This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
A hole appeared in the driver's seat upholstery, near the drivers left hip. Disassembly of the seat cushion revealed a broken weld which allowed a sharp metal piece to puncture the upholstery. I also observed this on replacement seats I purchased from a 2002 svt Focus. Photos (of the 2000 seat) at https://flic.kr/P/mle2fp; https://flic.kr/P/mlduyh; https://flic.kr/P/mle5W6. I was aware of the hole when I purchased this car in 2005, but did not discover the cause until recently, when the seat folding mechanism failed, and I had to replace the seats, and noticed a similar hole in several that I saw. I then disassembled the original seat and found the cause of the problem. This issue is dangerous in that it exposes the driver's body to a sharp metal projection.
Driver's and front passenger's seats: The bolster support bars (2 per seat) are spot welded to the seat pan. The end of the support bar closest to the rear of the seat pan on both seats is sharp enough to wear thru the seat covers and become complete exposed to the buttocks of the person in the seat. The driver's seat has woren thru from the inside out all the way thru the seat cover and has caused holes in driver's pants. This same thing will happen to the passenger front seat since the two are made the same. The driver's seat left bolter support bar has also broken away from the seat pan near the front of the seat pan where it was attached. I have had the seat cover on the driver's seat and foam replaced and now about 8 months after the holes appeared again and the dealer local to me - millennium will not fix it under extended warranty from the original warranty period of the car. They said that it has been fixed to many times before. At their request I took it to an auto upholsterer and the cost to fix it would be about $500. The problem tho is inherent in the seat design and not fixable for the long term. It would happen again. The safety issue is that I could potentially and especially in a fast stop or accident drive that rear end of the bolster support bar into my buttocks. Also the front end of the same bolster bar has broken away from the weld. Ford makes no claim to the fact that weight is an issue. I wiegh 280 lbs and am 6'5" tall. Due to my size and size of my buttocks I am always sitting on the bolster bars and not between them. While Ford will not admit to a weight and size limit of the seats - I feel that is an issue. Lear Corp. Who makes the seat for Ford says that the seat is designed for the 90-95 percentile and is not designed to accomondate larger folks. I am afraid that the broken end of the bolster support bar in an accident or fast stop may find it's way into my left thigh.
- Burien, WA, USA
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There is a very bad squeaking noise when braking, and when consumer lets off the brake there is a grinding noise. Driver states more than twice brake pedal was applied, and pedal went to the floor. Ford has been contacted..also consumer was complaining of the transmission slipping, the cigarette lighter was not working, cup holder bubbling, serpentine belt was replaced due to a squeal coming from under the hood, gas light was coming on when the tank was full of gas, door ajar light was coming on, starter and battery were replaced, driver sider mirror knob fell off, RPM runs high, headlamp molding was replaced, sunvisor was broke, rear child seat latch cover was broke, air conditioner and heater were replaced, passenger door trim, driver seat metal bar, rewind button for am/fm cassette was inoperative, carpet loose, pillar trim was coming off, ticking noise was coming from the front of vehicle, the egr valve ws replaced, rear tail light was out, the bulb was replaced, deck lid wire harness, a new fuel tank was installed due to the engine light illuminating, the front and rear brakes have been replaced due to warpage, also the speedometer stopped working.
When applying brake pedal it would go to the floor, also brakes will grind. Rotors had to be turned, and brakes were replaced 7 times, but the problem reoccurred. Transmission slips and jerks and rpms jump. No problem found. Consumer hears loose gravel sound from right front wheel area. Dealer found wheel well loose. Dealer found serpentine belt failed causing whistle squeal under hood. Gas light on with full tank and door ajar light is on. Dealer replaced battery. Evaporative hose loose. Dealer removed and installed fuel tank. Cigarette lighter not working. R-cup hold bubbling. Driver side mirror knob falls off. Rear child seat latch cover in broke. Front driver seat metal fell out. Both headlamps moulding fall out. Sunvisor mirror/bracket moulding on passenger side between door / dash loose. Broken. Right outer ac vent broken. Loose carpet on right front floor. Pillar trim coming off. Deck lid wire harness had tp be replaced. Clicking noise from L/H front of vehicle. Egr valve replaced. Left rear tail lamp is out. Engine light is on. Problems with rewind button for am/fm cassette.
My Focus was struck from the rear on I-75 by a large pickup truck. At the instant of collision, the drivers seat collapsed. The seat belt system worked perfectly, but the collapse of the seat result in whiplash and loss of control of the vehicle.
The rear seat is stained each time you put it down- there are some black brackets that slide up onto the seat and they leave hideous black marks on the fabric in 8 places as well as on the clothes of the next person to sit there. My dealer replaced my back seat fabric but failed to repair the cause of the problem. It makes me especially angry that I paid $17,000+ for a car and I have to put a sheet down to have anyone sit in the back seat. I want Ford to fix the problem and replace the fabric one last time. Also, my friend margaret has the exact exact same car and hers does it as well. We have spoken to other Focus owners that have gotten no resolution from their dealer. Thank you.
Manufacturer's recall 00S55; consumer has taken vehicle to dealer twice. But, both times dealer, graham Ford in dixon, tn tele#615-740-7957, claimed there were no parts available, and has been waiting since January 2001. In meantime, consumer was driving an unsafe vehicle.
00 V 418 000/seat hinge: 00 V 411 000/wire harness: 00 V 303 000/rear wheel hub nuts: 00 V 218 000/FMVSS 201: While vehicle was in the dealer shop for is routine check up consumer was informed of four recalls, and, was unwilling to give a appointment for repairs, consumer called on two other occasions, and still dealer, hertige Ford, burington, vt; phone# 802/865-8150 refused to help in these recall repairs. Seeking help from NHTSA in these matter.
A bar was pushing upward from the seat into the back of driver when seated. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that it would take approximately three weeks or more before they could replace the seat, and it was okay for consumer to drive until then. Feel free to provide further details.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Naperville, IL, USA