Premature brake wear (4 wheels) rear brakes not functioning as designed, wheel bearings replaced (4 wheels, rear on recall, front under warranty).

- Carbondale, IL, USA

Squeaking brake, extreme wear and tear of front tires, back tires with wear and tear issues, alignment issues on front tires and cruise control issues.

- Spring, 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

The rotors continued to fail on the vehicle.

- West Allis, WI, USA

I sent this letter to Ford in may of 2000 I purchased a Ford Focus, thinking it would be a safe, low maintenance car, considering it had been in europe since 1997. I would think this would be plenty of time to work out any bugs you may have. Or, should I call them recalls. I think a car that has 16 recalls, most of them which I would consider safety issues, should be recalled entirely. I have had other issues with this car as well. My key would not turn, seat belts locking for no reason, door handles not opening the door (this is all happening again). And one that has not been addressed, brakes. I am now on my third set of front rotors since I have purchased the car. The same thing has happened every time. The driver side rotor and pad will wear completely down yet the passenger side will be just fine. I have talked to other Focus owners and the same thing is happening. I still have my last set of rotors just to prove it. I got smart this time and bought replacements that were not made by you. Stop tech cross drilled rotors and ebc greenstuff kevlar pads. I also replaced the driver side caliper with a non-Ford replacement. I want out of this car because I feel it is unsafe. I also would like to warn other Focus owners that this car is unsafe. You also had better not send me to the dealership again. What does the dealership have to do with the production of an unsafe car? nothing, except that they sell it. I am not putting up with Ford pushing me around or giving me the run around either. This car is extremely unsafe and should not be on the road. I did not do this before but this time you leave me no choice. This letter will be sent to as many bad product websites as I can find. It will also be sent to NHTSA, consumer reports and the better business bureau. You did not do anything with my previous complaint and now there are more issues with this product that not only concern safety, but the life of the car. Something will be done.

- Bristol, TN, USA

The front rotors were worn, which caused extended stopping distance.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

The front brake rotors were worn, which caused extended stopping distance.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

The rotors were replaced on 3 occasions.

- Akron, OH, USA

Ford Focus brake pads and rotor problems since 11,500 miles on vehicle, inspected and told nothing wrong, normal squeeking and grinding. My daughter feels that while driving the car the brakes are grinding and giving under her. We take it in for the 15K service and they tell us the brakes are fine at 15,600 miles inspected and told nothing wrong, normal with change of weather. Yesterday my daughter said the brakes were not holding and we took the car in for a wheel bearing recall for the rear brake system and at 18,000 miles, dealership says brake pads and rotors are completely gone! I have talked to the dealer and Ford who say they will "cover" this $400 repair. My complaint is that this should have never occurred and could have cost my daughter, my son who rides in the car or me our lives. I feel they are very aware of this problem and chose to overlook their responsibility that could have cost my family our lives. Someone needs to make them accountable including the dealership who "inspected" the brakes and chose to lie to us on 2 other occassions. If Ford has a problem then the dealerships are only compounding the problem with the possiblity of loss of life.

- Richardson, TX, USA

Front brakes grinding. After taking for a brake inspection was told the car needs front rotors and pads and new cylinders on the back as it is leaking brake fluid.

- Seffner, FL, USA

Fumes in passenger compartment whenever heat or air conditioning on. Dealer claims smells nothing and also rotors on brake drums are minimum required by law without having to be replaced even though they have never been machined or scarred. Dealership says they are aware of problem but Ford has done nothing about it and rotors aren't under warranty even though they are defective

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

Both front rotors were cupped and tapered, the dealer suggested that the brake pads were too hard for the rotors which caused unusual wear. In less than 3 years, 27,736 miles the transmission has slipped 6-8 times, the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem on two different occasions. Nlm

- Westminister, CA, USA

Consumer states that rear brake cylinder is leaking fluid. The brake pads have large metal deposits in them and the front rotors are worn excessively and not able to be turned because the are under specifications.

- Granger, IN, USA

Consumer was advised that both front brake rotors were grooved and had to be replaced. The tech was unable to explain or identify the cause of the defect.

- Duluth, GA, USA

Consumer states, the rotors and brakes pad worn excessively. Dealer has been notified.

- Alta Loma, CA, USA

Excessive wear on front brakes. Consumer did all highway driving, and had to replace rotors at 30000 miles.

- Providence, RI, USA

Consumer states the front rotors were replaced due to vibration.

- Jackson, MS, USA

I have had 3 sets of brakes,3 sets of tires and my rotors shaved(that helped for about 2 months). Seventy percent of my mileage is interstate driving, therefore, not using the brakes that much.the only way to stop the vibration of the wheels is to replace the rotors, which happens to be wearing out my tires with there 50,000 mile warrenty. In otherwords, the brakes and rotares on this car are of the poorest quality I have ever seen. So much for american pride, I'm going back to my Honda!

- Roanoke Rapids, NC, USA

When applying brakes they were squeaking, dealer replaced front rotors. Please provide additional information.

- Rocky Point, NC, USA

While traveling on highway vehicle shakes and vibrates. Rotors are warped. Also, they are under sized. Dealership is aware of the problem.

- Canyon Country, CA, USA