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.
Has been to shop for 26 days in the past 4 months. Repeated failure of clutch (manual transmission), failure of brake pads, resulting in minor crash. Have had to had ball joints replaced. Cruise control was disconnected from accerator/brake. Key would not go into ignition and resulted in key ignition switch having to be replaced. Numerous recalls and trips to shop since bought brand new in August 2003
2002 Focus with with 5-speed manual transmission and less than 33,000 has a failed clutch. We believe this failure is due to defective equipment, wonder if it could be related to either service bulletin #00B59 or #14204. Vehicle has not been driven in a manner to abuse the clutch. Only two drivers are mature adults and bought the vehicle to replace a 1990 escort with similare 5-speed manual transmission and approximately 100,000 miles. Escort never had clutch problem and was driven, since new by same two drivers.
The vehicle would not go into gear intermittently. On 01/16/01 the boot around the shifter was torn and the dealer had ordered a new replacement boot cover.
Consumer states that while driving at any speed and without warning the vehicle will accelerate and it will be hard for the consumer to get control of the vehicle. Dealer notified.
I purchsed this car new and have had nothing but problems. I kept telling the service people that the tires were wearing funny and they treated me like I was stupid. Eventually, when the rack and pinion steering went out they realized that there was a problem. Both headlights have had the rubber replaced. The wiper motor has been replaced. The car started hesitating and I found the pvc hose was melted and they couldnt seem to find a replacement part until I got really angry. The car kept hesitating and it got worse. I tried everything.. replaced the plugs, fuel filter. After the check engine light came on I took it to another dealer and he put it on the machine and 2 cylinders were stuck. After checking further, he discoverd the plug wires were melted! the transmission hesitates at times but the service people say they cant duplicate the problem, it must just be the way I drive. The Ford Focus is a lemon and Ford needs to make it right with all the consumers. Nlm
- Cramerton, NC, USA
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I purchsed this car new and have had nothing but problems. I kept telling the service people that the tires were wearing funny and they treated me like I was stupid. Eventually, when the rack and pinion steering went out they realized that there was a problem. Both headlights have had the rubber replaced. The wiper motor has been replaced. The car started hesitating and I found the pvc hose was melted and they couldnt seem to find a replacement part until I got really angry. The car kept hesitating and it got worse. I tried everything.. replaced the plugs, fuel filter. After the check engine light came on I took it to another dealer and he put it on the machine and 2 cylinders were stuck. After checking further, he discoverd the plug wires were melted! the transmission hesitates at times but the service people say they cant duplicate the problem, it must just be the way I drive. The Ford Focus is a lemon and Ford needs to make it right with all the consumers. Nlm
Since the purchase of my Ford Focus 2000, it has been subjected to recalls for wheel bearings, paneling, and the master cylinder. Additionally, the trunk latch had to be replaced and the computer reprogrammed. Since late Sept. 2000, the engine dies at approx. 45/mph when I press the clutch to downshift from 5th gear, slowing from a higher speed. On Aug. 21, 2001, I took the the car to maroone Ford in margate, Florida because it had stall (died) twice in one day. The mechanic said there was nothing wrong with the car and said that I didn't know how to drive it properly. I contacted Ford motor dispute settlement board and they came out and drove with me. The car did not stall at that time, and he advised me that I didn't know how to drive the car! I believe I have been lied to by Ford and by their representative, maroone Ford, margate. I have copies of letters that I sent to maroone Ford, and to the board of directors at maroone Ford as well as a copy of the initial dispute settlement board application. I have complained over and over again that I fear for my safety, and that I want Ford to either fix my vehicle or give me a safe car. I was a full-time nursing student at Florida atlantic university in boca raton, Florida when this started, I am now a registered nurse still driving an unsafe vehicle. I would appreciate your help.
Positive battery cable is burning off insulation. Consumer states that the positive battery cable harness has gotten so hot that it has burned the red plastic cable cover black and has caused the battery to bulge out as if it could burst, consumer states the positive wire was cut from the battery past terminal and there has not been any problems as of yet, also transmission fluid was leaking at the case half, also the front struts were replaced.
Windshield had cracked and was replaced, approximately one month later the windshield cracked again in the exact same spot, nothing had hit the windshield on either times that it had cracked. Air conditioner drains inside the car to the drivers side floor. Brakes squeak, dealer replaced rear brake shoes, however noise is still there. Steering wheel was peeling, dealer replaced it. Vehicle will not start at times, dealer reprogrammed the PCM and replaced the fuel pump. Transmission slips into neutral while driving, it will not shift into reverse until after about 10 seconds, dealer has replaced the mlp sensor and transmission range sensor to attempt to correct problem yet it still continues, transmission lines leaking and dealer replaced lines. Noise coming from under the hood. Hood rattled, dealer adjusted and lubed the hood stops. Engine races at times, vehicle hesitates and feels like it is going to stall.
At 45mph while going up hill brakes and clutch went to floor, causing driver to lose control. Dealer has inspected vehicle. Please provide additional information.
Transmission is sticky while shifting into 2nd gear with clutch fully engaged. The brake pedal intermittantly gets very hard giving reduced braking action.
I have had transmission replaced on this car previously but again the clutch is getting very hard to move. Dealers claim this is due to a recalled part but when appointments have been made to replace this part, no parts are available!
Manual transmission has difficulty shifting into reverse, gets stuck in shift and grinds gear, sometimes won't go into reverse, takes some play of the clutch to get the shifter into reverse.
With clutch all the way in car will not go into gear, will not come out, and stalls. This has happend mostly at low speeds in traffic my wife and I are very weary of driving the car at all now, and we've had to wait 4 days before the dealer could give us an appointment. The dealer has already looked at the trans. But said nothing was wrong with it.
Engine making ticking sound, dealer did not look into it, just replaced engine, the day I got the car back, it was making a squealing noise, take car back next day, after removing transmission, and leaving me without a car for another day, they realized they forgot to hook up a hose, now car is making a grinding noise only when clutch is not pushed in, noise stops when you push the clutch in, car going back in a few days.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Redmond, WA, USA