2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

ON NOVEMBER 23 2002 I WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHERE I BROKE MY NOSE AND HAD NUMEROUS BURISES. THE REASON I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WAS BECAUSE MY WHEEL AND SUSPENSION BROKE & SEEM TO COME APART. I HAD COMPLAINED TO FORD THAT MY WHEEL HAD BEEN SHAKING AND THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD TAKEN IT BACK 4 TIMES TO GET FIXED BUT EVERYTIME I GOT IT BACK AND IT WOULD SHAKE JUST AS BAD. ALSO WHEN I GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY AT ALL I RECEIVED A BROKEN NOSE FROM HITTING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WAS SHAKING REALLY BAD AND IT SEEM TO PULL ME OFF THE ROAD THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS LIKE A SNAP AND IT WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION. I FLEW SIDEWAYS UP IN THE AIR AND HIT TWO OAK TREES LUCKLY I DIDN'T DIE FROM THIS ACCIDENT IF YOU WOULD SEE THE PICTURES YOU WOULD THINK HOW DID SHE SURVIVE. IF THE CAR WOULD HAVE HIT THE OAK TREES TWO FEET CLOSER TO MY DOOR I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TELL YOU THIS. THE CAR SPLIT IN HALF & WAS TOTALED.

KEY DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. YOU HAVE TO WRIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAS HAPPENED FROM DAY 1. IT HAS BEEN INTO PARR FORD IN BREMERTON WASHINGTON 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY CAN NOT FIND IT. THEY HAVE VERIFIED THAT IT STICKS.

INTERMITTENTLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED . THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2002. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT,THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER RESULTING IN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 23 MPH. *NLM

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DEVELOPED SOME ROUGH SPOTS IN THE SURFACE. I COULD NOT REMEMBER DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE SCRAPED OR ROUGHENED THE SURFACE. THE MATERIAL COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CONTINUED TO CRUMBLE OFF UNTIL NOW, LARGE CHUNKS ARE MISSING OFF ABOUT 6" OF IT, WITH THE METAL OF THE UNDERLYING STEERING WHEEL SHOWING IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS. ANOTHER SEVERAL INCHES ARE STARTING TO DISINIGRATE. THE WHEEL DOES NOT RUB AGAINST ME WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT IS OCCURRING ALONG THE LOWER 1/3 OF THE WHEEL. TODAY, 7/16/03, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO DO SO, BUT NOT BEFORE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF REPLACING IT BY INSISTING THAT I HAD DAMAGED IT MYSELF. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BEFORE THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WHEEL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FOR HAD THEY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN INTIMIDATING ME, OR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL UNSAFE TO HOLD IS WHAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH. I HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK

2002 FORD FOCUS - FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES. BUBBLES IN TIRES, EVENTUALLY BLOW (2) OR NEED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE PURCHASED 5 TIRES. NO PROBLEMS. ALSO RIMS ARE DENTED. NO POT HOLES ENCOUNTERED TO CAUSE THIS. NO ACCIDENTS TO CAUSE THIS. FIRST BUBBLE IN REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AT 6,000 MILES. REPLACED TIRE WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE. TIRE BLEW AT 18,000 MILES. REPLACED TIRE AGAIN WITH NON FIRESTONES (2). BUBBLE IN TWO REMAINING FIRESTONES OCCURRED. REPLACED AGAIN WITH NON-FIRESTONES. NO PROBLEM. FORD DENIES PROBLEM. FIRESTONE DENIES PROBLEM. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH. AM PURCHASING 2006 MONTE CARLO IN SEPTEMBER, BA BYE.

I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKES AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN 30,000 MILES LATER. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR IT'S EARLY BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR

IT ALL STARTED ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2002. MY CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE STARTER WENT OUT. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. SOMETIMES THE DOORS WOULD LOCK ALL BY THEMSELVES AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT WAS ACTING UP AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. WELL, BY THE TIME I WOULD GET TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS OK AGAIN. ON THE 7TH OF JULY I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ALL THE GAUGES ON MY DASH WERE FLIPPING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND COMING BACK AGAIN. AND MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT RIGHT BACK TO SERVICE DEPT. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND (SURPRISE!) IT WOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY MAY HAVE SPILLED SOME COOLANT ON THE BELT AND IT WAS JUST LOSING VOLTAGE. AS SOON AS THE COOLANT WORE OFF IT SHOULD NOT DO IT AGAIN. ON JULY17 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I LOOKED AT MY GAGES AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING. IT WAS JUST LIKE THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN STARTED. I MADE A U-TURN AND WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SAME AFTERNOON THEY CALL ME AND TELL MY CAR IS READY. I ASK IF THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THE REP INFORMS ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR (AFTER ONLY ONE DAY WITH IT!). WELL THEY MUST THINK I'M SOME KIND OF HYPOCHONDRIAC FOR MY CAR! I TOLD HER THAT I WAS NOT COMING TO GET THAT CAR UNTIL THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. I CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING AND I'M SURE THEY WOULDN'T LIKE TO PAY FOR ANY SPEEDING TICKETS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP,AND WAS IMPACTED AT 50 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK TWISTED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND SNAPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 50 MPH IN THE REAR END. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

GOT IN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. GOT FIXED??? FORD LET ME GO BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITH A BRAND NEW SAFETY DEVICE AND IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TIME BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT AND THE TIME I GOT IT FIXED FORD WAS VERY UNCONCERNED AND DID NOT ANSWER ANY OF MY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS. MY SAFETY WAS AT RISK AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

THE REAR END OF THE CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE, LOOSE CONTROL AND FISH TAIL AT A DRIVING SPEED 0F 70 TO 75 MPH ON A TOTALLY NON SLIPPERY DRY ROAD. ON WOBBLING, THE CAR QUIT RESPONDING AND STARTED FISH TAILING EVENTUALLY ROLLING OVER TWICE BEFORE IT CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN DOWN A HILL. THE POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED THE CRASH SITE, LOOKED INTO THE TYRE MARKS AND VERIFIED THAT THE BRANKES HAD BEEN HIT EVEN BEFORE THE CAR TOUCHED THE FOG LINE(WAKE UP STRIP). THE OFFICER ALSO MADE A NOTE IN HIS REPORT REQUESTING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE REAR AXLE OF THE CAR.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HYDRAULICS CLUTCH WAS BROKE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50MPH FROM OREGON TO CALIFORNIA. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CAR IS A 2002 SVT FOCUS. THE ENGINE HAS A SEVERE MISS/SURGE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LAST TICKET ON THE VEHICLE STATES THAT THERE IS NO FIX AT THIS TIME. OCTOBER 27, 2003 UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER. FORD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK, REFUNDED ALL OF THE PAYMENTS MADE, AND COMPENSATED ME FOR ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS I HAD THE RECEIPT FOR. FORD WENT OUT OF ITS WAY TO MAKE ME HAPPY. THANK YOU.

THIS PROBLEM JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY. MY DAUGHTER WAS MAKING A TURN, AND THE CVC JOINT COMPLETELY FELL APART. SHE LOST ALL STEERING CAUSING HER TO HIT A CURB. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT ONLY A MONTH AGO. THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR SAYING THAT SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE JOINT TO FALL APART. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, AND NEED HELP. THIS IS A TERRIBLE DEFECT, AND IF SHE HADN'T HAVE BEEN GOING SLOW, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP US, AS WERE NOT SURE WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO GET THE PUBLIC ATTENTION ABOUT A POSSIBLE KILLER.

FRONT SUSPINSION BAD

BOTH FRONT TIRES AND RIMS BLEW OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. THE TIRES WRE LOW PROFILE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

REAR END FISH TALES AND WANDERS THROUGH TURNS AND ON STRAIGHTS. IS SCALLOPING REAR END TIRES. CAR IS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS ONLY. DELONG FORD IN WINNEMUCCA TELLS US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. PURCHASING DEALER, JONES-WEST TOLD US WE COULD TAKE IT TO ANY FORD DEALER TO BE SERVICED.

WHILE DRIVING THE AT 45MPH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP FOR FIVE MINUTES. PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS

THIS FIRST INCIDENT WAS RATHER BENIGN. I NOTICED MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SVT, AT 2400 MILES, WOULD NOT PRODUCE SUSTAINED HEAT. AFTER REPAIR, ON 12-8-02, THE VEHICLE, WITH 2800 MILES, WOULD NOT START. IT LEFT ME STRANDED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. I AM TOLD THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A NEW "INTAKE" FOR REPAIR AND WAS "PROBABLY" THE CAUSE OF THE INITIAL PROBLEM. THOUGH THE INCIDENTS ARE RATHER SIMPLE, I FIND IT REDICULOUS FOR A VEHICLE WHICH WAS MADE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO.

ON NOVEMBER 9, 2002 WHILE DOING ERRANDS I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF 2002 FORD FOCUS (5 MONTHS OLD). IT WAS A WET AND RAINY DAY AND THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGING-UP. I HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO DEFROST THE LIGHT MIST ON THE WINDOWS, AS THE DEFROST BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK. THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK I DECIDED TO PULLED OVER AND CALL FOR FORD ROAD SERVICE. BY THE TIME I WAS GIVING THE REP. MY LOCATION PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FROM THIER HOMES TO MOVE THIER CARS. I TOLD THE REP. THE CAR IS ON FIRE. I HUNG-UP AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I RAN BACK TO MY NEW CAR AND WATCHED AS IT BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTEMENT SAID THE ENGINE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I PULLED OVER JUST IN TIME. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL. FORD ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. I AM WAITING FOR FORD MOTOR TO TAKE CAR OF EVERYTHING. I TOLD THEM IN A FAX I SENT LAST WEEK THAT I WANT THAT "BLUE OVAL" SERVICE THEY CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT - MAYBE SOMEDAY. THANKS, DENISE KEYES

INVOLVED IN A CRASH FRIDAY WHERE CAR SEEM TO DIVE TO THE RIGHT AND IN TO A PARKED CAR. DRIVER HAS A GOOD DRIVING RECORD AND WAS NOT DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING.

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE FROM JANUARY TO JUNE STERRING WHEEL AND CAR SHAKE WHILE STOPPING AND DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED 3 TIMES FINALLY HAD REPLACED AND ROTORS, NO CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE

THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE AT 55 MPH WITH NO WARNING SIGN. IT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SUNROOF WAS STUCK IN OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY UNLESS MANIPULATED BY HAND. DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM THE FOLLOWING DAY.

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER 5000 MILES. IT STARTED WITH A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL AREA. FROM THERE THE STEERING SEEMED SHAKEY AT TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ONCE, THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT BEARING, AND KNUCKLE, ON THE CAR IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE MOST NOTICEABLE PROBLEM IS THE HOWLING GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. IT CAN BE HEARD MOSTLY AROUND 50 TO 60 MPH. IT IS STILL UNKNOWN WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR.

THERE IS A STRONG MILDEW SMELL WHEN DEFROST IS TURNED ON. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA PRODUCING AGENT IN THE DEFROST SYSTEM. DEALER STATES ALL NEW CARS ARE LIKE THIS. CONSUMER HAS A BREATHING PROBLEM AND THIS MILDEW SMELL MAY CREATE A BIGGER PROBLEM. TS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. TS SCC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE GETTING A FRONT TIRE REPLACE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRONT RIMS WERE BENDING. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT ANY THING HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE RIMS TO BEND. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

FAILURE OF HIGH-PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF FLUID CAUSED BEARING IN POWER FLUID PUMP ASSEMBLY TO SEIZE RESULTING IN PULLEY SHEARING OFF AND EXITING VEHICLE FROM UNDER BODY. THE LOSS OF THE PULLEY CAUSED THE ACCESSORY SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT FAILURE, WHICH RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL LOSS OF THE WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AND A/C COMPRESSOR. FLUID ALSO SOAKED ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH AND RAN OVER A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIR VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TS

DAUGHTER DROVE HOME FROM HI SCHOOL. HEARD IT SUDDENLY RELEASE PRESSURE AT LOW SPEED. DROVE HOME ANOTHER HALF MILE. FORD HAD ROAD SERVICE PUT THE DONUT ON. TIRE IS WITH US UNTIL SATURDAY WHEN WE'LL GO GET A NEW ONE. LONG GASH THRU SIDEWALL AS WELL AS DRIVE TREAD. SECOND SMALL CRACK IN SIDEWALL THAT WHY OFF OF MAIN GASH. MR

PROBLEM I'M STILL HAVING AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP IS CAR PULLS TO LEFT, ( NOT CORRECTED) BACK END OF CAR OR TIRES BOUNCE ON ROAD AND ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP, CANNOT STAY ON ROAD IN SLUSH OR SNOW, BACK END IS ALL OVER ROAD, ( NOTHING DONE) TIRES ARE COMPLETELY GROVED IN MANY SPOTS ON THE TIRES, CAUSED BY REAR END BOUNCING ON ROAD, FIRESTONE WON'T REPLACE THEY SAY IT IS FOCAS'S REAR END AND IT WEARS OUT THE TIRES, DEALER OR FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT REAR END OR TIRES, CAR VIBRATES BADLY, REAR DOORS BARLEY OPEN ARE SO STIFF, LOOKS LIKE DOOR LOCKS ARE COROADED NOTHING WAS DONE BY DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY LUBRICATED, NOTHING IS ON THE LOCKS TO SHOW LUBRICATION OF LOCKS.

OTHER - LOSE FENDER WHEELSHIELD/TOLD PART ON RECALL AS DEFECTIVE BODY - DINGS IN FENDER PANEL/TOLD PART DEFECTIVE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS BODY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM

VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE IS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM, CAUSE THE CAMBER CANNOT BE SET PER DEALERSHIP. MR

PURCHASED 2002 FORD FOCUS 4 DR SEDAN, TOOK DELIVERY 9/28/02. ABOUT 1-2 WKS LATER, TRIED TO START CAR, IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED FORD ASSISTANCE TOLL-FREE #, THEY ADVISED WIGGLING THE WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE KEY. THEY SAY IGNITION KEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN WHEN WHEELS ARE TURNED OR PARKED UP NEXT TO A CURB. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE, NOT ALL UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. TODAY, 7/16/03, WITH JUST OVER 19,000 MILES ON IT, I BROUGHT IT INTO DON HIND'S FORD DEALERSHIP IN FISHERS, IN, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THEY HAVE PUT A NEW CYLINDER LOCK IN THERE, PER KIP JACOBS OF DON HINDS FORD. MR. JACOBS DID TRY TO GET ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL CARS. I INFORMED HIM I'VE BEEN DRIVING 33 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I RARELY LOAN MY CAR, NOR IS IT DRIVEN BY ANYONE ELSE. NEVERTHELESS, SHOULD I DO SO, AND FORGET TO WARN THEM OF THIS PECULIARITY IN ADVANCE, THEY MAY HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO START THE CAR, AND BE UNABLE TO DO SO. (LIKE, "MY BABY CAN'T BREATH! LET'S GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL FAST!") OR IF I SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, IF THEY AREN'T AWARE OF THIS IDIOSYNCRASY, AND DON'T KNOW THE FORD TOLL-FREE ASSISTANCE #, THEY MAY BE STRANDED UNTIL THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO GET HELP. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION PURPOSES.*AK

PULLEY BOLTS ON WATER PUMP LOOSENED, TWO FELL OUT. BELT PULLEY TWISTED, BELT FRAYED AND WATER PUMP FROZE. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING, PULLEY, BOLTS, BELT AND ANTI / FZ. MR

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LAST YEAR THE CAR WRECKED INTO A WALL ON I75. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS OPENED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS THE OPINION OF THE BODY SHOP THAT EVERY SENSOR THAT THERE WAS TO HIT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS HIT. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME HOW MUCH THEY CARED BUT WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALL. I HIRED A LAWYER, WHO SAID THAT FORD WOULD TELL HIM TO TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, WHICH WAS KERRY FORD IN TRI COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD TELL HIM THAT ITS FORD CORPORATION THAT SHOULD DEAL WITH IT. MY DAUGHTERS LAWYER RESIGNED FROM THE CASE BECAUSE HE WANTED US TO PUT OUT THE MONEY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO EVALUATE THE CAR. RIGHT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS HOLD THE CAR BUT WANTS ME TO LET THEM RELEASE IT FROM STORAGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IN MIND AND FEEL LET DOWN, AND LIED TO AND PUSHED AROUND BY CORPORATE FORD. IF THERES ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. RICK KAISER. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK THAT WAS CHANGING LANES. CONSUMER STATES IN THE PROCESS OF AVOIDING TRUCK, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AND WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT THE CAR AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES THE FRAME THAT PROTECTS ENGINE WAS BENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NAR 03/13/2003 THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE GO UNDER EVALUATION BY FORD TO DETECT PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AFTER GOING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BECAUSE THE CERTIFIED INSPECTOR IDENTIFIED RAW GAS IN THE TAIL PIPE AND THE SMELL WAS BECOMING INTOLERANT. THE CONSUMER WANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATING . *CB *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE TRANMISSION WILL SHIFT INTERMITTENLEY WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP. THE STEERING COLUMN "LOCKED UP" SO NO EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT COULD BE TAKEN. (THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS LOST) DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AT RANDOM OCCASIONS. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE IS WATER LEAKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THIS IS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

RUNAWAY AUTO THROTTLE BODY STICKING CAUSED CAR TO BECOME A RUNAWAY AUTO WITH NO CONTROL TO STOP. EXITING HIGHWAY 80 AT PRNRYN RD. EXT. CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AUTO SPEEDED UP ENJINE ROARED APPLIING BRAKES DIDN'T STOP AUTO. WENT OFF ROAD AND STRUCK A LARGE OAK TREE. VEHICLE OVERTURNED DOWN AN EMBANKMEND. LANDED ON ROOF OF AUTO. AUTO HAD 450 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

THE VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL WHERE IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE REAR WHEN DRIVING OVER A ROUGH ROAD OR ON A SMOOTH ROAD UPON DRIVING OVER A SLIGHTLY RECESSED MANHOLE COVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES FOR 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF REAR SHOCKS. NO IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDITION AFTER BOTH VISITS. ALIGNMENT DATA SHOWS THE REAR WHEELS ARE AT HIGHER LEVELS OF NEGATIVE CAMBER, WHICH IS NOT ADJUSTABLE, AND TOE. DRIVING VEHICLE IN ICY, RAINY WEATHER IS UNSAFE IF CURRENT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS ARE NOT, OR CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. DT