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.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

Started experiencing problems with the vehicle after purchase. Suddenly in August, all power systems/computer type items began to fail -- power locks, trunk release. Then, car began (and still does) to sputter and shake when stopped/idle until it would shutdown. Also, the radio/cd player would shut off. Checked for tsbs for the vehicle model & year and found at least 15. When I took the car to the dealer (world Ford sandy springs) we were told that they are technical service bulletins and that we would have to pay to have the car repaired. Only official Ford recall notices, not even ntsa recall notices, would be honored. On top of this, we would be expected to pay $90 per complaint batch (the tsb list was batched in to 3 main areas)for diagnostic purposes and if any of the complaints were related to a recall, the $90 would be refunded as applicable. I expressed that if Ford issued a tsb and the ntsa issued a recall notice, then I should not have to pay to have the car worked on.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

I now have a problem with the transmission. The mechanic thinks it is a filter or switch that keeps the oil level in the transmission when turning right. My car shuts off when I make right turns. I have spent way too much money and still owe on this car..frankly I would like to turn it in! has lot of repair needs too much money. I had all of the recall work done also

- Miami, FL, USA

Extreme amount of problems and recalls, vehicle has low mileage. In addition to listed problems, severe rear tire cupping at 7000 miles, may be attributed to loose rear wheel bearing. Power steering pressure hose leaking, A/C still not fixed correctly cold lasted for about a month drivers door lock wont lock interm. Rear trunk latch wont release from inside car. Fuel gauge erratic, caused driver to run out of gas on a bridge. Maf sensor failure, caused driver to be limited to 15 mph on freeway till next exit. Vheicles radio stuck on with key removed causing battery drain---happened twice and was fixed. Vehicle is a lease due back for return in August. Cant wait to be rid of this headache but feel sorry for whoever buys it... I would still like Ford Motor Co to reimburse me for the lease payments made for the amount of downtime and time vehicle spent at the dealership to fix some of these problems......thankyou

- San Diego, CA, USA

The brakes have been looked at three time because of noise and it's been serviced several times. It's in service right now and has been there for two weeks. I don't know if they are working on it or if they are repairing other things or what. I haven't had heat throughout the coldest part of the winter. The seat belts don't work and the paint is peeling. The car has locked up not letting me start the engine twice, then just out of the blue it decided to start. I tried to turn in and the car dealer at Ford said he wouldn't touch it, didn't want it. We bought it Aug. 9 2000-Ford credit, simple interest 6.5 --first payment September $456.99 a month they say we owe too much to trade in "?"this made no since. Now I know what's been going on. My husband has been out to sea usnavy for almost a year and I'm scared to drive it I'm a nervous wreck about this car and I don't know what to do. There has been is so many recalls on this car I don't know if they have fixed them or not

- Oak Harbor, WA, USA

I purchased a Ford Focus in April 2000. At that time I opted for the 3 year/36000 coverage. Later in that year I was involved in the rear wheel bearing recall and brought the car in for repairs. Last week my left rear wheel bearing went-and as the mechanic said "I'm suprised your wheel didn't come off". I contacted Ford customer service and was informed that since I was no longer under warranty protection (vehicle has 40,000 miles) I was no longer covered, and the customer service representative proceeded in trying to offer me extended coverage for my car. I feel that since they "tried" to fix the problem and didn't -that they should still be resposnsible for the repair. There is no reason a wheel bearing should fail after only 40,000-especially when I had between 12-15,000 miles on the car at the time of initial recall/repair.

- Westbrook, CT, USA

We purchased this 2000 Ford Focus on 11/13/00. We began having problems with the manual transmission for the first time in January 2001 and took it to the dealership on 1/25/01 for diagnosis and repair. The vehicle has been in for repairs 4 additional times for manual transmission problems on 8/01/01, 1/11/02,7/09/02, and 2/13/03. The problems have been difficulty shifting into 1st and 2nd gear, grinding when shifting into 3rd gear. One of the times it was taken in we had completely lost the ability to shift into 2nd or 4th gear. Each time they have fixed the problem only to have more problems occur. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on 1/30/03 for road noise and wobbling in the wheel. The tire almost fell off on the way to the dealership. At that time we were advised that there was a recall on the wheel bearings. We had never received notification of this and in fact the service manager said that he was unaware of the recall until he looked up our vehicle in the computer. They subsequently performed the following repairs: Found related damage because of recall as follows, left drum, spindle and bearings refaced right drum R & R right spindle. Rear shoes replaced parts for related damage. This is the information stated on the invoice. At this time the check engine light had also been on so we asked them to also find out what that problem was. They found gross leak found at evap manifold line. Replaced line. This vehicle has also been to the dealership for several recalls including the replacement of a battery cable on 1/30/03 and another unspecified recall on 10/02/01. This vehicle has been in the shop 6 times for a total of 67 days in the 27 months that we have owned it. It now has 35,800 miles and the warranty is about to expire. We have made several calls to the dealership and to Ford customer service. They have offered to extend the warranty on the drive train and charge us a $50 deductible each time that the vehicle requires service on this system.

- Elgin, PA, USA

The main concern I have is that I have had this car in 4 times now for rear wheel bearings. My other issue is that when the actuator in the rear drivers door went out that all the locks and windows freeze up in the locked position it that is where they were at when it dies. Not the key, manually or remote will wor. This to me is a saftey issue, you could potentially be locked into your vehicle with no way out.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

I lost control of my car; the back tires were uncontrollable, I was unable to keep my vehicle under control because of this great shaking/swaying from the rear of the car. After the accident I noticed that the left rear wheel was loose and askew. Because I was unable to control my vehicle, my car rolled twice down an embankment. The airbag deployed, and I received a quite substantial burn on my left wrist.

- Peell, WA, USA

The ignition switch broke. The key would only go in half way. This happened all of a sudden, no warning. We drove the car to my wifes apartment at school to change for our daughters pre-graduation dinner and when we went back out to leave the key would not go into the ignition. This was on a Friday night and graduation was the next day at 10:30. We contacted the local marquette, Ford dealer crown motors and they had to tow the car in. The car was locked in park and the steering wheel was locked. We were not there when they towed it away but my wife was stuck in marquette until the following Thursday waiting to get the ignition replaced. The dealer said they had to drill out the old switch to remove it. The new switch was coded to our old key so that was good and the crown Ford dealer was very nice and accomodating to my wife. We were told when we bought the car from bessemer auto that this was a "program car" but found out through the internet that it was a rental car. I don\\'t think a rental car is the same as a program car. I am 67 years old and have owned many cars over the years and I have never had an ignition switch break to the point the key would not go in. At 37000 miles not good dependability. My Jeep has 143,000 and the ignition works fine and I stop and start a lot. I am almost afraid to know any more about the Focus problems. My wife really loves this car but is now very unsure of its dependability. She drives home from school at night sometimes and stops at a very remote station for a break and tea. Had this happened there she would have been in a real fix since the closest dealer either way is 80 miles.

- Bessemer, MI, USA

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.

- Smyrna Mills, ME, USA

Loud noise coming from rear wheels, dealer service center diagnosed as bad rear bearings. Not covered by warantee or recall, similar to: Investigation: PE02-016 model year: 2000 subject: Rear wheel bearing failure -rear wheel bearings may fail, causing rear wheel to loosen and separate from vehicle.

- Columbus, OH, USA

Rear wheel bearing had to be replaced a second time. The first time this was covered under the recall campagin. After the first replacement under the recall, the bearing developed the same problems and had to replaced a second time. The second fix was not covered under the recall, since the repair was done once before.

- North Brunswick, NJ, USA

While driving @ 25mph the left rear wheel came off, it was pinched under the car and then jetted into a mailbox and stopping in the side of another car. Ford said that it was driver error, we are not getting any help from customer relations or dealer. They said it was something we did, I hope they fix it because its the right thing to do.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

Had to have rear wheel assembly fixed. Radio and air conditioner worked sometimes and sometimes not. There were numerous other recalls on the car, which made the car fall under the description of a lemon. Ford would not respond to complaints. Car was returned and papers were filed under the lemon law and no answer has ever been received. Loan still goes against my credit. How can I get a response from them? what do I do from here. **dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**768026

- Hoboken, GA, USA

The left front wheel disconnected from the vehicle and collapsed outward, dealer was not able to determine the cause.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

1 week after purchase took in for brakes and rotors, 3 months later same thing, two months following ignition locked along with A/C not working need another lining, right now ignition is trying to lock again needs calipers brakes rotors car is stalling mechanic just made me aware that the two tires on the right has four lug wheels two tires on the left has five lug wheels. The car sounds horrible no money to repair all these problems fell like I have to pay for something that's not even drivable Ford will not do anything or dealer still covered under factory warranty I believe deep in my heart they sold me a lemon I know there's no way a car should have four, five lugs it means that they salvage the car threw it back together and had it sitting waiting for the first sucker! me but I'm going to try to fight this all the way no matter what it takes.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Consumer complained of right wheel bearing noise. Defect was determined to be a faulty wheel bearing on the rear passenger bearing. Rear hub assembly was replaced at the owner's expense.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

I am tired of replacing wheel bearings. Now Ford is saying that my spindle is messed up and that is causing the problem. My spindle is only messed up because of the wheel bearings. It is a vicious circle. I am tired of constantly repairing this car. If Ford would fix it right I would not have these problems. All I really want is to get rid of this thing that vaguely passes for a car and to get something reliable, but Ford only wants to offer me half of what I owe on this lemon. I guess they don't want it back.

- De Soto, MO, USA

These problems have all happened at different times and seem to be completely unrelated. The rotors had to be replaced with the brakes at approximately 13K miles. The engine just went into idle while I was driving. This happened three separate times, but when I took it in to the dealer. They didn't see anything wrong with it and couldn't duplicate the malfunction. My rear wheels started making a very low noise around 8/15/02. After an accident at the end of August. The noise was much worse and the rear bearings were replaced by the shop that fixed my car after the accident. South Florida is a "high-salt/corrosion" area because of our proximity to the sea. This was never introduced before. When the cigarette lighter is pushed in, it does not merely pop out when it is hot. It ejects and is thrown on the floor. Having it land on my leg twice and my carpet scorched by it twice, it could have cause a serious accident. Thank you for your assistance.

- Hialeah, FL, USA