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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:

Christine of Virginia Beach, VA September 2, 2007

Christine of Virginia Beach VA (09/02/07)
The transmission on my 2003 Ford Focus suddenly quit working on August 14, 2007. I took it to a transmission shop and the technicians there told me that it was skipping 2nd and 3rd gear and the overdrive was gone also (it's an automatic transmission). The car only had 53,000 miles on it at the time, which seems to be too soon for a transmission to go out. I've owned other cars that I've driven for more than 100,000 miles without replacing the transmission. The guy at the transmission shop said that there seems to be a problem with Focuses losing their transmissions too soon -- it has happened to a friend of mine also who has a 2002 Focus with about 60,000 miles on it. When I asked a dealer about a recall or technical bulletin, they said there are no known problems with Focus transmissions. I find that hard to believe.

Michael of Virginia Beach, VA August 31, 2007

Michael of Virginia Beach VA (08/31/07)
My fianc bought a 2007 Ford Focus SES September 2006. Things were fine till the weather started getting warmer. We noticed that the dash was very sticky after being in the sun, along with most of the plastic parts in the passenger compartment. We took it into the service dept and they couldnt find anything wrong. My fianc tried to complain to a manager, and was told that she would receive a call. She never did. She called the sales person that sold us the car and she contacted the service dept for us. My fianc took the car in yesterday and was given another Focus to drive. The dash was just as sticky after sitting in the sun on the loaner car as hers would get. She asked the service man to come look at it and compare the two, and he said that there was definitely something wrong. Today, my fiance was told that this is a problem that Ford knows about, but nothing will be done. Also, they have made the 2008 dashboards the same way.

Norman of Wixom, MI August 31, 2007

Norman of Wixom MI (08/31/07)
My 2000 Ford Focus ignition lock is jammed. I had to call a tow truck and the driver used a hammer and struck the key a few times and the key finally went into the lock. When i got home i tried to do the same to start the car and it didn't work. I called the dealer and he said it would cost between 2 and 3 hundred to repair the lock. I noticed that a lot of complaints were filed on line for this problem.

Edmond of Rochester Hills, MI August 31, 2007

Edmond of Rochester Hills MI (08/31/07)
I have a 2003 Ford focus bought new and have muliple issues. Priority wise,the ignition key gets stuck and won't allow rotatation thereby not being able to power up or start engine. It is as though the wrong key is being used to start vehicle. The dealer said not covered by extended warrenty, also at time of sale said to cover bumper to bumper! The cost of replacment tumbler is close to 300.00. I have owned many cars, but this is the first time I had to replace the ignition tumbler! Also the fenders have all loosened due to the plastic fasteners. The vehicle rattles terribly! The fasteners do not tighted, and need to replace. There is also the smell of anti-freese when the air conditioner is on!

Grace of Wenonah, NJ August 30, 2007

Grace  of Wenonah NJ (08/30/07)
I bought a 2000 Ford Focus in 2000. Within the first few years the ignition went. I couldn't get the key to turn. It happened in my driveway, Ford paid for half of it the first time. Then just this week it happened again. This time I had to pay for towing and 290.00 to get it fixed. This is crazy twice in seven years the ignition goes. Is this a normal thing.

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