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Ford Focus

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The Focus is a nice-looking little car. And it replaced the truly execrable Escort. There, we said something good about it. Unfortunately, for way too many owners, that about exhausts the list of compliments. The Focus has so far set a record for safety recalls (would you believe 10?) and it may just be getting started.

Ford Focus • Fires • Brakes • Ignition • Stalling, Sputtering • Transmission • Water Leaks • Everything! News • Another Recall: Back Door May Come Open • Ford To Replace Focus Fuel Modules • Feds Probe Focus Fires • Focus Setting Recall Record • Focus Recall (Oct. 2000)

It's unfortunate for everyone when an economy car has this many problems. It's especially rough on the poor customers, who presumably are on tight budgets and unable to pour time and money into keeping their supposed economy car running.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints:

Faith of Atchison, KS May 2, 2009

2001 Ford Focus SE has electrical and transmission problems. Car stalls alot in the summer months, it constantly blows fuse F9 for engine and shuts down entire car has been taken to ford dealership comes back with no codes, they send you on your way with a high bill for labor and an extra fuse. Transmission now shits in and out of drive as you are driving down the road, highway driving in the car could be deadly due to this constant problem.

Harold of Muskegon, MI April 29, 2009

I own a 2002 Ford Focus. On 12/19/08 I pulled into a Gas Station to get gas. It was snowing and slippery. As I was getting out of the car I notices smoke was coming from the heater. I quickly removed the car away from the pumps to a near by snow bank in the gas station parking lot. I opened the hood and fire was coming out from the engine. I threw snow on the fire to get it out. The fire caused damage to the engine and hood. After having the car checked by experts, I found out that it was the pipe to the power sterring fluid, which caused the fire. There was only 48,000 miles on the care when this happened. I have alson had to put new everything on the front brakes at about 20,000 miles. Also new tires at about 30,000 miles, some would not balance. Since the fire, the hydraulic choke master cylinder was leaking. It leaked all over the carpet of the floor of the car in front area. Had to pay for some of the repairs from the fire, which I don't feel I should've had to.

Nikki of Port Moody , BC April 27, 2009

We have a 2007 Ford Focus ZX3 that we bought new and have had less than two years. It has less than 28000 km on it. From the start its had a quirk where the key sometimes wont turn in the ignition and we have to jiggle it to make it work. Six months ago it began stuttering and shaking if you applied the breaks and would occasionally just die at stop lights. We took it in and they told us it was just a transmission fluid leak and they supposedly fixed it.

Two weeks ago we had to take it in again because the problem came back even worse, with stuttering and shaking every time the brakes are applied. There was a noticeable drip of transmission fluid. They replaced a gasket and said the glue must not have cured the first time. Shortly after that second repair, the car began smelling of burning fluid inside and out and the shaking it worse. The gears slip so that if you apply the brakes, it shakes violently or just dies or if you accelerate the engine revs but you dont go into a higher gear. You can hear the transmission whining and there is a nightly pool of transmission fluid under the car.

Its back at the dealership again. After reading posts on this website and others, I feel that this is a factory defect (or several) and we're considering trading in the lemon before the warranty runs out and we're stuck replacing the transmission out of pocket.

Shane of Minneapolis, MN April 23, 2009

i have a 2005 Ford Focus St zx4 5spped manual, i have terrible getting into gear problems, very hard, I think I have a 5 year 60k power train warranty, It is just horrible, I'm the second owner, also i have seen all over the internet with people having the exact some problem!

Jeanne of Seattle, WA April 16, 2009

Jeanne of Seattle WA (04/16/09)
I needed to be in Court, and I went out to start my car, and the key wouldn't turn and the steering wheel was locked. I only have 30,000 miles on my car, but looking on-line, it appears that this is a very common problem with the Ford Focus - how frustrating!

I missed my court date.

Luis of London, OH April 13, 2009

Luis of London OH (04/13/09)
i bought a new ford focus car in 08/21/08,three days later i had to bring back the car bcause it leak all powerstearing oil. they fix the car. four month later the radio burn out, stop working. in 04/o4/09 i bring car for oil change and they found out that the water pump was leaking water. they had to keap the car to fix. my wory is this car only have 5600 miles and is already with three problems.

i need this car new so i can go to workor in case of any emergency i can used withwout not wory. now i dont fill safe in a car in this condition especialy a brand new car. i call them and talk to themand they said that is normal in any car and they can do nothing for me. please. i heard that you, consumer affairs are the only ones that can help me. thanks

Kerry of Corinth, NY April 13, 2009

Kerry of Corinth NY (04/13/09)
my daughgter broke down i conn.comeing home from a friends house due to the timeing belt.350 later and two weeks and her ignition switch goes.know one sees a problem with the ford focus,i'll never buy another ford.

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