Broken spring in front of 2000 Ford Focus. Leading to other unsafe conditions on the car. Strut bearings, control links unstable steering vibration.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

: the contact stated while traveling 25 mph, there was a loud pop as though something hit underside the vehicle. The steering then pulled to the right. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop that determined both front coil springs fractured and the springs were replaced.

- Normal, IL, USA

Left front suspension spring broke after riding over a manhole cover at low speed. The vehicle made a grinding noise and it was parked in the nearest parking garage. The damaged tired had to be removed and replaced with the spare to move the car back out of the parking garage to be towed. This tire was also damaged (however, the damage was less severe). The car was then towed to the nearest dealership. The coil spring cleaved under the rubber shielding and damaged the left front tire. If this had occurred at highway speeds, the tire would have punctured and caused significant damage and possibly injury/death.

- Belcamp, MD, USA

: the contact stated while in reverse coming out of a parking space at 1mph a noise was heard rubbing against the tire. Upon inspection, the contact determined the front passenger side coil spring broke. The part with the rubber seal in the coil spring rusted causing the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who suggested contacting the NHTSA to file a complaint. The manufacturer has not been alerted.

- Roslyn, PA, USA

While driving my 2000 Ford Focus sedan upon exiting the parkway Saturday evening March 18, 2006, I heard a loud thud from within the front end, like something had snapped. Nothing looked to be wrong. A short time later, the vehicle started to emanate a loud high-pitched grinding noise and then a lot of smoke. What happened is the front right wheel suspension spring snapped off the strut and gorged a deep trough or groove in my tire. Fortunately the tire was brand new. If this had happened while I was driving on the parkway a few minutes before, no doubt the tire would have blown and sent me careening out of control. My mechanic put the car up on a lift so I could take photographs. My mechanic is making the repairs today. He reports the strut spring broke in three separate places. The front tire is destroyed and rendered totally useless. The odometer reading is 66,662 miles. The defective parts will be retained and made available for physical inspection. I am sending my photos as an attachment with my E-mail message to the NHTSA at their following address: Webmaster@NHTSA.dot.gov I have never experienced this type of mechanical failure in any other vehicle make or model and I have been driving continuously since 1965. You will observe that a number of identical mechanical failures involving the Ford Focus struts and springs are posted by others at the NHTSA web site. The mechanic informed the consumer the front strut broke which caused the front coil spring to break into three pieces. Updated 04/04/06. Updated 05/25/06

- Garden City, NY, USA

Had car towed after loud noise coming from front end. Front coil spring broke while car was parked(??). dealer replaced the spring at no charge under recall 03M02B (coil spring corrosion warranty extension). Dealer said could not replace rest of coil springs until/unless they break. Is it dangerous to drive around with possibly defective coil springs?

- Danbury, CT, USA

Always noted a rattling, which I was told was a strut noise, but nothing was wrong. Two weeks ago the right side strut spring broke and nearly destroyed a tire. Had to be towed, and then had spring replaced. 10 days later the left side spring broke as I entered driveway. Many reliable sources have informed me that there was no way a 2000 vehicle with 67,000 miles should have these problems. The warranty expired.. bottom line was that Ford used either inferior or defective springs on a important part of the car.

- Bristol, CT, USA

At approximately 70,000 miles, I noticed a clunking noise while turning. After investigating the problem, my husband noticed that the driver side front spring coil was broken. If I would have continued to drive I'm sure it would have punctured the tire. We took it and had the spring coils in the front both replaced.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

Had sererall issues with the vehicle its metal causes premature failure. The coil springs had to replaced.they broke and the rear door latches were in the process of disingrating. They put in weather stripping. The rear wheel bearings malfunctioned. Contacted Ford, they did two after warrenty repairs to the vehicle. Ford said it needed a new axle. This started on July 15, 2005. There was a real high pitch whining noise before determining the problem with the axle.

- Cumberland Foreside, ME, USA

The front right passenger side coil springs broke. When this occurred it stopped the car and punctured the right front tire. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The repair bill cost $1000. The tie rod end was damaged along with the struts, upper bearing plates, front stabilizer rings, tire, a new right side axle, and control arm. They were replaced. The mechanic said there was a crack in the front coil springs that caused the aforementioned failures. In 11/04 there was a recall on the front coil springs and the consumer was notified by recall letter. Recall repairs had already been done in April when the incident occurred. Consumer took repair bill and recall letter to dealer, and they submitted it to Ford. However, Ford sent back a check for $480 but not the $1000 the consumer spent. They only paid for the coils and some other work, but claimed that some of the other repairs were unnecessary. The consumer wanted to file a complaint attempting to force Ford to pay for all repairs that were done.

- Milwalkee, WI, USA

Both front coil springs broke during normal usage. The springs, struts and one strut bearings had to be replaced.

- Niles, MI, USA

1) no known events lead up to the failure. We had no warning. We did nothing unusual. 2) we were driving and heard a loud noise. We hadn't run over anything and the car appeared fine. Upon taking it to be looked at we found that we needed a new spring. We also found out that this is a very common problem in the 2000 Focus and also that the Ford Taurus had the same problem. However the Taurus was given a safety recall. I was informed by my mechanic that had the spring punctured my tires sidewall, I would have blown a tire and could have lost control of the vehicle, which, even at lower speeds is undesirable. 3) the mechanic put in a new spring, but thinks that the other spring may be more vulnerable now having beared the extra load. Also, he says our struts may have been compromised as well... I don't have a lot of money so he replaced the spring on the front passenger side and that is all for now.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

Right front coil spring broke without warning. Bearing on the upper ti rod froze

- Kent, NY, USA

During a routine driving, the front right spring of my 2000 Ford Focus, simply brook. As a result, the front shock was tilted to the right. I had to replace both springs and shocks. I was very lucky it occured when I was driving in the city at 25 miles per hour, otherwise I could be involved in an accident. On November 2004 Ford issued an extended warranty for these front springs saying that " portion of the front coil springs may not have received adequate corrosion protection which may eventually lead to a fracture of the spring." I have called Ford dealership to fix the problem, but they wanted me to pay for the expenses, saying that it is not a recall. Any requests for a refund were denided. Please, I need your help. Thank you.

- Jamaica, NY, USA

Front passenger side coil spring broke and the sharp edge of the spring (created by the break) stuck into my tire causing a flat. The car came to a grinding hault. I was traveling at about 5-10 mph, turning down a side street. I had been on the highway 2 minutes earlier. If this happened on the highway it would have been very dangerous probably resulting in serious injury or death. When I talked to the service tech. At my local dealer he told me that it was a recall item but Ford did not send out notices and they were fixing the problem cars when they come in broken. The local Ford dealer replaced both front springs and the one tire that was damaged.

- Warwick, RI, USA

While driving, rolled over high-speed speed bump at about 25 mph, heard a loud noise. Afterwards, right front of car made very loud clicking noise as if it were binding during sharp turns at low speeds. Upon further inspection, found right front coil spring broken. Both springs had portions of the black coating missing, exposing rusty steel. Uncertain if driver's side spring broken. Broken right front spring tilted inwards, did not contact tire.

- Laurel, MD, USA

Front coil spring broke on passengers side, the spring was locked on the tire and ruined the tire. Goodyear had never seen anything like that, and Ford said they never had one come in like that. Goodyear said it could have been anything that made it break.

- Sewell , NJ, USA

Without warning driver's side front coil spring broke. Ring that sits on top of coil spring that supports the car broke. Has not gone to dealer yet. Manufacturer has not been contacted. The consumer contacted the dealer and manufacturer and they informed the consumer that the part had been recalled. However since the consumer had the part repair at a non-Ford dealer they refused to reimburse the consumer for the repairs.

- Byron Center, MI, USA

Contact states: Right front coil spring broke, causing loss of control, damaging right front tire.

- Essox Junction, VT, USA

PE02-044 is the investigation number... this is information with a link to pictures to show how lucky I was not to be driving. This can happen without warning. Ford agreed to fix it. I have my tire replaced as well, however this should have been recalled for inspection. There was a letter sent, but I, as a second owner of the vehicle used had no way to know it was a possibility. How many more people are driving these case as lease turn ins and have no idea of the potential. Please make this a recall. I was lucky, if I was driving on the highway, I could have been in trouble. Copy of my letter to Transport California. I have recently had both my front springs fail in my 2000 Focus ZX3. The right one failed and punctured the tire. Upon inspection, the left one was also shown cracked. The spring penetrated my right front tire and destroyed it as I reversed. What is concerning me, is there was never a recall on this issue. I am trying to obtain information from Ford regarding this. After some research, I have found a letter from Ford regarding an extension of warranty for springs for 10 years, 150000 miles. I was very lucky. If this spring failure occurred while driving at highway speed, the affect on steering and control would have been incredible. Not to mention the damage to the car after wards. If this is a know issue, there should be a recall to have these items fixed, not just replaced after failure (I am not sure if they will replace mine yet). Links to damage in pictures: www.hpphoto.com/servlet/com.hp.hpguestlogin?user name=dawezilla&password=26544160

- Conception Bay South, 00, USA