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.
Automatic transmission slips gears while driving causing the vehicle to jerk. Also, a squeaking noise is heard when applying pressure to the brake pedal. Dealer attempted to fix the transmission and the brakes but has not remedied the problems.
While driving about 55 mph on the highway, without warning the transmission locked up. This caused a collision with another vehicle forcing the vehicle into the guard rail. No injuries or fatality reported at this time. Please fill in additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem.
I have a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3. Ever since I bought the car, I have had problems. The day I bought it, I noticed transmission problems, two months after that, I had brake problems. Since I have had the car I have gotten my brakes done twice. I have had the car about 15 months now. I also had my ignition cylinder replaced, a fuel filter replaced, and now my car dies when I slow down. I have had nothing but problems with this car.
- The Colony, TX, USA
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While shifting the vehicle the transmission light appear on the dashboard. And it is hard to drive please fill in additional information dealer is aware of the problem.
The automatic transmission cuts out while accelerating to 2nd gear, especially at full throttle. In the middle of 2nd gear, rpms hang around 4000 at full throttle. Letting off throttle allows rpms to reach 5700 and vehicle shifts into 3rd. Rpms hang again at 4000 in 3rd gear, and any manipulation of throttle (full, half, etc.) does not raise rpms. This causes the vehicle to be limited to approx 60 mph.
The transmission jerked when the gear shifter was placed in gear and the transmission light illuminated on the dash.. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer 8 times for the same repair.
Vehicle has a major electrical problem. While driving vehicle gauges will go "beserk". door chime activates, all lights flicker on and off, transmission changes gears, and the vehicle stalls.
My brakes have squeaked and chirped ever since I have owned the car. I had pads and rotors replaced for the first time at 28,000 miles, and am facing having the same work done again at 48,000 miles. My automatic transmission failed at 35,000 miles, and the recalls have kept me at the service department more hours than I can count.
While working on the vehicle, the mechanic discovered a seal leak in the engine, and a leak in transmission cooler lines. Later, while on the road, the vehicle started to fishtail in the back due to a bolt which held the rear suspension had loosened. In addition, the vehicle had stalling problems, and severe corrosion buildup on the battery.
Gas mileage is poor on this size veh--motor kicks into neutral while driving at higher speeds. Dealer keeps telling me there is no problem/cannot duplicate, 4 incidents, this is very freighting. Especially in heavy traffic & cannot get off the road fast. Brakes wear between 16000 and 18000 miles with normal driving. The motor belt had to be replaced at 22000 miles. This never happened so soon with any vehicle I have ever owned. Repairs and services are very expensive, many safety recalls and product warnings that take time to repair. The dealer has a problem making sure the parts are available when I make an appointment. The wheel bearings have been replaced several times and sound like they may be going bad again! I do not feel safe in this vehicle. What if something fails while myself or my family are in this vehicle. This vehicle has depreciated at such a drastic rate, that I would be wise to trade it for another vehicle. I feel it is in direct relation to all the safety issues with this vehicle. **dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**763169
I sent this letter to Ford in may of 2000 I purchased a Ford Focus, thinking it would be a safe, low maintenance car, considering it had been in europe since 1997. I would think this would be plenty of time to work out any bugs you may have. Or, should I call them recalls. I think a car that has 16 recalls, most of them which I would consider safety issues, should be recalled entirely. I have had other issues with this car as well. My key would not turn, seat belts locking for no reason, door handles not opening the door (this is all happening again). And one that has not been addressed, brakes. I am now on my third set of front rotors since I have purchased the car. The same thing has happened every time. The driver side rotor and pad will wear completely down yet the passenger side will be just fine. I have talked to other Focus owners and the same thing is happening. I still have my last set of rotors just to prove it. I got smart this time and bought replacements that were not made by you. Stop tech cross drilled rotors and ebc greenstuff kevlar pads. I also replaced the driver side caliper with a non-Ford replacement. I want out of this car because I feel it is unsafe. I also would like to warn other Focus owners that this car is unsafe. You also had better not send me to the dealership again. What does the dealership have to do with the production of an unsafe car? nothing, except that they sell it. I am not putting up with Ford pushing me around or giving me the run around either. This car is extremely unsafe and should not be on the road. I did not do this before but this time you leave me no choice. This letter will be sent to as many bad product websites as I can find. It will also be sent to NHTSA, consumer reports and the better business bureau. You did not do anything with my previous complaint and now there are more issues with this product that not only concern safety, but the life of the car. Something will be done.
Consumer has experienced many problems with this vehicle. There is occasional grinding noises when braking suddenly, the brake pedals squeak, the transmission jumps out of gear, there are problems when accelerating, the vehicle stalls when driving above 55 mph, the cruise control is inoperative, and various electrical problems.
I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle just last month the cable and motor in the rear passenger side door window burned up and now will cost over $600. To fix I can not get the front rack & pinion fixed because it will cost $1800. The transmission is going out now it slips out of gear sometimes not at all. I just got the brakes repaired for the third time in may and they are again squeaking. I have all of my receipts for work done to this car. I am now having to put power steering fluid in once or twice a week. The automatic locks on the doors lock and unlock all the time, and the electric instruments turn off by themselves. (radio) the driving lights go out at times and will not come back on. Please help me, I am a single mother and have complained to courtesy Ford they want to charge me diagnostic $90 for each item I am complaining about and then the amount it will take to fix all of the things wrong. This vehicle I just recently found out has had six different owners before me and one was rental car company. I do not know who the rest of them were. Courtesy Ford had said there was only one owner. They will not listen to me and now the Focus' have a front suspension recall that may have been the problem the whole time with the brakes and the tire replacements and the power steering problems.!!! please help me.
While driving at 55 mph, driver heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Vehicle will not shift gears. Had vehicle towed. Mechanic indicated that the automatic transmission had gone out.
7/00- tape was stuck in stereo, had to replace stereo. 3/01- had to replace front brack pads at 11000 miles. 11/01- ignition locked on vehicle. Had to replace ignition. 3/02- transmission was neutralizing when driving. Had to replace transmission. 5/02- car was stalling. Ford unable to detect problem. 9/02- car was not accelerating and stalling suddenly- had to replace fuel pump. 9/02- had to replace front brake pads and back brake shoes at 34000 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fallbrook, CA, USA