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.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving 65 mph, the contact crashed into a guardrail with the front driver's side of the vehicle. He sustained injuries to the left side of his head due to the grab handle. A police report was filed and the vehicle was repaired. The contact feels that the grab rail in the vehicle is unsafe because it protrudes from the head liner in a folded position. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 139,000 and current mileage was 140,000. Updated 06/29/09 updated 07/02/09.
2000 Ford Focus SE. Motor mounts stripped out causing engine to drop and fall forward tearing out the "tripod" joint and sawing through the coolant lines. If this had happened on the highway it would have resulted in a crash.
Brakes will not work when car first driven in morning. Have to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting someone. Ford will not fix this. This car is extremely dangerous along with the water leak, bad ignition key tumbler and poor gas mileage. It has been rotten from the get go. Needs to be recalled!
Water leaking on to the floorboard of the passenger side of the car. Repair person said it might be the heater core but there is no leaking of anti-freeze.
Let's see, where shall I begin. Within month or two of purchase of 2000 Focus sedan it was back in the shop for the front a panel trim. It took 3 times to finally get that right. Also less than 5 months after purchase, windshield had to be replaced due to a stress fracture (was a 1-1.5 hairline crack which appeared in windshield). The windshield has since been replaced again. While adjusting the rear-view mirror the windshield cracked around the base, apparently from slight pressure of mirror. And just recently, August 2003, I've noticed water drops flying up from above the dashboard. Not sure if windshield is leaking around the bottom base or maybe a.C. haven't had it checked yet, but it will be in the shop this week for other problems I haven't mentioned yet. It was in shop in late 2001 or early 2002 for throttle problems. While the car was sitting still the engine would race between 2.5 and 3000 rpms. Fortunately I never used the cruise control during that time. Late 2002 the trunk lock mechanism apparently broke preventing the trunk from shutting properly. It wouldn't latch at all. I have yet to have the wiper motor cover recall fixed. And on different occasions the fuel gauge has read empty, no matter how much fuel you have in the tank. And just when you think nothing else can go wrong, it happens. Me and my wife were shopping this morning on labor day Saturday. We got in the car and I went to start it. My key somehow would not go into the ignition completely, no matter how hard I tried. We eventually call our triple aaa insurance and arrange for a locksmith to come and take a look. He looks at it a second and declares what we fear the worst. Our Focus is the 7th Focus this month he has seen with the same problem. He said that the ignition would have to be replaced by Ford. I believe that this should be a recall. I will never buy another Ford.
- Candler, NC, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
My Focus (manufactured October 1999) has had several problems with rusting paint. The first, reported in July was covered under the 36K bumper-2-bumper warranty. The latest (reported January '03), will not be. My zts sedan is rusting on the rear two doors on the inside about 1 1/2 inches up from the bottom of the door (where the metal is crimped). With less than 3-4lbs of force, I can take off portions of metal. This is not good business or engineering! in two years, I will have a hole in my door and I will be sending Ford the repair bill and it will be paid for by Ford.
My 2000 Ford Focus has had problems starting 2 months after I purchased it. It's been in 6 times for excessive brake noise and or squealing. The door hinges were squeeking and had to be replaced due to misalignment..it took 5 times to determine this. Weather strip molding has been replaced due to falling apart around the headlights. The cd player/stereo was replaced with a new factory model when cd player would not work properly. The "new" model was replaced yet again due to coding seen and no numbers in the window digital area. The fuel pump was replaced after stalling more than 50 miles from home...still does not run up to performance. Fuel area reworked again. Would not start due to battery cable. Ford needs to discontinue this model until they can fix the problems it has with it. They also need to get all Focus models off the road, they are safety hazzards.
I bought the car in June of 2000 since this time the car has had a number of recalls on the car. I feel that the people that bought the 2000 model of this car should not be liable to pay the amount the contact was signed. Due to the fact that at the time the car was bought, the people that bought the car didn't know that most of the car's life would be in the shop being fixed. Also Ford knew that the Focus was prone to this happening.
These items have not been repaired. (body) the metal dressing at the base of the window on the driver side is warped. (paint) the roof has several 2 - 3 inch cracks and the hood has approx. 100 1/2 cracks all in various places.
The consumer experienced two defects with her vehicle. The back passenger seat belt was placed in backwards per manufacturer, the volume on the radio increased and decreased without control, the gear stick slid off the post, the vehicle stalled when going to a complete stop, the power knob to the radio would become sticky whenever the sun was present, the trunk would not open, the ignition switch jammed twice, the rear view mirror was stuck in the open position, and the steering wheel adjuster did not exist. The consumer requested compensation.
2000 Ford Focus LX 4-door sedan - numerous complaints: 1) currently have 75,200 miles on car and have gone through 5 (yes five!) complete sets of tires.2) engine stalls at any speed with no warning lights or indications, car bucks and gas pedal can be depressed to floorboard and car will not move - barely avoided three accidents (two of which would have involved my two small children) 3) all four doors will stick - really need to pull to open - and once open, they will not close again (you need to try to close the doors repeatedly before they finally latch). They also popped opened while driving. Afraid one day one of my children or a passenger or myself may be injured. They are manual door locks and latches. 4) same with trunk - often needs repeated tries to close and latch 5) leak in front passenger footwell - when it rains, or when going through carwash 6) front brakes have been replaced twice at my cost - horrendous, irritating, embarassing squealing is incessant - brake dust accumulates every day! in some instances, brakes need to be applied very firmly to stop vehicle (again, I do not feel safe with my children in car). 7) extremely foul smell when air conditioning use is attempted. 8) stereo was replaced - original factory installed would not work after 2 months of ownership. 9) paint is flaking off of skirts - I was informed by Ford that this is "sandblasting" and that I must drive on dirt roads all of the time - I live on an asphalt street, drive on asphalt roads and asphalt highways - not dirt! 10) fuel pump was replaced once already - was told I must be buying "dirty" gas - if it is dirty gas, is that my fault? I don't exactly run the gas stations, and I don't buy fro one specific station - I fuel up when I'm low, wherever it is convenient. 11) I have had three alignments to try to stop the horrible shaking of the car - the steering wheel vibrates so badly that my arms are sore by the time I get to my destination.
The vehicle stalled intermittently, the dealer diagnosed the problem as a defective module, which caused electrical problems. The odometer/speedometer had shutdown, the trunk opened, the keyless entry is inoperative and sometime the passenger(s) get stuck in the vehicle due to the faulty locks. Scc
The key would not turn once in the ignition and was difficult to remove, the dealer replaced the ignition tumbler. The consumer has also replaced the brakes, tires and radiator deflector.
At 35mph, vehicle shuts off. Could have caused an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.. consumer states the vehicle has been in the shop 7 times for the same problem, consumer complained of wind noise inside the vehicle, the seat belts were inoperable.
Consumer states that there is water leaking from under the dashboard that will flow into the vehicle and get the interior wet and produces mildew. This is the second. Dealer unable to fix problem. Nlm
After 6 months of purchase, the brake system specifically rotors failed. While applying brakes there was a constant grinding noise, resulting in extended stopping distance before vehicle came to a complete stop. Mechanic stated Ford Focus had these common problems, also experiencing other problems such as erratic speedometer failure, an the interior light fell out from roof of vehicle, and 2 inches of water entering from side of door.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tampa, FL, USA