Engine stalls then restarts. Occurs under all driving conditions. Occurs in warmer weather vs winter. Dealers tend to indicate fuel pump over heating as problem. Fuel pump is in gas tank cooled by 12+ gallons of fuel. The catalytic converter is right long side fuel tank. Fuel tank has temp insulation on side that favors fuel tank. The mass of the fuel tank has to exceed operational temp spec of fuel pump to contribute to anomaly.

- Reeseville, WI, 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

While coming home from a house warming in tucson, AZ on 06/21/03 me, my 2 nieces, and my daughter were on the fast lane of the freeway coming out of tucson when the engine started losing power, the car started slowing down to about 25 mph we had to cross 3 lanes to get off the freeway with other cars coming at 65 to 70 mph we almost got hit on the last lane before exiting the freeway. The car then sputtered the rest of the way off the freeway. After sitting for a while we were able to start it again. And continue home but we used frontage rd all the way. I am afraid to take it on the freeway anymore. Sometimes it does want to start at all. The door on passanger side also doesn't unlock with power button. Service engine light comes on with battery light and oil light. I feel someone will eventually be seriouly injured unless they find out what is wrong here.

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

Nov 2002 took to dealer the car was purchased from, told them it was sluggish and gas guage didn't always register. I thought at that time it was maybe the transmission. I was told nothing wrong, could not duplicate problem. Took to neighborhood dealer for the same problem replaced fuel filter. Had all this work before warranty expired in Feb 2003. Never notified about possible fuel pump. June 27th started car and engine died. It then wouldn't start again for about 30 minutes. I took it immediately to my neighborhood Ford dealership. Who told me it was the fuel pump and strongly suggest not to drive the car until repair. So the car was left there for repairs. After listen to the service people at the dealership, it came to my attention this was a common problem. I started to invesigate this myself and find 67 cases listed on the NHTSA website. The common statement was that the while driving at any speed and without prior warning vehicle dies out. On car hitting a park vehicle and several near misses on the highway. 2000 Ford Focus engine sputters and then stalls at high speeds. My concern is that I have heard and read hundred if not thousands of these fuel pump failures and after many nice but ineffective answers from Ford I feel that someone will be injured seriously or die to these faulty and possibly dangerous fuel systems. My dealership previously worked on this telling me fuel filter and I feel know well it was more and like the fuel pump. It seem that the gas guage not registering is a clear sign of problems with the fuel pump.

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

The complaint deals with the right side door lock.I took it into mccotter Ford where I bought the car from.they wanted to charge me over $300 to fix it and this is with the expensive warranty package. We could not aford this, so my wife and kids are driving around in a car that the passenger side door that cannot be opened. This cannot be safe, what can we do.the car had between 50 and 60 thousand miles on it, the dealership that we bought the car from is in titusville Florida. This occured in 2002

- Titusville, 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

Problem started in mid-February 2003. When the fan speed level for the heat is turned to the 3rd position the fan noise drops down & then a very acrid burning odor is emitted. Can not put the level higher than the 2nd level due to the burning (wire?) odor and concerned that a wire is burning. Our mechanic told us that we needed a new heater switch which he proceeded to order but was told by a Ford dealership that the item is backordered due to a high demand for this part. We still don't have the problem fixed yet & now am concerned about use of the air conditioner. I have spoken with a Ford dealer who says there isn't a recall or tsb, I have called the NHTSA, & I've checked the alldata.com website with no luck. I suppose, given the problems we continue to have with the rear tires, this could be considered a minor problem, however I don't think so. My only other comment is that I definitely do not feel safe driving this vehicle at highway speed due to the vibration of the wheels & how wobbly they feel. We have to replace tires often because they cup. Any information you can give me or any direction you can point be would be appreciated. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Island Falls, ME, USA

I purchased a 2000 Focus SE on June 5, 2001 with 23,000 miles. I was told that I would be covered under the original factory warranty 3yr./36,000.I also purchased an extended warranty from the api company at the cost of $1,069 to cover 6yr./60,000.I thought I'd be protected. Wrong ! the vehicle always had horrendous brake dust but the worst was yet to come. In December 2002, my husband and I were in the process of moving and began to notice a rough idle. Well, it's cold in buffalo, NY so we thought it just needed more time to warm up. By early March we experienced stalling problems and the check engine light was on. After stalling at 45mph we had enough. The car was taken to basil Ford. With only 32,000 miles on it we were informed that the cylinder head was cracked and the original warranty ran out on 1/29/03. Ford wanted about $1,700 to replace it. Well, we thought if Ford wouldn't cover the repair that the api extended warranty would. Another error in judgment ! api said there was carbon in the cylinder and they wouldn't cover. Finally, after threats to leave the car at the dealer or seek legal advice to remedy, basil replaced the cylinder head for $400. Who ever heard of a cracked head at 32,000 miles ? we had only put about 10,000 miles on it ! also the keyless entry on the driver door would only work on occasion and the key never did work on the trunk (told the lock needed replacement) which we would have to pay for if we wanted fixed. Since the inspection was coming up in June 2003 and the brakes and rotors would probably need replacement just like all Focus's do, we traded in the car to avoid the money trap. That car was the worst hunk of junk I've ever heard of! I paid $10,500 for the car in June 2001 with 23,000 miles on it and had a hard time getting $5,000 as a trade with 33,000 miles in May 2003 ! it was the biggest rip off of my life also I lost out when I cashed in the worthless api warranty.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

We have had problems with engine stall for no reason. When we are at 1/4 of a tank or at 1/2 a tank the engine will sputter or stall for no reason.

- S. Williamsport, PA, USA

Since at least April 2003 the back right passagner side window will not rise or lower nor will the lock on the door lock from that seating position. The driver only can do it. While in nm driving from ky to AZ, my 2000 SE began to lose engine power. As I drove at 70 mph the engine began to stall, as if no gas was getting through the engine and the car began to die. I was able to safely pull to the side of the road; turned the car off for upwards of 2 hours, start the car again and drive. This happened 5 times from nm to AZ; over and over again. I called the 1800 Ford roadside assistance number and was told since my car was out of warranty they would not send a tow for me. A commercial trucker was nice enough to follow me to the next town to a Ford dealer. The service advisor at the dealership offered to look at my car the next day around noon, as he had 6 other Focus owners in his shop with the same complaint and he had no idea what the problem is. I decided to press on to AZ while driving under 55 mph on I-10. The car sat in my garage for 3 weeks before I drove it again. It is still doing it's drive and die and I am concerned now more than ever with the number of recalls on this vehicle what the deal is.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

Engine starts to stalls when comming to a stop. They claim it needs a new cylinder head.

- Doylestown, PA, 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

My car started by losing power and the the engine would race up in any gear. The lights on the dash would dim along with the radio and the headlights. Then on Oct 31 2002, the gages went crazy. I parked the car and called Ford and asked if they would run a test to see what was wrong. They said I would have to pay for the test and I told them I could not afford it. Since then I only drive the car to the store about 5 miles from my house and back. Now the engine is stalling again in any gear. The engine light is on. I again asked the dealership and Ford if they could run the test to see what is wrong with car again they refused. I just now wrote a E-mail to Ford. I just want my car that only has about 49000 miles to run. Ford is offering a longer warranty on the newer Focus why not offer it to us that owner the piece of junk older Focus.

- Atoka, TN, 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

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

When driving the car it goes into neutral then back into gear when backing up the car it grinds the non-drivers side floods everytime it rains windshield wipers were no good both back doors make loud noises when opening and closing there are dents on the non-drivers side below the doors engine light goes on once in a while when driving car sometimes jumps into gear.. (scary) and others I asked the car dealer before buying the car if this car had been in any accidents.. he said.. michele, we do not sell cars that have been in accident. After some of these problem had occured I checked the VIN# and it said that this car had atleast 12 problems before I bought

- Bedford, MA, 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

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