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.
I was going about 15 mph when I hit a small pot hole in the road. Soon after I began to hear a clicking noise when I would take turns. After bringing the car to a mechanic I was told that both front coil springs had shattered. After having these fixed as they were under extended warranty by the manufacturer I am told that coincidently I have new front suspension and ABS issues which though most likely were caused by the coil string malfunction will not be covered as subsequent damage and I am on my own. Had the damage to the coil spring not occurred there would have been no issues with the ABS or front suspension.
The contact stated while waiting at a stop light the vehicle in front of put on the brakes, this in turn caused the contact's vehicle to rear end the other vehicle. The seat belt did not restrain the contact. She hit her chest on the steering wheel. The vehicle was driven to the dealership to have this problem checked. No repairs were made. Updated 1/25/2006 - the dealer determined that the passenger side seat belt was also faulty.
My car was kept up to date on maintenance and recalls. Approximately 2 days before my accident, my husband experienced a slight delay in brake response on one occasion while driving. He checked all fluids and looked for leaks. Everything seemed good. No indicator lights or warning lights indicated a problem. On the day of my accident, I drove to work and most of the way home. I was less than a mile from my destination when I applied my brakes to make a 90 degree turn. This is the first and only time that I had knowledge of a total loss of brakes, with no indicator or warning lights being activated to alert me of a brake problem. As a result, I crashed into a utility pole, injuring myself and my passenger. My 2000 Ford Focus SE is totaled.
Vehicle experienced a catastrophic brake failure. While driving at approximately 45 mph driver applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor and vehicle continued to move forward. Driver tried to pump the brakes but it did not help. Owner contacted the manufacturer, who told the owner that there was no known recall for this defect, and there was nothing else they could do.
For the events of the final failure; I was attempting to stop at a red light that I did not see at first. Though I had plenty of room to stop my vehicle before hitting someone I was not able to stop due to the brakes locking up. I had at least two and a half car lenghts between me and the intersection. I believe as a result in the brakes locking up I was unable to stop and T-boned another car. My car was totalled. I have had other problems with the brakes locking up and nothing was done to repair the problem because the service people could not duplicate the problem so they did not know what to fix.
- Grand Prairie, TX, USA
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While going 65 mph, a vehicle pulled off the ramp in front of the consumer. The consumer applied the brakes and they failed to work. The consumer lost control of the vehicle. All of the lights on the vehicles digital meters where blinking. The vehicle flipped three times and landed on the roof. Prior to the accident the vehicle had electrical and brake problems. All the digital figures on the dash would blink on and off.
Other than the recalls and the brakes squeaking constantly, everything was fine with my 2000 Focus up until 1 month after the warranty expired. Almost one month to the day, the instrument cluster stopped working. Ford would replace it at a cost of at least $500, so I replaced it myself by ordering a part on line for a total of $45. A couple of months later, the ignition cylinder would not allow the key to fit all the way in and as a result the car was not able to start, resulting in a cost of around $300 to replace. I am beginning to see the stalling problem from the faulty fuel pump. Now my automatic door locks and trunk release just stopped working and the car is making a very odd grinding noise when you turn. It would be one thing if I was the only one with these problems, but the facts are out there and many, many, many people are all having the exact same problems! I have written to Ford main offices and my local Ford dealership serveral times on these matters and I have never heard anything back. I honestly am never buying a Ford vehicle again.
I have a 2000 Ford Focus that I have had allot of problems with. I specially ordered this car to have all the safety features including side impact air bags, and anti loc brakes. We originally had bought the car in ca. The first problem happened at 3000 miles the rear brakes started squealing, and the seat belt buzzer wont go off. We took it to Ford were they said nothing was wrong. We moved to nc were we now live. Took it back to Ford with the same complaint this now 30,000 miles. They said they were defective, they had the car over night for the seat belt buzzer, still no problem found. So they replaced the brakes. When we picked up the car the seat belt buzzer did the job of staying on for us. It stopped the squeal problem with the brakes. 1 1/2 weeks later we had an accident. Whitch I might add the air bags did not go off. Also in the accident the rear seat came unhinged and threw a plastic piece that holds the seatbelt at the back of her head causing a lump. My wife said the brakes just didn't work as they did previously with the noise. I took it out for a test drive found the brakes were not acting right, the car would not stop properly. Took it back to Ford, they told us that everything was fine. A friend of ours was a Ford mechanic at a different dealership was going to look at it for us, he was killed that week in a car accident un-related. So we lost our inside mechanic to tell us what was really happening. Now at 50,000 miles the noise is back, my wife who drives the vehicle says every once in a while the brakes will act up again. Now we just don't have the time nor the patients to deal with the dealerships once again for now the fan blower only works on 3 on the dial and the cable broke to select def, vents, ect. Along with the recall of the wiper motor, and the neeeding of new roters on the front. This car to me is a lemon.
Brake pads have warped at 14000 miles. Consumer has taken vehicle to dealer five different times to get brakes fixed, but problem still occurring. Also, extended stopping distance and noise when braking. Contacted dealer.
During normal braking on dry road surface vehicle wheeels would lock up intermittently. On wet road surface wheels wound lock up continually. Vehicle been to dealer on three occasions, but problem still occurring. Feel free to provide any further information.
Brakes don't hold when applied, almost causing an accident. Unable to stop vehicle. Had part replaced several time. Also, front end shakes and there is a knocking noise under gas pedal.
I complained about the brakes at 3000 miles - told no problems the brakes just do that - at 11993 miles brakes inspected 50 - 60 % left - at 15561 brakes inspected 65 - 75 % left - now some how only 4000 miles later only 10% of brakes left and need to be replaced with a total of 19,992 miles - also took car in several times for dying while driving and told no problem - then there was a recall on the clutch cylinder and they said that was probably the problem so they replaced that - still had the problem - they hinted that it was me because they were unable to duplicate the problem - then finally when my radio would go on and off in their presnce they inspected further and discovered my entire dashboard wireing was melted and it is a wonder my car didn't catch on fire. They re-wired the entire car and replaced my radio and had my car for over a week - within a month the radio wasn't working again and they replaced it for the second time - then 3 months later my electric door locks stopped working and needed to be replaced - and by the way my radio has gone out 2 times since the last replacement and they said it was probably just loose or something and not too concerned and now the brakes all this at 19,000 miles.
I complained about the brakes at 3000 miles - told no problems the brakes just do that - at 11993 miles brakes inspected 50 - 60 % left - at 15561 brakes inspected 65 - 75 % left - now some how only 4000 miles later only 10% of brakes left and need to be replaced with a total of 19,992 miles - also took car in several times for dying while driving and told no problem - then there was a recall on the clutch cylinder and they said that was probably the problem so they replaced that - still had the problem - they hinted that it was me because they were unable to duplicate the problem - then finally when my radio would go on and off in their presnce they inspected further and discovered my entire dashboard wireing was melted and it is a wonder my car didn't catch on fire. They re-wired the entire car and replaced my radio and had my car for over a week - within a month the radio wasn't working again and they replaced it for the second time - then 3 months later my electric door locks stopped working and needed to be replaced - and by the way my radio has gone out 2 times since the last replacement and they said it was probably just loose or something and not too concerned and now the brakes all this at 19,000 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Derry, NH, USA