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 2005 Ford Focus ZX4. The contact stated while braking from unknown speeds in rainy weather, the brakes locked and she was unable to stop the vehicle. The contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and proceeded to crash into a fence and then collide with the curb. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 54,000
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that there was a serious defect with the rear brakes. The rear brakes have been replaced six times since the vehicle was purchased. In addition, the rear tires have been replaced eleven times without any explanation. The manufacturer has not provided assistance. The current mileage was 83,463 and failure mileage was 212.
The inner brake pads on the front axles are prone to binding due to rust. The clearances are very tight. This causes premature, uneven brake and rotor wear once the pad rusts up and stops floating. My pads just failed after 42K miles; yet the outer pads were over 1/4" thick. I propose a several-part remedy (first 3 to be done by servicing technician): 1. examine the pads more frequently than the usual once a year required by typical safety inspections; pull the wheels and check for movement of the inboard pads. The pads may have to be retracted with a C clamp so they have room to move. 2. if the pads are frozen, remove brake disk and pads and remove rust on the sliding surface down to bare metal with a flat file, until pads slide freely. 3. lubricate surfaces with molykote or similar anti-seize compound. 4. the manufacturer should review the design with brake vendors to come up with a solution which could be incorporated into replacement pads. If slightly shorter pads are the answer, they should include anti-rattle measures. Also, a squealer spring should be added to contact the brake disk when the pad is almost gone to give an audible warning to the driver. These work well on Chrysler (I don't know who makes them).
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The vehicle would not immediately start, but once it did, it stalled for approximately five minutes. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and they stated that the rotors needed to be changed. The rotors were repaired. Prior to the failure, the check engine light illuminated periodically. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 140,000 and current mileage was 153,000.
- Laurel, MD, USA
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I own a 2004 and 2005 Ford Focus. One is an SE and one a ZX3. The front brakes on the 2004 went out at 32,000 miles and the 2005 went out at 40000 miles. Both vehicles are driven nicely. On both there was a slight grinding for about a week and then total pad failure in the right inside pad. Ford says the pads I bought from the dealer are lifetime warranty but the system when new carries no warranty. By the time problems are noticed, it's too late and both the pads and rotors need to be replaced.
The vehicle has a chronic failure in the rear brakes, they have been replaced 3 times since October 2005. The vehicle is a 2005 Ford Focus wagon. The rear brakes do not engage, the car skids, and they squeal. I have had the car in the shop over a half a dozen times.
In December my daughter was driving the Ford Focus and the streets were wet, a car stopped suddenly ahead of her and when she went to use the brakes. They failed and the steering wheel locked. She ran into the car in front of her. On May 3, 2006 I was driving the same car on wet roads and the exact same scenario happened. I needed to make a sudden stop and the brakes failed and the steering wheel locked up which prevented me from steering the car to avoid the accident. I hit the car in front of me, causing major damage to both cars.
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