2000 Ford Focus with 30,000 miles. Differential blew up and destroyed the transmission. One year ago the struts had to be replaced in the front end. I understand these things are not normal occurrences especially with the amount of driving I do. I can't sell or trade in the car without repairing the transmission, estimate: 2,700.

- Piscataway, NJ, USA

Broken spring in front of 2000 Ford Focus. Leading to other unsafe conditions on the car. Strut bearings, control links unstable steering vibration.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

While driving my 2000 Ford Focus sedan upon exiting the parkway Saturday evening March 18, 2006, I heard a loud thud from within the front end, like something had snapped. Nothing looked to be wrong. A short time later, the vehicle started to emanate a loud high-pitched grinding noise and then a lot of smoke. What happened is the front right wheel suspension spring snapped off the strut and gorged a deep trough or groove in my tire. Fortunately the tire was brand new. If this had happened while I was driving on the parkway a few minutes before, no doubt the tire would have blown and sent me careening out of control. My mechanic put the car up on a lift so I could take photographs. My mechanic is making the repairs today. He reports the strut spring broke in three separate places. The front tire is destroyed and rendered totally useless. The odometer reading is 66,662 miles. The defective parts will be retained and made available for physical inspection. I am sending my photos as an attachment with my E-mail message to the NHTSA at their following address: Webmaster@NHTSA.dot.gov I have never experienced this type of mechanical failure in any other vehicle make or model and I have been driving continuously since 1965. You will observe that a number of identical mechanical failures involving the Ford Focus struts and springs are posted by others at the NHTSA web site. The mechanic informed the consumer the front strut broke which caused the front coil spring to break into three pieces. Updated 04/04/06. Updated 05/25/06

- Garden City, NY, USA

Always noted a rattling, which I was told was a strut noise, but nothing was wrong. Two weeks ago the right side strut spring broke and nearly destroyed a tire. Had to be towed, and then had spring replaced. 10 days later the left side spring broke as I entered driveway. Many reliable sources have informed me that there was no way a 2000 vehicle with 67,000 miles should have these problems. The warranty expired.. bottom line was that Ford used either inferior or defective springs on a important part of the car.

- Bristol, CT, USA

1) noise coming from right front 2) both front springs and struts had to be replaced because the right front spring had broken and cut the right front tire down the middle (which also had to be replaced). The spring also bent the strut. 3) all old parts are available - see #2 for what was done to correct failure. Repairs had to be made on an emergency basis.

- Euclid, OH, USA

Ignition switch will not turn. I noticed in researching the internet that many others had the same failure. I did not see a recall. This is the latest failure of many: Brakes, fuel gauge, bad struts. Now at 39000, I am 3000 miles out of warranty.

- Titusville, FL, USA

Front mcpherson struts were replaced due to vehicle making clunking noises when making turns at low speeds or at high speeds. Contacted dealer, and dealer replaced struts, but solution did not work.

- Westerville, OH, USA

Brakes have squealed fron about 1500 miles. Have had pads replaced, but squeals did not go away. Front brakes grind, at shop now. In November 2001 had to have struts replaced while having recall work done. Struts little over a year old. Engine makes a chirping noise at about 1000-2500 RPM, but dealer unable to duplicate. Also squeals or whines when making right turns. Windshield cracked when a small stone hit it. Will have insurance replace. Overall, not happy with car. Been in the shop three times in the last year!!

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

Strut was replaced, tires were replaced 6 times because of the strut failure which caused excessive wear, the vehicle had less than 10,000 miles after all the tire replacements. (attorney for client)

- Crosby, TX, USA