10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,924 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #4

Jun 232017

Focus

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owned a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact heard a car horn sound while being away from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed flames underneath the vehicle. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the flames. An investigator diagnosed that the failure originated from the cruise control switch. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control), but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

- Lake Oriion, MI, USA

problem #3

Mar 072007

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 19,800 miles
Upon entering an intersection and having to stop at a stop sign, I pressed the cruise control off button and applied the brake. Instead of slowing down, the vehicle increased speed, and traveled into the intersection. I attempted to turn out of the way of oncoming traffic but struck a passing SUV. End result was my car was totaled and the SUV suffered heavy damage. I contacted Ford in dearborn, mi but they were no help. The consumer stated the cruise control would not deactivate when the brakes were applied or when the off button was pressed. Updated 10/10/07.

- West End, NC, USA

problem #2

Oct 012005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,900 miles
The consumer stated that while driving, the cruise control activated by itself and caused the vehicle to accelerate. The acceleration was rapid in nature. The contact was not attempting to use the cruise control at that time, she was approaching a stop sign. The vehicle has not been to dealer or a mechanic for a diagnosis of the problem. The consumer also stated the windshield lining was coming apart, one of the rotors were warped. Updated 11/29/05.

- Gladewater, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 212004

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 9,996 miles
In minneapolis 4/23/04 the car stalled in stop and go freeway traffic and took a few minutes on the freeway to re-start-mileage then-approx 2317 R/O open date R/O close date 9/21/04 10/05/04 the first 4 dates are transmission related. Initially the car would pop out of 2nd gear while slowing or turning a corner 2/03/05 2/10/05 bearings replaced 2/12/05 2/15/05 cruise inoperable 3/15/05 3/23/05 transmission replaced. 3/25/05 3/30/05 this is a throttle body replacement all of these repairs were done under warranty. In a further page I do not know what "oem" means so haven't answered that question.

- Superior, WI, USA