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

Let's see, where shall I begin. Within month or two of purchase of 2000 Focus sedan it was back in the shop for the front a panel trim. It took 3 times to finally get that right. Also less than 5 months after purchase, windshield had to be replaced due to a stress fracture (was a 1-1.5 hairline crack which appeared in windshield). The windshield has since been replaced again. While adjusting the rear-view mirror the windshield cracked around the base, apparently from slight pressure of mirror. And just recently, August 2003, I've noticed water drops flying up from above the dashboard. Not sure if windshield is leaking around the bottom base or maybe a.C. haven't had it checked yet, but it will be in the shop this week for other problems I haven't mentioned yet. It was in shop in late 2001 or early 2002 for throttle problems. While the car was sitting still the engine would race between 2.5 and 3000 rpms. Fortunately I never used the cruise control during that time. Late 2002 the trunk lock mechanism apparently broke preventing the trunk from shutting properly. It wouldn't latch at all. I have yet to have the wiper motor cover recall fixed. And on different occasions the fuel gauge has read empty, no matter how much fuel you have in the tank. And just when you think nothing else can go wrong, it happens. Me and my wife were shopping this morning on labor day Saturday. We got in the car and I went to start it. My key somehow would not go into the ignition completely, no matter how hard I tried. We eventually call our triple aaa insurance and arrange for a locksmith to come and take a look. He looks at it a second and declares what we fear the worst. Our Focus is the 7th Focus this month he has seen with the same problem. He said that the ignition would have to be replaced by Ford. I believe that this should be a recall. I will never buy another Ford.

- Candler, NC, USA

This is a copy of the letter I sent to Ford prestige Ford garland tx attn: [xxx] dear [xxx] re: Ford Focus 2000 vehicle id# [xxx] I became a customer of prestige Ford 5 years ago when I first bought my 98 escort. I was pleased with the car, never had any problems within the 2 years I had it only the scheduled maintenance. Feb 28th 2000 I made the stupidest decision in my life to trade it for a brand new Focus 2000 -I was impressed of the reviews of being the european car of the year in 1999. Well during this 3 years I had nothing but trouble and I just received another safety recall. I don't even remember how many times I've taken my car back to Ford for safety recalls during the last 3 years. In 3 years I had to replace brakes 3 times (that's actually once a year) replace rotors twice something got messed up last August with the electrical system and the starter I had to have that fixed. There's always noise with the brakes, I asked several times and all your staff or the one on 75 can tell me is a "known problem" first it was "metal brakes" no problem that's normal after a couple of years you changed it to a "known problem""?? I just wanted to let you know my disappointment about this stupid car, I sure did made a big mistake when I decided to buy it. Also I bought extended warranty and that really seems not to be a big benefit since it hasn't helped a bit, I still had to pay for all this repairs. As far as I know this are the known problems with the car, so tell me am I supposed to be a happy camper?" I'm a single mother, I make my payments on time, I don't have the time and the money to keep spending in a car that will be paid off in a couple of years and then I will be left with a big peace of junk. Please let me know when I can take my car to get fixed again. Very unhappy customer [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Dallas, TX, USA

I drive 25000 miles a year to and from work approximtly 115 miles a day and 70% of that is on open interstate hiway. Stop and go is less than 20 miles a day. Tires completely wore out at 41000 miles. Tires started humming at 10 to 15000 miles. I constly complained about front end and tire noise. I put a set of Goodyear aquatred tires on at 41476 miles. They also started humming, so the front end was lined up. This did not stop the tires from humming. Now car has 80000 miles, tires are scarming go down the road fast or slow. Frontend suspension has been making clanking or thud type noise. Just recently turing left geting off interstate it felles like the right front is changing geomitry. Car turns left vilently - must corect stering. This will happens without notice. This car is extmly dangeras. When driven on ice and snow, it will brake lose when going staright for no reason and start to spin out. Brakes wore out at 45000 miles. $400 to fix front brakes only. I have never had to put brakes and tires on a car at less than 50000 miles. More like 65 to 75000 miles.

- Kankakee, IL, USA

Car is only 2yrs,8mo. Have currently expended over $4000 on repairs. Problem with seals allowing fumes in car from other vehicles running beside mine. The noise and wind shear level is very unsatisfactory. Squeal noise and thumping feeling from pressing on brake pedal. Hesitation on accelerating into traffic flow. Poor quality on parts and workmanship from manufacturer

- Killeen, TX, 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 have been in the shop about 7 times during the last 3 years due to problems with my new Focus. The clutch failed at 6700 miles, along with the brakes, and things got worse from there. The front windshield leaked water into the roof, the fuse on the fan/air conditioning system melted, and the brake pads were replaced numerous times. Also, the fabric on the seats caused me to get shocked every time I got out of the car. Ford's lack of customer service was painfully obvious as well during these repairs. I ultimately traded in my car for a competitor's car and I'm feeling much better now.

- Fairview, OR, USA

Bad brakes, leaking transmission X 2 repairs, numerous electrical probs, one "accident", damage repaired at Ford expense, bad tire, noise from front rt side, "'surge" prob, car seemed to "'stick" in a gear. I don't have my file with me but I know there is more.

- Auburndale, FL, USA

My 2000 Ford Focus has had problems starting 2 months after I purchased it. It's been in 6 times for excessive brake noise and or squealing. The door hinges were squeeking and had to be replaced due to misalignment..it took 5 times to determine this. Weather strip molding has been replaced due to falling apart around the headlights. The cd player/stereo was replaced with a new factory model when cd player would not work properly. The "new" model was replaced yet again due to coding seen and no numbers in the window digital area. The fuel pump was replaced after stalling more than 50 miles from home...still does not run up to performance. Fuel area reworked again. Would not start due to battery cable. Ford needs to discontinue this model until they can fix the problems it has with it. They also need to get all Focus models off the road, they are safety hazzards.

- Milford, DE, USA

Current malfunction is hesitation and engine stall and brake failure. My car is almost 2 years old and within that time period I have experienced the following malfunctions: Windshield wiper, air condition, electric window, brakes, struts, rusted rotor, ignition switch, electrical shorts(flashing dash), engine hesitation/stall, blown fuses where car would not start.

- Desoto, TX, USA

Have had nothing but trouble with my Focus the brakes wore down while I was on vacation and I was stuck driving for a bit on metal to metal....which ruined my rotor.....then the battery after almost 3yrs. Has caused my car to not want to start twice......each time I have had to clean off the built up acid on the battery so that a clean connection can be made.....the paint keeps on chipping, my anteena has become frayed, just recently my car's steering wheel locked up on me and the key wouldn't turn in the ignition......it is in the shop as I write this.....and from what I have heard I am not the first person to have had a problem with the cylinder.......the car seems to be slugish when on the inerstate.......the Focus is a dangerous car and Ford co. Needs to do something about it..... jeremy

- Essex, VT, USA

Car has had the brakes serviced a total of five times and the car is stalling during acceleration. This car has been in shops for several recalls as well as twice for ignition lock failure. One of our children was trapped in rear seat by defective seat belt & had to be cut out with a knife. Car stalls after it warms up. Dealer says it's fuel pump but if that were so, wouldn't it stall waarm or cold. I spoke to an employee at another dealer who said Ford was finding problems with sensor connected with cooling system. Who do I believe? they want to charge us $700 to replace fuel pump that probably works fine.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

I drive a 200O Ford Focus LX. I have had it stall out several times on me under normal driving conditions. At first I thought it might be me leaving it out of gear or something, but then I read a article in the newspaper stating that Ford Focus's have a problem with this. I brought my car to the dealership and had them look at it and they found nothing wrong with it. Has anyone else had this porblem" I dont remeber where I was the article but I wish that I did... I have found several related articles about Ford cars with the same problems, but mine was not listed. I am trying my best to get it fixed but when I take it in, theres no problem so they cant fix it! I will go and do anything in my powers, goto local papers, news stations, ect... if I have to! please help... do you have similar problems" lets talk...

- Davie, FL, USA

The brake system is horrible. They make noises all the time. I have replaced the cylinders and the shoes and it still does not sound right. The suspension is bad and needs replacing, but I can not afford it. I am a teacher. Cruise control has gone bad, because of a faulty wire.

- Deland, FL, USA

I bought the car in June of 2000 since this time the car has had a number of recalls on the car. I feel that the people that bought the 2000 model of this car should not be liable to pay the amount the contact was signed. Due to the fact that at the time the car was bought, the people that bought the car didn't know that most of the car's life would be in the shop being fixed. Also Ford knew that the Focus was prone to this happening.

- Shawnee, KS, USA

Brakes replaced but continue to squeal front suspension collapsed causing crash.

- Gold River, CA, USA

I started to replace tires as early as 5,000 miles just about 7 times by now. Replaced ignition 5/03 for $667 the key would go in and wouldn't turn. Spring coil driver's side broke while in traffic replaced 4/03 for $158.50. Now the transmission is completly gone the car would not back up. Please help me, I just don't know what else to do. The customer service at paul clark is so poor that I would not go there anymore.

- Brockton, MA, USA

Loud rumbling sounds comming from underneath rubbing noise when brakes were applied, the rear brakes, had the drums cut and cleaned and the brakes still are rubbing and it sounds like the brakes will fail soon if they don't fix them I took my car back three times with the same problem, and the insist they fixed it and the same thing is still wrong I hope somebody can help I don't know where to go to get the proper help. I need my car.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

While braking the consumer heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the brakes. The dealerships mechanic repaired the problem, however the problem recurred. Please provide any additional information.

- Kansas City, KS, USA