Trunk latch fails to catch 95% of the time. Trunk key fails to turn lock most of the time. This problem has existed since the car was purchased in 2000. There was no event leading to this failure. I believe the trunk lock materials are corroding just like the rear passenger doors which were recalled. The trunk lock should be recalled. This problem is clearly the result of faulty manufacturing materials. I requested dealerships perform repairs and they told me that Ford headquarters has failed to issue a recall. Why? NHTSA should make this happen. The consequence of a failed trunk lock/latch is that the trunk door will pop open -- allowing things to fly out of the trunk and fly into on coming traffic endangering others as well as block rear window vision. This could cause fatalities to both the vehicle driver and near by vehicles.. the hubcaps have cracked and broken off in pieces during cold weather while parked (ie., the hubcaps were not struck by exogenous rocks or anything else). This is clearly the fault of substandard manufacturing materials. Ford Motor Company employees at headquarters have stated this to me. Ford Motor Company should replace the hubcaps at no charge to the customer. Exogenous materials can hit the unprotected tires, cause a blow out. It is not right to make the customer pay for substandard materials. I could take a wild guess that the wheel wells -- on my car -- replaced directly by the vice president of engineering from the Warren plant -- did not look at the stress and hair line cracks he faulty wheel wells placed on the original hub cabs. It's time to finish the job! Ford Motor Company's employees have stated to me that the 2000 year model (the first year this vehicle was transitioned from european manufacturers) manufactured in the Warren plant did not perform the necessary quality control to ensure that these materials functioned in cold weather climates.

- Southfield, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. When the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn at all. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the ignition was replaced. The cause of the malfunction was unknown. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting and the key had to be turned several times. The trunk lock failed and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 160,000.

- White Plains , NY, USA

On 10/23/07 I inserted key into ignition of my Ford Focus and immediatley the lights and gauges went haywire-vehicle failed to start. To make a long story short, after unpluging the battery cables and going back to the stranded car the next evening, it started. 2 days later my wipers came on by themselves and would not stop until I turned the car off and restarted. On 10/31/07 while driving my daughter home, the vehicle began accelerating and deccelertaing uncontrollably. I pulled of the highway and when I opened the drivers door, the seatbelt light began blinking and making a loud ticking noise. This had happened the night prior, but I thought maybe the button was depressed. My dome lights make a screeching noise and blink on and off. This is a serious problem that needs to be looked into. Whenever something like this happens I am driving home late at night and of course the dealer is not open to help me. My car is almost paid off and I will not invest more than what it is worth, which is only about $2,500.too bad I have paid about $18,000 for it. I would also like to know why I have not received recalls for the following problems: 1. 1st month after purchase, electrical system running airbags, mirrors, doors etc. Failed. 2. 37,000 miles- transmission failed 3. 42,000 miles- power door locks failed and soon after passenger doors stuck in the lock position. 4. all window tracks have failed. 5. wheel bearings replaced. 6. trunk latch failed 7. ignition failed and was replaced and is going again. 8. brought in for 1 recall (fuel filter) and still didn't correct problem with vibration and lurching. This is a vehicle that exceeds highway saftey ratings? something will be done about this if I must hire an attorney- I am out a lot of money and no vehicle.

- Deleon Springs, FL, USA

The trunk latch has been trouble from the day I got the car (not closing, it would take 2 to 3 times to get it to close). Now it will not open.

- St Charles, MO, USA

Rear trunk latch failure results in not being able to open trunk and work on brake lights. No inside seat release on 4 door sedans. Dealer attempted extortion by estimating cost of replacing one tail light bulb at $400 in order to pass state inspection.

- St. Joseph, MO, USA

: the contact stated the trunk lid would not open. The vehicle was seen by an authorized dealership. The service department made several attempts to open the trunk lid, later however they were successful after removing the quarter panels and rear taillight assemblies. The dealer discovered there were no emergency release latches inside the trunk. The dealer installed trunk release latches and the trunk began to function properly. The manufacturer was alerted, but could not determine if the vehicle was manufactured with or without those trunk lid latches. Updated 03/09/06.

- Bonifay, FL, USA

Trunk latch fails to lock, allowing trunk to open without warning.

- Lake Junaluska, NC, USA

The latch on the trunk on my Ford Focus ZX3 does not like to latch. There is often times when the trunk makes a clunking noise as if it were going to open. I have a newborn baby in the backseat if the trunk were to open I am afraid she will be injured. I am sure the part will have to be replaced asap.

- Murphy, NC, USA

This complaint is concerning clarification of our previous complaints to NHTSA regarding the 2000 Ford Focus : #10104088 and #10107840. I am extremely concerned about the misinterpretation of data collected by your Agency and posted for public review. Deaths are not posted, nor are they included as injuries. This misrepresents the seriousness of the vehicle and equipment failures reported.

- Redford, MI, USA

Fatality vehicle fire, Dec. 8 2004. My husband is the original owner of a 2000 Ford Focus, subject to numerous service visits to bill brown Ford, livonia mi for: Ignition, steering column, wheel bearing, brake, rear window control, seat belt &trunk latches, overhead light and engine light. The vacuum line & fuel pump & valve assembly were replaced 2/03, followed by stalling. In 6/03, A/C compressor & manifold line replaced. Fuel line & pump failure in 8/03, resulted in gasoline spill on residential street minutes after parking. Bogging followed repairs, PCM reprogrammed & leaking pvc tube replaced 1/04. Fuel pump again replaced. In 8/04, our 24 year old son took ownership of this problematic car. We are uncertain as to whether vehicle malfunction caused a 35 mph collision with a fire hydrant. An immediate engine explosion and fuel fed fire trapped my son and his passenger. Described by police as a relatively minor crash which would not be expected to claim lives, the subsequent unexplained engine fire claimed two young lives. A malfunctioning driver's airbag was also detected. This incident was originally reported to NHTSA by my husband (#10104088). I am supplying these additional facts for your clarification. Please correct your posting of "0" injuries as there were 2 fatalities. Please take effective action to save lives, as these trouble plagued vehicles seem to become more lethal as they age. Confirmation of receipt of this information is requested.

- Redford, MI, USA

Trunk lock malfunctioned, had to replace entire locking mechanism ($100) after several hours trying to gain access into the trunk, this problem is all over the internet, thought it needs to be reported here. The old part is available.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

Defective front brake rotor. During the inspection the consumer was told that the defect was not covered under the vehicle's warranty. Other vehicle components also malfunctioned. The vehicle's trunk latch broke, the check engine light illuminated twice, the cd player became inoperative and the steering wheel locked up.

- Washington, DC, USA

I own a 2000 Ford Focus. I noticed that sometimes the trunk wouldnt latch so I would have to go back and try it again. Through time it eventually wouldnt latch shut at all. I was then unable to lock my trunk completely. In the process of all of this somehow my trunk hood got bent. I assume that since the latch was broken, everytime I tried to shut the trunk it bent the hood slightly. To fix the problem I had to purchase a new trunk mechanism and install it myself. I quoted the cost to fix it at a repair shop, and it came up to over $100. Doing it myself saved me about $20.

- Columbus, OH, USA

Leaking water into passenger foot-compartment. Isolated problem to plastic cover that sits beneath windshield, and is mostly accessible with hood open. The problem is that the plastic comes away from windshield due to some buckling in the plastic. Fixed problem by applying pressure to plastic to bend it back to shape so it snagged-up closer to windshield. Not seen problem since. Mastic to adhere plastic to windshield might be an option to other people. The fuel gauge sometimes refuses to work. Found this to be case when key is put into ignition and key-turned to start engine was done too quickly. If entering key into ignition and then turning key each click, giving each click a half-second, then gauge appears to be more reliable. When engine goes into slow-idling state, engine idles very erratically and is not smooth. Sounds like only some of cylinders are firing. This has only started to occur today and since reading comments on this website, I'm concerned. Have tried adding fuel-injector-cleaner to fuel tank, awaiting results of that. The trunk would not close. The problem here was fixed by removing the locking assembly from the trunk-lid and simply dowsing the mechanisms with WD40 and then bending some spring-loaded components.. there are 2 moving components in the lock. First is shape of a loop that you can easily move with finger/screwdriver. This component locks onto stub that you can see when opening trunk. The other component is hidden within casing and moves in front of other component to hold it in a locked position. Problem was with this component. Problem was component had "somehow" gotten bent and not free to leave casing and block other component. Bending this to a position freeing it of casing fixed problem. Engine lacked power when under load when accelerating, vehicle would shudder and decelerate instead of accelerate. Problem resolved when Ford dealer replaced spark-plugs plus leads and a full engine tune-up. $230 plus but fixed problem.

- Mint Hill, NC, USA

I have had this Focus for about 2 years. When I purchased it, I was not told of any of the possible mechanical problems that may be associated with the model. Since then, I have had 4 recalls repaired. Recently, the door handle on the driver's side door was getting stuck. Now, the factory installed security system will not work. I cannot lock the driver's side door at all and I must lock the other 3 doors manually. My key chain door locker does not work at all. The inside button for unlocking the trunk will not work either. The front console is too big for the car and coffee cups will not fit into it. I also seem to have trouble seeing behind me when trying to look to the left from the driver's side due to the placement of the headrest.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

While driving, the trunk opened by itself, because the lock no longer worked.

- Mission, TX, USA

-2000 Ford Focus LX - bought used on April 14th. Both interior and exterior of car in excellent condition, ran extremely well, one owner repo, clean title. -was rear-ended in very low speed, low impact collision, no frame buckling, bending, or damage to car other than scratched rear bumper - truck lid will not latch now. Multiple mechanics and appraisers - unable to find problem. -while driving, dash gauges and car speakers will suddenly stop working (speedometer goes to 0, odometer goes blank, fuel gauge goes to 0) and then spontaneously come back on with no after effects. Car stalled while stopping after one of these episodes. Occasionally when car is started, the odometer will spontaneously reset without prompting (not the main one, the resetable one). -random codes being thrown to computer - car has had two diagnostics run in two weeks, the first for two codes: 1. a mechanical issue, 2. for electrical difficulties in the dashboard - the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. Seven days later the computer reported an "evaporative system leak" - once again the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. After the first diagnostic, a rear brake light went out - after removing the light and "fiddling" with the wiring, the mechanic got its normal function to resume. -the car has 36,000 miles, I had the brakes inspected the day after the car started shaking violently when I pressed the brake pedal. The rotors are warped terribly and I will have to have the entire brake system replaced, including the rear drums - I do not consider this normal, especially in such a young car. -it has had two recalls filled in the last month, one for a pinch bolt and the other for a wheel bearing. No other recall campaigns were open. These problems have continued since the recalls were completed. -I've owned this car for less than a month. The cars pre-purchase inspection came up clean. The car is no longer under any kind of factory warranty.

- Los Lunas, NM, USA

After about 10 days of buying my 2000 Ford Focus the problem. Started and one year later the problems are still coming like clock work. First my breaks were squealing I called the dealer, he said not to worry about it until I had time to come in. 1 to 2 months later, after several calls asking if it was still okay to drive, I took my car in and the routers and breaks were bad, they sd I should have brought my car in sooner. Well per there request I took my time. I had to pay the get this taken care of. It didn't stop there, my tires kept getting flats so I has to once again replace at my own expenses. Now the real problems start, my cruise control was just out of control, my car would accelerate every time I would put in on cruise. The windshield wipers would not work and my radio kept turning off by itself. I had once again at my own expenses replace my windshield wipers calling the maintenance. Dept. At meridian Ford. They fixed the problem. With the cruise control and it was working fine for about 2 months it is now happening again! now I have problems with the key getting stuck and will not turn, the trunk will not shut, and my car will shut off when the car is in idle. It turns off if in park or drive after about one min. Idle. This is very frustrating. And has caused so many financial and stress problems. I don't feel safe in this car and I feel cheated! I was sold a lemon! a list of what was wrong with my new car..bad breaks, bad routers, bad windshield wipers, bad cruise control, bad trunk, bad tires, the key gets stuck and will not turn, and now it turns off while in idle. All these things are still wrong with it and its costing me money, stress, time and it is costing me to be late on my car payments and other bills because I have to pay for all this crap to be fixed! why is this happening! do I need to get a lawyer or do you need to replace or fix my car at your expensive. I have lost so much and feel helpless. I hope this does not fall on deaf ears.

- Homedale, ID, USA

Ignition failed, had to be replaced, tires wear incredibly fast (4 sets of tires at 45000 miles), radio cut out, had to be replaced twice, brakes failed at least three times causing two accidents, dealership said they replaced them, but lied and never did, was forced to spend $500 having them replaced, trunk doesn't close, bad suspension, spun out on an exit ramp

- Columbia, MD, USA

Consumer was exiting a parking garage and placed vehicle in reverse. Without warning, car suddenly accelerated and rear tail spun around 2 times then hit a parked vehicle. Consumer did apply brakes with no success. Ph insurance company informed dealership that there were two recalls that dealt with a defective throttle and speed control which was not performed on the vehicle prior to the accident. Other problems included weezing noise while turning. Power steering racked failed and replaced. Lack of power steering in steering wheel. Rear brake pad replacement. Rear wheel bearing noise. Defective wheel bearings replaced. Tire punctured and replaced. Hesitation on acceleration. Fuel pump and gasket replaced. Tires rotted out. Key stuck in ignition. Replaced malfunctioned shifter assembly. Trunk lid wouldn't latch. Latch replaced.

- Massillon, OH, USA