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.
I was turning and I heard a very loud snap! my car then began to pop extremely loud everytime I turned. It turned out to be a snapped front coil spring. This is very dangerous because the spring could very easily have ripped into the tire causing a "blow out" which leads to accidents in many occasions!! the more I talk about it, the more people who say they have had the same thing happened on their Focus!
July 2010 ignition is locked, key will not turn in ignition. It was happening every now and then but today, July 7, 2010, it will not turn at all even with tapping lightly on the end of the key and pulling the steering wheel down while turning the key nothing has yet to be done as I am still waiting for Ford to decide if they want to pick it up! June 2010 driverside spring coil snapped - no letter to the owner of the Ford models when the problem was a known safety issue and was covered under a warranty extended by Ford (because they knew of the problem) June 2009 - driverside firehawk gta factory installed tire blew right off the steel rim, leaving the steel from the tire on the rim... this happened in my driveway and not while I was driving the vehicle, thank goodness.
The front passenger suspension spring snapped causing a blow out of the tire on my 03 Ford Focus, vehicle was taken to dealership who advised that the recall for this problem on this vehicle was no longer in effect as the vehicle was manufactured some 3 months after the close out of the re-call.
Driving under normal conditions at 45 mph I heard a pop followed by a grinding noise from the front passenger side wheel. I immediately pulled over to find my car leaning noticeably to the front passenger side. Car was towed to Ford dealership and I was told that both front coil springs as well as the front right tire needed replaced due to coil spring corrosion and resulting failure of the front right coil spring.
- Covington, KY, USA
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I recently took my 2003 Ford Focus in for suspension noise in the front. The shop took a look at it and said he had seen a lot of Focus' and escorts that have the spring on the strut break. He said there is no warning signs. The noise he was hearing was coming from the top of the strut which he said didn't appear to be a hazard but suggest I replace both front struts just in case. He said a lot of the time people won't know that their spring is broken because it will stay intact in the bottom and top strut housing. He said on other occasions the spring will come out of the housings and possibly puncture the tire. He said aftermarket brands have a stronger steel they use in their springs and recommended using the aftermarket brand instead of Ford genuine parts. That is ok with me because the aftermarket brand is cheaper.
There is serious problems w/ the front end of this vehicle. It was purchased approx. 17 months ago. Since then, I have had 3 major brake jobs. Twice, the pads were replaced and once both the pads and the rotors have had to be replaced. The vehicle also resonates at high speeds. Everything shakes including the sterring wheel and the states. It appears my two front tires are out of round. Ford originally said it was defect in the tire, which I replaced, however the new tire is out of round as well. An independent garage says that there is a problem with the front struts. Ford has numerous complaints from me reguarding both the brakes and the suspension system. Also the vehicle is very loud and it appears to be air coming in when. Ford initially resealed the windshield, however the problem has persisted.
Front end shimmies and pulls to the left at speed of 70 mph and faster. If vehicle isn't serviced immediately the problem will progress and occur at lower speeds. Dealership balanced and rotated the tires several times, and replaced all 4 tires twice. This only provides a temporary solution because the problem recurs.
While driving at 75 mph abruptly vehicle started swerving from side to side. This caused loss of control, vehicle spun around, and impacted a guard rail. As a result, driver sustained back and head injuries.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Peoria Heights , IL, USA