10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 12
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 31,333 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I cannot even begin to explain the issues I have had with my 2000 Ford Focus zts. This car needs to be taken off the market and Ford needs to reimburse all owners... my engine is now cutting off with no warning at any speed and I am afraid for not only my own life but my 7 year old and newborn daughters as well.... cannot find a problem with the car and after all the problems before this such as overheating, smoking engine, fried fuel system, valves, sensors, resistors, motors, hoses, wires, fuses, cooling/heating, door latches and this car practically speeding up on its own and not stopping... I feel someone needs to help us all.... please... I am begging!!!!
- Canton, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would not pass inspection. The dealer performed over $500 worth of repairs to the vehicle and stated that they passed it for inspection. They even placed their own inspection sticker on the vehicle. Less than a week later, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Later, the vehicle still would not pass state inspection. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and they discovered a hole in the engine and that the transmission was twisted. While driving the vehicle home at an unknown speed, it stalled. No repairs have been made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were over 100,000.
- Winston Salem, NC, USA
While idling in a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly and without notice, through a rod through the block of the motor causing instant and catastrophic failure. If this had happened on a highway at 60 mph it could have caused an accident and or injury. Ford is aware of this problem with 2000 model year Focus and have not done anything to remedy the situation. I purchased and installed a salvage motor for almost $2000.
- Suffolk, VA, USA
It started with a ticking noise I could hear when it just idled, then I got home started it back up and it made a loud noise like something had fallen into the engine. I shut the car off and then we had somebody look at it they said there was no compression in the # 4 piston. They had said something had fallen off the piston and made a bunch of dents and dangs so now we have to replace the engine. It is in my driveway now waiting to be repaired.
- Chillicothe, MO, USA
My son was driving the car. He got to his destination and there was smoke billowing from under the hood. He was going to open the hood but he noticed flames and he then retrieved an extinguisher and called 911. The front of the car was totally burned and all the windows were shattered.
- Starks, LA, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. When the contact started the vehicle, all of the instrument panel lights illuminated as normal, including the check engine light. She stated that the check engine light illuminated a few days after purchasing the vehicle and has remained on ever since. The dealer stated that there was failure with the fuel tank. When the gas tank cap is not secured properly, the check engine light will illuminate. The dealer removed and replaced the gas tank cap and the check engine light dimmed; however, it illuminated again a couple of days later. The last time the contact attempted to start her vehicle, it would not start. She waited a couple of hours and when the vehicle finally restarted, it made a loud rumbling noise. White smoke appeared under the hood and the vehicle failed to restart. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 100,757.
- Beaumont, TX, USA
TL
- Richmond, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving 60 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. She noticed thick smoke rising from inside and outside of the vehicle. The windows were rolled up. There were no warning indicator lights and no flames. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to the insurance company. There had been no previous failures. During the vehicle inspection, a rod failed and created a hole in the bottom of the motor. The current and failure mileages were 69,000.
- Wellford , SC, USA
The 2000 Ford Focus was not idling correctly. It would act as if it were going to die after deceleration. I have had three mechanices look at it including a Ford dealership. There was a service bulletin on their website regarding a valve sticking. It requiree D replacing the head at a cost of $1500-$2500. Ford had since redesigned the engine so this problem will not happen again with future models. I would like to ask for an investigation or a recall. Instead of Ford fixing their designed defect they were making money off the repairs for something the owner could not prevent nor does it mean improper maintenance.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
I drove a 2000 Focus ZX3 for 3 years without a single problem. On March 2007 (90000 miles) the car stalled and died completely in the middle of a California freeway. After 5 min I was able to restart the car and drive to my mechanic (not a Ford dealer). Computer analysis showed a faulty mass air flow sensor. He replaced it ($450). Two days later, the car stalled again in a residential area (20 mph and full tank of gas). The car restarted and I drove back to same mechanic. He didn't find anything wrong and suggested I should drive to a Ford dealer. They replaced the fuel delivery module at no cost because of Ford recall #03N01. After that the car stalled (and died) again while pulling out of a parking lot (5 mph and full tank). Ford technicians drove the car for 150 miles while hooked up to a "flight recorder" and found nothing. I drove it for 20mi with a "flight recorder" and it stalled right away. I tried restarting it and it stalled again (4 times in a row). I was able to record the data using flight recorder. For the first time the check engine light was on (code P1237). The Ford dealer inspection all the electrical wires looking for a faulty connection ground. After re-wiring they test-drove the car again. They think the car is ok now. This has been my third week without a car. I was renting a car in order to go to work (paying to go to work). I can't afford to spend more money on more surprises. I have been stressed emotionally and financially. Even if the car is ok now, I don't feel safe driving it (or any other Ford). At this point I decided to sell the Focus to the same Ford dealer. I'm complaining about the Ford Focus and Ford in general (as a corporation and a brand) for allowing such a flaw to be sold to the general public. I have been very well treated by the service department at the Ford dealer.
- Irvine, CA, USA
Car engine stalled without notice while cruising on a highway. Had to pull over immediately with remaining speed inertia. After 10 minutes car started ok, and then stalled again in a residential area. After restarting, the car stalled a third time. No "check engine" signal triggered. Mechanic unable to find anything wrong and unable to reproduce failure while test-driving the car for 30 miles. Two days later, car stalled again while yielding into a major highway. Had to pull over immediately, wait, restart car and get off at the nearest exist.
- Irvine, CA, USA
- the contact called regarding a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle had an oil leak. The contact did not know the source of the leak. There were no warning indicators. The failure mileage was 52,000. The contact has not taken the vehicle to dealer for diagnosis. Consumer states that oil was dripping onto the catalytic converter. Oil burned which could create a potential fire. Consumer states vehicle inspected by dealer on 3/14/07 and replaced the valve cover gasket on 3/20/07. Update/23/07
- Niceville, FL, USA
Recently the vehicle started to idle erratically sometimes dying, I took it to the dealership and they told me the Bosch platinum spark plugs were not compatible with Ford vehicles and sold me new spark plugs. The problem seemed to go away but about 30 days later it started again. Frustrated with the dealers performance I checked the vehicle myself and found that the crankcase vent between the engine and firewall had a rubber elbow and hose that were collapsing after the vehicle started. I removed them and found the elbow had a hole and the hose seemed to be structurally weakened. I replaced both and no more problem.
- Universal City, TX, USA
- the contact's car was marked as a total loss as a result of a fire. There was an engine fire while it was parked. Contact heard of some other instances of that happening. There was no indication of previous problems with the car. The contact believes there was a police report filed.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
While driving my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 my car lost all horsepower and would barely drive down the road. I had the throttle body replaced and now it is making a loud noise if you try to excelerate. With this occuring I am left with nothing to do but, spend "more" money on problems everyone is having with this year and model of car. What does it take for the Ford corporation to do something about it...someones life could be taken with all these defects and reoccuring problems.
- Elk Grove, CA, USA
The engine blew on my 2000 Ford Focus. A connecting rod broke and cracked the oil pan. Engine fluids, including oil and anti-freeze poured out of the engine. While there are 130,000 miles on the vehicle, it was well-maintained. We did not expect it to fail after 6 years.
- Nanuet, NY, USA
: the contact stated while driving 30 mph, the readings on the gauges spiked, all the warning lights illuminated briefly, then the rpms seemed to slow and the vehicle stalled completely. The vehicle was pushed to a parking lot, however the vehicle was not seen by a dealer.
- Bellingham, WA, USA
VIN: [xxx] number of items: 2 item id: [xxx] recall date: Title: Pinch bolt torque and zetec engine battery cable routing item id: [xxx] recall date: Title: Rear door latch corrosion. Updated 07/12/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Washington, DC, USA
At 88,000 miles my Focus started losing power and cutting off completely. It would start back up when cranked. The dealership (way brothers) would always say its not doing it now or we can't find anything wrong with it. After taking it back several times with the same results it started knocking and cut off completely. The dealership told me it would cost 3500-4000 to fix (that's without knowing exactly what was wrong with the engine) I had another engine installed and it drove fine for a year and started doing the same thing (losing power and cutting off) the dealership told me the same thing (can't find anything wrong) now it is knocking and smoking from the pipe leading to the manifold. This is my second engine what is the problem with 2000 Focus or is it all Focus.
- Hawkinsville, GA, USA
- Pahoa, HI, USA