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 2001 Ford Focus. While driving 2 mph the vehicle hit a patch of ice, slid into a curb, and caused the suspension front control arm to bend. A new suspension front control arm was installed by the dealer. On March 14, 2008, while making a turn the vehicle made a clunking noise, the steering failed, caused the vehicle to hit the curb and the suspension front control arm was bent again. The failure mileage was 60000 and the current mileage was 87587.
Our son was driving his 2001 Ford Focus on a small back road near a shopping center. He was driving appromimately 20 mph thru a slight curve approaching a stop sign. As he was approaching the stop sign, he lightly applied his brakes and turned the steering wheel to negotiate the slight curve in the road, but his steering had failed - unable to negotiate the curve his car veered into oncoming traffic lane then back to hit the curb. The impact activated the air bags, shattered the windshield and the wheel was completely broken off. It appears that the control arm had a completely clean break - usually not seen in an accident. This was reported to me by several Ford employees as a "very suspicious break" as well as the tow driver from the Ford road side assistance. Our son also reported two days prior to the accident that he felt a "severe vibration in the front right end " of the 2001 Ford Focus. He pulled over to check the car- but could not see anything wrong - continued and the vibration had ceased. We are thankful that this did not happen on the highway as he usually travels on a daily basis.
Consumer lost control of vehicle at 40 mph, and was able to recover, not involving another vehicle. Dealer stated both front control arms were bent and had to be replaced. Consumer also had to purchase a new frame due to incident and has reciepts to prove.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Reno, NV, USA