GUARANTEED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *JB

ENGINE JUST DIES WITH NO WARNING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,AFTER ENGINE DIES I LOSE POWER STEERING, AND WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE STILL IN MOTION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK

DOOR LOCK SELF ACTIVATION - WHILE WE WERE IN THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE THE THIRD PERSON OF THE DAY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SINCE FORD PUT OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM IN 2002, I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD PAY THE $184 FOR PARTS IN ADDITION TO THE $189 LABOR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR MANUFACTURING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING IN TO VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED, NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH RIGHT TIRE COLLAPSED INWARD. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RIGHT RIM HIT SOMETHING AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BE BENT INWARD.*AK

WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

FORD FOCUS RIMS. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 25,000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT DUE TO A SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT HAS THREE BENT RIMS. ALSO WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURE WAS GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY BY A STAY AT HOME MOTHER AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. NOR HAS IT COME INTO CONTACT WITH LARGE POT HOLES.*AK

EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST 2002 FORD FOCUS (VIN#: FAFP383X2W110369). HAVE REPLACED 3 TIRES ALL UNDER 20,000MI. (FIRESTONE). ONE REPLACEMENT TIRE (FIRESTONE) FAILED AFTER ROUGHLY 5000MI. FAILINGS HAPPEN ON FLAT SMOOTH HIGHWAY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN FRONT TIRES FAIL (TREAD IS GOOD, NO WEAR, NO PUNCTURES, PRESSURE GOOD). POSSIBLY TIRE IS SEPARATED FROM RIM??? VEHICLE BOUGHT FROM LITHIA FORD (OMAHA, NE). *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE REVVING CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *AK *SC *JB

VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WHILE DRIVING AND THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THRUWAY ENGINE QUIT, AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. COURTESY FORD CHECKED CAR AND FOUND PISTON WENT THROUGH BLOCK CAUSING OIL TO CATCH FIRE UNDER CAR AND MELTING FUEL LINES. VEHICLE HAS 60K AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. QUOTED OVER $6000.00 AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY ENDED AT 36K. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 24600 MILES ON THE CAR. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHERE GONE WHEN I TOOK THE AUTO INTO THE SHOP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

2002 FORD FOCUS, 48,000 MILES AND I AM NOW ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THE FRONT. CAR SUSPENSION IN FRONT IS VERY LOOSE, EXPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THROUGH SMALL PUDDLES OF WATER CAR SEEMS TO HYDRO-PLANE, AND ON ICE OR SNOW. THE CAR AT TIMES SEEMS TO BE ALL OVER THE ROAD AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD NEW BRAKES, TIRES, AND ALIAGNMENT, AND THE STRUTS CHECKS, AND THE RPOBLEM STILL EXISTS AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK

REAR TIRES TRACTION FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THREE OF THE SIX TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

ON 2 OCCASIONS I COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP RE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE POWDER ON THE FRONT WHEELS - THESE WERE ON THE FIRST TWO OIL CHANGE VISITS. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL (HUB CAPS WERE DARK CHARCOAL). TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2/14/04 FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN AFFECTED. CAR HAD ONLY 14,300 MILES, EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE FOR PADS TO BE WORN OUT. REP TOLD ME TO BRING CAR BACK FOR THEM TO CHECK FOR DEFECT IN BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK 5 DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE PADS BAD, BUT THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE IN ROTOR READING SATURDAY AND THAT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THERE WERE SERIOUS COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE LATER RESOLVED, BUT I WOUND UP PAYING MEINEKE FOR PADS ($133.00 INCL LABOR) FOR A LIFETIME GUARANTEE INSTEAD OF FAIRWAY FORD'S PRICE - $145 FOR 12,000 MILE PADS (SAME BRAND INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY) OR $195 FOR FORD PRODUCT. THAT NIGHT (2/19) I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAD HAD PREVIOUS, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF SUCH COMPLAINTS AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME; THAT THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THAT PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AND I SHOULD CONTACT HIM. I WOUND UP INVOLVING MY ATTORNEY AND WRITING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INVESTIGATED AND FOUND IN MY FAVOR. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS FOR FREE. MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD IS OBVIOUSLY USING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT; THAT I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE WEB ABOUT THE FOCUS BRAKE PADS; THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT STILL IN THE DISCOVERY STAGE CONCERNING THE 2000 AND 2001 FOCUS BRAKES; AND THAT I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I APPRECIATE THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOUND UP APOLOGIZING AND REPLACING THE ROTORS FOR FREE, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH IN A PARKING LOT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUILDING HEAD ON. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM

IN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY FROM MY CAR, I FOUND THIS TO BE IMPOSSIBLE-APPARENTLY ,THE CAST WHEEL METAL HAD CORRODED TO THE HUB. THIS MADE AN IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM OF A NORMALLY ROUTINE ONE. *JB