2003 Ford Focus wheel problems

WHEELS

WHEEL STUD ON FRONT, DRIVERSIDE BROKE OFF WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. BECAUSE OF STUD FAILURE, WHEEL NUTS AND WHEEL FLEW OFF VEHICLE, CROSSING ONCOMING LANE. IF DEFECT OCCURS ON OTHER VEHICLES ON A HWY OR AT HIGHSPEEDS. SEVERE INJURY COULD OCCUR. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND ON AN EMPTY STREET. FORD REPORTED NO WAY OF CHECKING ITS DATABASES FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10633436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW HAS LUG NUT CAPS THAT DO NOT STAY ON. EVERY YEAR I LOSE SEVERAL CAPS AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSING THE METAL TO EXPAND MAKING THE CAPS LOSE. RECENTLY A CAP FLEW OFF AS MY I WAS DRIVING AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LUCKILY NOT BREAKING IT. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10248479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS 2003. THIS PART WHICH IS USUALLY GOOD FOR 75,000 TO 100,000 MILES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION ON BOTH REAR WHEELS. THE AXLE WAS ALMOST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. A KNOWN PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS 2000, 2001 & 2002. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I WAS INFORMED BY MY NIECE AND BROTHER-IN-LAW THAT THERE FORD FOCUS MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR HAD ALSO FAILED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. WHILE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY ALSO FOUND A BROKEN FRONT SPRING; FROM CORROSION; WHICH FORD ACKNOWLEDGES AND IS PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS; DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AT $323.00 FOR THE AXLE AND ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR ALIGNMENT ETC. AFTER THE PARTS ARE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10197019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE TURNED INWARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THERE WAS WEARING PRESENT ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCHANGED.

NHTSA complaint #10155144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

PISTON IN TRANSMISSION DETERIORATED CAUSING SHIFT SOLENOID AND VALUE BODY TO GO BAD AT 71,000 MILES, FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE, REAR SEAT BELTS WILL PERIODICALLY NOT BUCKLE, NOW BLOWING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE, RIMS ARE SEIZED WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE TIRES, NO MATTER IF IT WAS JUST TAKEN OFF 5 MINUTES PREVIOUSLY TO TAKEOFF; IGNITION SEIZED AND ENDING UP HAVING TO REBUILD STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #10153418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:HUB

I ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEMS STARTED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEAR, THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS NEVER SEALED IN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. THE FRONT WHEELS CLICK WHEN DRIVEN. THE BRAKES WENT OUT QUICK. THE BACK HUBS ARE SEALED FROM RUST. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET MY DISABLED CHILD TO THE DOCTORS BECAUSE THE IGNITION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE LOCKSMITH SAID I WAS LUCKY I WAS PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #10143296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEMS PERTAINED TO THE TIRE AND RIM. SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME TIRE AFTER 18,000 MILES/30,000 MILES, AND 46,000 MILES DUE TO MUD ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE TIRE RIM. THIS THREW THE BALANCE OFF, AND VEHICLE CONTROL WAS AFFECTED. IT PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10103500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER A ROCK THE SIZE OF A TOMATO AND THE WHEEL RIM HAS A TEAR STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIM. THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR BLEW THE TIRE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE RIM SHATTERED AND THE TIRE WAS LEFT INTACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10087717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS:RIM

REAR DRIVE WHEEL RIM IS BENT AND DAMAGED THE TIRE. DEALER STATED PROBABLY CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE OR A CURB AND BENT THE WHEEL.*AK THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED THE RIM UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THE DENTED RIM CAME FROM THE VEHICLE HITTING A ROCK OR POTHOLE. THE BENT RIM CAUSED THE TIRE TO HAVE BUMPS ON IT. *PH *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10042057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

WHEEL WAS DAMAGED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. DEALERSHIP FOUND WHEEL WAS CONSIDERED BY FORD TO BE A PRODUCTION ONLY PART AT THIS TIME. THE WHEEL WON'T BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC OR DEALERSHIPS UNTIL OCTOBER. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SPARE WON'T WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WOULD DO TO HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ON A SPARE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10021267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.