Squealing - grinding sound from the front tires - front brakes replaced and rear brake rotors were turned and cleaned

- Dayton , OH, USA

Squealing - grinding sound from the front tires - front brakes replaced and rear brake rotors were turned and cleaned

- Dayton , OH, USA

Vehicle stalled and the ignition tumbler was defective whereby consumer have to leave the key in the vehicle. The ignition was replaced four times. Also, front brakes squealed, and did not stop the vehicle. Pads were replaced four times.

- Desoto, TX, USA

1)normal driving pattern; 2)brakes started to crunch at 31,000, this car was purchased new and still under warranty, but not for brakes. 3)took to Ford dealer on 10/15 they wanted $550 plus to fix, my salesman told me he had never heard of this happening at such low mileage. Called Ford corporate, got no help with service rep, requested a call from supervisor, still haven't recieved a call back. Took to midas to fix, was repaired this morning.

- Elgin, IL, USA

2002 Ford Focus with 23,600 miles required all new pads and rotors-- dealership has said that this is normal...for the Focus... and such work is not covered by warranty. Took the car to midas and had front brakes and rotors replaced (rotors couldn't even be turned!), mechanic at midas stated that replacing pads and rotors on a vehicle before the warranty has even expired is not normal, typical, or to be expected. Before replacing the brakes, there was chronically a large amount of brake dust on the front wheels.

- Evansville, IN, USA

2002 Ford Focus ZX5. Brakes grind and squeal. At 10,777 miles (10,000-mile service), Ford dealership said front brake pads and rotors are completely worn out and need to be replaced at cost of $500. Car is unsafe to drive without replacing brakes.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

My 2002 Ford fucus ZX3 needed new brake pads and rotors after a mere 22,000 miles!! this service cost me $280 and is not covered under Ford's warranty. Clearly there is a problem with the braking system if a car needs new rotors before the first set of tires wear out.

- Chico, CA, USA

Brake pads and rotors need to be replaced every 14,000 miles. Nothing has been done to fix the problem!

- Seattle, WA, USA

Have only 23,000 miles on my Ford Focus 2002 wagon and it needs front pads and rotors. I have never had a car that needed rotors at 23,000 miles. This is a major safety and design defect.

- Burtonsville, MD, USA

On 2 occasions I complained to dealership re the amount of brake powder on the front wheels - these were on the first two oil change visits. Both times I was told that this was normal (hub caps were dark charcoal). Took car in to dealership on 2/14/04 for routine oil change and was told that the brake pads needed to be replaced but that the rotors had not been affected. Car had only 14,300 miles, extremely low mileage for pads to be worn out. Rep told me to bring car back for them to check for defect in brakes. I took the car back 5 days later and was told that not only were the pads bad, but that a mistake was made in rotor reading Saturday and that rotors had to be replaced as well. There were serious communication problems which were later resolved, but I wound up paying meineke for pads ($133 incl labor) for a lifetime guarantee instead of fairway Ford's price - $145 for 12,000 mile pads (same brand installed by the factory) or $195 for Ford product. That night (2/19) I called Ford headquarters to inquire about whether they had had previous, similar complaints. Was told that they had no record of such complaints and that they could not help me; that they have to rely on the judgment of the service manager of that particular dealership and I should contact him. I wound up involving my attorney and writing to the service manager who investigated and found in my favor. They replaced the rotors for free. My concern is that Ford is obviously using an inferior product; that I have found numerous complaints posted on the web about the Focus brake pads; that there is a class action suit still in the discovery stage concerning the 2000 and 2001 Focus brakes; and that I believe Ford Motor Company should be held accountable. I appreciate that the service manager wound up apologizing and replacing the rotors for free, but this should never have happened in the first place.

- Greer, SC, USA

While having vehicle serviced for another problem dealership noticed that brake pads and rotors wore out prematurely and needed replacement.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

While performing an oil change dealership indicated that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. They wore out prematurely.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

I have a 2002 Ford Focus with 24600 miles on the car. The brake pads and rotors where gone when I took the auto into the shop.

- Ocala, FL, USA

I have a 2002 Ford Focus, the brakes are shot on this thing at only 26000 miles. Contacted Ford on the this, to no avail. Did some research on the web after my contact with Ford, and found that there are hundreds, maybe thousands of people. That have a Ford Focus that have the same problem. There is no way a vehicle should have bad brakes at 26000 miles. In some cases as low as 15000 miles. Ford doesn't seem to care to much about this, at least thats the impression that I got when I talked with them. There anything that you people can do about it.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

At 19,000 miles I had to replace the front pads/rotors because the pads woe out and had chewed through the rotors. This is my wife's car, it's not driven hard, and now at 33,000 miles I have to replace the front and rear pads, hopefully that's all. This car is crap and a rip off.

- West Hills, CA, USA

Front brake pads and rotors had to be replaced after only 20,000 miles of driving. The mechanic told me that this is a common problem with all the Focus's he has seen.

- Stafford, VA, USA

I am the original owner of a 2002 Focus SE. April 2003, I passed NY state inspection w/O any problems. August 2003 I bring my car in for an oil change and I am told that both front and rear brake pads need to be replaced asap B/C they are all the way down to the rotor. There were no warning sounds coming from the brakes. The dealer also tells me it will cost me $600 to repair! I called Ford in detroit and they told me that it was a high price, but they don't control dealer's prices. They also tell me that there is no reported problems w/the brakes, so it must be me. I do not brake hard. The mileage on the car has been through soft driving. I took it to a local car repair who told me not only do I need front/back brakes, but that cars aren't designed to wear brakes down at the same rate. At this shop it cost me $325. I joined the class action suit w/ fordfocusbrakeproblems.com.

- Westbury, NY, USA

2002 Ford Focus has failure of front brake calipers, needs replacing of rotors, pads and calipers under warranty but dealer refuses to agree to this estimate by master brake. Dealer says I only need pads and rotors machined. Car only has 14,692 miles on it.

- North Ogden, UT, USA

Brake pads are warped and wear out in a short period of time.every 20,000 miles had to replace them.

- Odell, OR, USA

While driving a grinding noise was heard. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that brake rotors and pads had to be replaced.

- Honolulu, HI, USA