2000 Ford Focus tire problems

TIRES

COMPLAINT AGAINT GENERAL ALTIMAX RT TIRES, SIZE 195/60R15. EXTREAMLY LARGE BUBBLES IN SIDEWALLS IN 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES ON OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS. I JUST PURCHASED THE 2 FRONT TIRES 4/2/2014 AND THE BACK 2 TIRES JULY 2013.. 1 TIRE, RIGHT REAR WENT FLAT THE OTHER DAY, FOUND LARGE HOLE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE, IT APEARED NOTHING HAD PUNTURED THE TIRE. I DID NOT THINK NOTHING OF IT AT 1ST. TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER TO HAVE TIRE REPACED, WHICH THEY DID. WHILE AT THE FORD DEALER, THEY POINT OUT LARGE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT TIRES, THOSE 2 TIRES WERE JUST PURCHASED A LITTLE MORE THAN 1 MONTH AGO AND ONLY DRIVEN 2870 MILES. I CALLED GENEAL TIRE COMPANY AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT THE SELLER OF THE TIRE, TIRE SELLER SAYS TO SEE THE TIRE COMPANY TO GET ADDRESSED. THE TIRE BUBBLES ARE VERY LARGE AND A DANGEROUS CONDITION, THESE TIRES COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME, THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITH THESE TIRES. I JUST PURCHASED 2 TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND FOR THE FRONT OF THE CAR, WHILE I FIGHT WITH GENERAL TIRE COMPANY. I WORKED AS A TECHNICIAN FOR A FORD DEALER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AS MY PRIOR PROFESSION. I HAVE NEVER SEEN TIRES FOR HUGE BUBBLES LIKE THESE GENERAL TIRES. THESE GENERAL TIRES ARE SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE. I WILL NEVER BUY GENERAL TIRES AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10592151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

THE WAL-MART STORE 4379 ON BUSH RIVER RD IN COLUMBIA SC HAS FAILED TO GIVE/ FILL OUT THE TIRE REGISTRATION CARDS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THEY SELL BETWEEN 100 AND 150 TIRES A WEEK AND ABSOLUTELY NO REGISTRATION CARDS ARE BEING FILLED OUT. THIS CAN BE PROVEN BY LOOKING UP THE TIRE SALES FOR ANY DAY AND THEN WATCH THE VIDEO RECORDINGS OVER THE FRONT COUNTER AND YOU WILL SEE THAT NO CARDS ARE BEING HANDED OUT. I KNOW WHAT A SAFETY ISSUE THIS IS AND I HAVE TRIED TO HANDLE IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND THE STORE IS REFUSING TO START HANDING THEM OUT. I KNOW THAT THERE IS AT LEAST A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE PER CARD NOT HANDED OUT AND BY MY CALCULATION THIS WALMART ALONE HAS AROUND $3,250,000.00 IN FINES. I HATE FOR WALMART TO BE FINED THIS MUCH BUT I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY ARE JUST NOT FIXING IT AND I AM AFRAID THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON TIRES AND PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR TIRES THERE WANT KNOW AND MIGHT GET HURT. FOR THE DATE BELOW I JUST PUT A RANDOM DATE BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 7 MONTHS. THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THEM START DOING THINGS RIGHT IS A HEFTY FINE. IN MY MIND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND PEOPLES LIVES COULD BE AT STAKE. I BE LEAVE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN 7 MONTHS, BUT ALL I CAN SPEAK FOR IS THE LAST 7 MONTHS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE WAL-MART IS REFUSING TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS FOR BEING A TIRE RETAILER. IF YOU LOOK INTO IT AND THE CARDS HAVEN'T BEEN HANDED OUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND SAY THEY ONLY SALE 100 TIRES A WEEK AT 5000 DOLLAR FINE PER TIRE THEN THE FINES ADD UP TO $26,000,000.00 PLEASE HELP ME TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF A TIRE RECALL LIKE THE FIRESTONE INCIDENT A FEW YEARS BACK. I CALLED TO FIND OUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINANT AND THE MAN SENT ME THIS FORM BUT MY COMPLAINANT IS FOR ALL TIRES THEY SALE NOT JUST GOOD YEAR. ITS FOR ALL TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10400831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

FALKEN ZIEX ZE-512, AUTOMOBILE TIRES, SIDEWALL RUBBER BADLY CRACKING ALMOST TO THE RADIALS, NOTICED AFTER 2.5 YRS AND LESS THAN 17000 MILES. ALL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE EQUALLY AFFECTED/ DAMAGED. NO VIN HAS BEEN SUPPLIED AS THESE TIRES WERE AN AFTERMARKET PURCHASE, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10286659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TIRE SEPARATION/CRACKING LINGLONG L688 TIRES 205 40 ZR 17.

NHTSA complaint #10159368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

2000 FOCUS TIRES WERE PULLING. *TS ***NAR*** THE RIMS WERE BENT AS A RESULT OF THE TIRES PULLING.

NHTSA complaint #10153007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS. *NM THE REAR END WAS UNABLE TO BE LINED UP, IF SO, THE VEHICLE WOULD FISHTAIL BACK AND FORTH AND THE CONSUMER WOULD UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10111201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RECALLS ON VEHICLE. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE CABLE SHIFTER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, TIRES, SUN ROOF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10024305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

NAR 04/07/2003 MR. WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAILED WHEEL BEARING.. THE AIR CONDITION REPEATEDLY LEAKED WATER IN THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE WORN WHICH REQUIRED NEW ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10015271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

MANY PROBLEMS, THE RADIO STARTED SHORTING OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR (10,000 MILES.) AT 37000 MILES AFTER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER RAN OUT, MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER FAN ONLY WORKED ON 4, 1, 2, AND 3 DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO FORD, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WHICH COST ME $409.00. ( I THINK I WAS RIPPED OFF) LAST MONTH I TOOK A ROAD TRIP AND WHENEVER I WOULD CLIMB STEEP INCLINES THE CAR SPUTTERED AND EVENTUALLY DIED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO THE CAR WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO SPUTTER UP THE HILL. THIS MADE IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY RESULTING IN A NEAR COLLISION WITH A TRUCK. THIS WEEK, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL, THERE WAS SOME CORROSION ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS SO I CLEANED THEM W/A WIRE BRUSH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CABLES LOOKED BURNED. THE CAR STARTED AFTER WE JUMPED IT, BUT DIED AFTER REMOVING THE CABLES. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS CAR THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. MY LAST CAR WAS A FORD ESCORT, I STILL HAVE IT, IT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS WELL OVER 100000 MILES ON IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE 9 PAYMENTS LEFT ON MY FOCUS AND WILL BE SELLING IT AFTER THAT.

NHTSA complaint #10098366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

1) NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT 2) BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND CUT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DOWN THE MIDDLE (WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED). THE SPRING ALSO BENT THE STRUT.*AK 3) ALL OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE - SEE #2 FOR WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE. REPAIRS HAD TO BE MADE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

NHTSA complaint #10093532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I STARTED TO REPLACE TIRES AS EARLY AS 5,000 MILES JUST ABOUT 7 TIMES BY NOW. REPLACED IGNITION 5/03 FOR $667.00 THE KEY WOULD GO IN AND WOULDN'T TURN. SPRING COIL DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC REPLACED 4/03 FOR $158.50. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETLY GONE THE CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP. PLEASE HELP ME, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT PAUL CLARK IS SO POOR THAT I WOULD NOT GO THERE ANYMORE.

NHTSA complaint #10068981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE. THEY MAKE NOISES ALL THE TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE CYLINDERS AND THE SHOES AND IT STILL DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT. THE SUSPENSION IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING, BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD IT. I AM A TEACHER. CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE BAD, BECAUSE OF A FAULTY WIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10069367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

MY COMPLAINT IS ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THE FOCUS. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND WORK DONE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSING, WIRING HARNESS REPLACED, BEARINGS IN FRONT, AND REAR, BRAKE ASSEMBLY, SWAY BAR, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 SETS OF TIRES, AND LINE UP 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD AND THE CAR EATS TIRES. NOW WE HAVE 52,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND A PIN HAS COME LOOSE AND GONE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION, AND CASE. ALTOUGH THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS HASSLE, AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10069676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

CAR IS ONLY 2YRS,8MO. HAVE CURRENTLY EXPENDED OVER $4000.00 ON REPAIRS. PROBLEM WITH SEALS ALLOWING FUMES IN CAR FROM OTHER VEHICLES RUNNING BESIDE MINE. THE NOISE AND WIND SHEAR LEVEL IS VERY UNSATISFACTORY. SQUEAL NOISE AND THUMPING FEELING FROM PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL. HESITATION ON ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. POOR QUALITY ON PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP FROM MANUFACTURER

NHTSA complaint #10070124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I DRIVE 25000 MILES A YEAR TO AND FROM WORK APPROXIMTLY 115 MILES A DAY AND 70% OF THAT IS ON OPEN INTERSTATE HIWAY. STOP AND GO IS LESS THAN 20 MILES A DAY. TIRES COMPLETELY WORE OUT AT 41000 MILES. TIRES STARTED HUMMING AT 10 TO 15000 MILES. I CONSTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT END AND TIRE NOISE. I PUT A SET OF GOODYEAR AQUATRED TIRES ON AT 41476 MILES. THEY ALSO STARTED HUMMING, SO THE FRONT END WAS LINED UP. THIS DID NOT STOP THE TIRES FROM HUMMING. NOW CAR HAS 80000 MILES, TIRES ARE SCARMING GO DOWN THE ROAD FAST OR SLOW. FRONTEND SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLANKING OR THUD TYPE NOISE. JUST RECENTLY TURING LEFT GETING OFF INTERSTATE IT FELLES LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT IS CHANGING GEOMITRY. CAR TURNS LEFT VILENTLY - MUST CORECT STERING. THIS WILL HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS CAR IS EXTMLY DANGERAS. WHEN DRIVEN ON ICE AND SNOW, IT WILL BRAKE LOSE WHEN GOING STARIGHT FOR NO REASON AND START TO SPIN OUT. BRAKES WORE OUT AT 45000 MILES. $400 TO FIX FRONT BRAKES ONLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO PUT BRAKES AND TIRES ON A CAR AT LESS THAN 50000 MILES. MORE LIKE 65 TO 75000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10070133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

PURCHASED FORD FOCUS SE IN MAY OF 2002 WITH 13,260 MILES. WE DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD. SOON AFTER BRINGING THE CAR HOME, WE NOTICED THE TIRE WAS VERY WOBBLY, AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING--TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THESE CARS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BRAKE NOISE, AS FOR THE TIRE NOTHING IS WRONG-THE SERVICE DEPT. TEST DROVE AND DIDN'T NOTICE A THING. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AFTER THAT FOR WOBBLY TIRE-STILL SAME ANSWER NOTHING IS WRONG. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SEVERAL RECALLS. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP-BUT THE NEXT TIME MY TEENAGED DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK WHEN SHE WAS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION-HAD IT TOWED AGAIN, THERE WAS A PIECE OF MATERIAL (FROM THEM FIXING THE IGNITION PROBLEM) THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. OUR LATEST EPISODE WITH THIS CAR IS OUR TRIP FROM WA-VIRGINIA. THE CAR WAS FINE ON THE WAY THERE, EXCEPT FOR THE WOBBLE IN THE TIRE IN WHICH WE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED YET AGAIN. BUT ON OUR WAY BACK WE STARTED EXPERIENCING SPUTTERING AND SURGING OF THE CAR, WE WOULD PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERY 20 MILES (THINKING IT WAS FROM THE HOT WEATHER), WE WOULD GET ANOTHER 20 MILES IN AND SAME THING UNTIL FINALLY WE DROVE THROUGH CHICAGO, IL AND IT WAS WORSE, SO WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ON TO AN ON RAMP--WALKED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO USE A BUSINESS'S TELEPHONE TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEY FOUND US A TOW TRUCK BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T A KING CAB, SO OUR INSURANCE CO., CALLED US A CAB. THE TOW TRUCK TOOK US TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER--THE CAR HOWEVER SEEMED TO RUNNING FINE, SO WE DECIDED TO DRIVE SOME MORE. WE GOT ABOUT 15 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND SPUTTERING AGAIN, SO WE CALLED FOR ANOTHER TOW--AND IN THE MEANTIME WE CALLED FIRESTONE, WE DROVE IT THERE, THE SERVICEMAN DROVE THE CAR AND FELT WHAT IT WAS DOING AND SAID HE DIDN'T NEED TO HOOK IT UP TO ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10070828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I PURCHASED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE FROM MERLIN MOTORS IN SASKATOON. PRODUCTION DATE - MAY 2/2000, STOCK NO. PP24941, R.O. NO. 155631. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY SOMEONE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. HERE IS A CHRONOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN OF REPAIRS. APRIL 17/01 - TOOK CAR IN BECAUSE DRIVER MIRROR VIBRATED BADLY WHEN DRIVING - SO BADLY THAT I COULD NOT LOOK INTO IT, IT WAS SHAKING THAT MUCH. ALSO, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE RELEASE INSIDE THE CAR. PARTS WERE ORDERED AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 32854. JUNE 19/01 - THEY CHECKED FOR DRIVER MIRROR VIBRATING WHEN DRIVING AND REPLACED DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR. THE ALSO CHECKED FOR TRUNK NOT OPENING FROM THE RELEASE INSIDE THE CAR, THEY REPLACED THE TRUNK STOP AND ADJUSTED. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 35222 JUNE 20/01 - THEY CHECKED FOR POWER STEERING LEAK AND REPLACED STEERING RACK AND SET TOE. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 37782?? (THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ERROR - I KNOW I DID NOT DRIVE 2, 560 KM IN ONE DAY!) I ALSO DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POWER STEERING AND DON'T RECALL WHY MY CAR WAS IN THERE AT THE TIME. SEPT 21/01 - THEY REPAIRED RATTLE IN RIGHT FRONT GOING OVER BUMPS, TIGHTENED ALL ASSEMBLE BOLTS IN FRONT END, REMOVED RIGHT CALIPER AND ROTOR, LUBED ALL BUSHING, ADJUSTED FRONT SPLASH SHIELDS, FOUND TIE ROD BOLT LOOSE AND TIGHTENED. THEY ALSO FIXED MOLDING ON WINDOW BELT, WHICH WAS LOOSE AND CHECKED INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND FOUND IT FLAWED - PART ON ORDER. VEHICLE KILOMETERS- 43170. NOV 3/01 - WE WERE DRIVING IN SASKATOON WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO BOIL. WE KNEW THIS BECAUSE OF STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD, ALL GAUGES IN THE CAR READ NORMAL! WE TOOK CAR TO MERLIN - THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AFTER THEIR CHECKS, AND TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN! WORK ORDER FOR THIS DATE STATES: CUSTOMER SAW STEAM COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, ANTIFREEZE POOLED ON ENGINE, GAUGE READ NORMAL, STEAM COMING FROM OVERFLOW TANK - FILL WITH A/FREEZE, PRESSURE TEST FOR LEAKS, NO LEAKS FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #10071379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TIRES/ TIRES HAVE CUTS IN TREAD.

NHTSA complaint #10059173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I BOUGHT MY FOCUS IN 2000. SINCE THEN I HAVE SUFFERED 2 BLOWOUTS THAT NEITHER FORD OR FIRESTONE WOULD FIX. I'VE HAD BRAKE PADS REPLACED ONCE AND NOW HAVE TO HAVE BRAKEPADS AND ROTOR REPLACED. SOMETIMES THE KEY WON'T TURN THE IGNITION. AND OF COURSE THIS MORNING (ONE OF THE COLDEST DAYS WE'VE HAD) SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG WITH THE HEATER.

NHTSA complaint #10055070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN LEAST THAT 2 YEARS AND TWICE IN THREE MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME TO CALL FORD AND FORD TELLS ME IT A DEALERSHIP'S PROBLEM CALL THEM THE OLD RUN AROUND. I ALSO HAVE REPLACE ALL FOUR BRAKES AND TIRES WITH ONLY 25000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THEY STILL SQUEEZE AND GRIND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. I BROUGHT THE CAR USED SO I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYTHING WAS REPLACE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT LOVELY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10046852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH FOCUS. BOUGHT CAR IN 2001. SINCE THE DAY THAT I DROVE OFF THE LOT I HAD SQUEAKY BRAKES. TOOK TO SERVICER AND WAS TOLD DUST ON BRAKES & IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, THEY CHANGED PADS & ROTORS. NOW I HEAR THE SQUEAK AGAIN. CAR CUT OFF WHILE GOING UP A HILL. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICER THAT IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WEATHER HAD RECENTLY GOTTEN HOT AND IT "SHOCKED" THE CAR. KEY WOULDN'T ENTER THE IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SERVICER. CAR SHUTS OFF IF UNDER HALF A TANK. SERVICER TOLD ME " KEEP THE GAS OVER HALF A TANK". SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING WHILE HEAT ON IN CAR. ON 2 OCCASSIONS SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS WHILE A/C ON ( DIDN'T TAKE TO SERVICER FOR THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY NEVER OCCURED AGAIN). TODAY 11/10/03 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND STALLING EVENTUALLY CUTTING OFF. TOOK TO THE SERVICER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT EVEN MENTIONING THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR THE TECHNICIAN SAID, " YOU MUST HAVE A FOCUS". NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THESE DEFECTS THAT FORD IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF. ALSO, THE CAR NO LONGER HAS VALUE. TRIED TO TRADE IT IN BEFORE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT LAST YEAR, AND WAS TOLD CAR ONLY WORTH $4,000 WHILE I STILL OWED $10,000, WHICH MEANS I WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME UP WITH THE $6,000 DIFFERENCE TO BE FREE FROM THE CAR. THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YRS OLD WHEN I TRIED TO TRADE IT IN! SO, I FEEL I GOT RIPPED OFF WITH A LEMON THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET RID OF. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CALLING THE FINANCE COMPANY AND VOLUNTARILY GIVING THE CAR BACK, BUT THEN MY CREDIT WILL SHOW A REPOSSESSION, WHICH IS NOT FAIR BEING THAT THE CONSUMERS WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS BEFORE WE BOUGHT THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10045994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

1ST RECALL,6/2000 SHOP FOR A/C PROBLEM,9/2000 SHOP FOR 7 DAYS FOR AC PROBLEM,1/2002 SHOP 7DAYS FOR ENGINE WORK,RECALLS X 4 OR 5 NOT SURE ABOUT DATES THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY ON THIS CAR,PROBLEMS WITH NOT STARTING ,GAS GAUGE, TIRE REPLACEMENT 3 SETS IN LESS THEN 3 YEARS, HESITATION,POOR GAS MILAGE,BRAKES SQUEALING, TRUNK DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY,10/2003 HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS FOR POSSIBLE ENGINE WORK. DEALER CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM, I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS CAR IT HAS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE THERE ARE MORE TO MENTION CAN NOT LIST THEM ALL I NEED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10045586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

2000 FORD FOCUS LX 4-DOOR SEDAN - NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS: 1) CURRENTLY HAVE 75,200 MILES ON CAR AND HAVE GONE THROUGH 5 (YES FIVE!) COMPLETE SETS OF TIRES.2) ENGINE STALLS AT ANY SPEED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATIONS, CAR BUCKS AND GAS PEDAL CAN BE DEPRESSED TO FLOORBOARD AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE - BARELY AVOIDED THREE ACCIDENTS (TWO OF WHICH WOULD HAVE INVOLVED MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN) 3) ALL FOUR DOORS WILL STICK - REALLY NEED TO PULL TO OPEN - AND ONCE OPEN, THEY WILL NOT CLOSE AGAIN (YOU NEED TO TRY TO CLOSE THE DOORS REPEATEDLY BEFORE THEY FINALLY LATCH). THEY ALSO POPPED OPENED WHILE DRIVING. AFRAID ONE DAY ONE OF MY CHILDREN OR A PASSENGER OR MYSELF MAY BE INJURED. THEY ARE MANUAL DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES. 4) SAME WITH TRUNK - OFTEN NEEDS REPEATED TRIES TO CLOSE AND LATCH 5) LEAK IN FRONT PASSENGER FOOTWELL - WHEN IT RAINS, OR WHEN GOING THROUGH CARWASH 6) FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT MY COST - HORRENDOUS, IRRITATING, EMBARASSING SQUEALING IS INCESSANT - BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATES EVERY DAY! IN SOME INSTANCES, BRAKES NEED TO BE APPLIED VERY FIRMLY TO STOP VEHICLE (AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH MY CHILDREN IN CAR). 7) EXTREMELY FOUL SMELL WHEN AIR CONDITIONING USE IS ATTEMPTED. 8) STEREO WAS REPLACED - ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED WOULD NOT WORK AFTER 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. 9) PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF SKIRTS - I WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT THIS IS "SANDBLASTING" AND THAT I MUST DRIVE ON DIRT ROADS ALL OF THE TIME - I LIVE ON AN ASPHALT STREET, DRIVE ON ASPHALT ROADS AND ASPHALT HIGHWAYS - NOT DIRT! 10) FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY - WAS TOLD I MUST BE BUYING "DIRTY" GAS - IF IT IS DIRTY GAS, IS THAT MY FAULT? I DON'T EXACTLY RUN THE GAS STATIONS, AND I DON'T BUY FRO ONE SPECIFIC STATION - I FUEL UP WHEN I'M LOW, WHEREVER IT IS CONVENIENT. 11) I HAVE HAD THREE ALIGNMENTS TO TRY TO STOP THE HORRIBLE SHAKING OF THE CAR - THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES SO BADLY THAT MY ARMS ARE SORE BY THE TIME I GET TO MY DESTINATION.

NHTSA complaint #10025576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.