10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
30,047 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #3

Jul 312001

Focus

  • miles
I was traveling northbound on ga hwy 400 at 7:30 a.M. traffic was lighter than normal, so I decided to use my cruise control. I set the cruise at 70 mph & drove it for approx 5 miles. When I approached my exit, I pressed on the brake to disengage the cruise. The cruise light went off, but the cruise did not disengage. I fought it all the way up the ramp. I was very fortunate that the light was green & there were no cars ahead of me (normally extremely busy intersection). I exited at a high rate of speed as I continued to pump the brake. I got the car off to the side of the road, put it in neutral & once it was almost stopped, put it in park & turned it off. Every time I turned it back on, the engine revved back up like it was trying to reach the 70 mph speed in park. I had it towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed as a bad servo. This could have been potentially fatal to me & others, had the normal traffic backup been at the off ramp. I could have slammed into one or more other cars trying to get mine stopped. I understand there are recalls on the 2000 Focus cars, due to defective cruise controls, but have seen nothing on the 2001 vehicles. Needless to say, although I paid extra for cruise control, I will never be able to trust it enough to use it again.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #2

Jul 132001

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I own a 2001 Ford Focus automatic transmission. I was parked on a flat surface, when someone backed up into my car, they only moved 3 feet didn't do any damage to teh bumpber, but from that slight hit it sent my car free wheeling in park 175 feet, across a road, and slamming into 3 trees totalling out the rear of the car. Luckily no one was hurt nor in the car at the time fo this accident. When I got into my car I expected to see the geer shifter broken but it wasn't it still worked. My car was the way I left it just 175 feet down teh road. This is not right! two of teh main safety feature failed on this car. Ford sent out an investigartor who looked over the car, pushed on the car with their hands, but never took the transmission aprt to see if there was any damage. Now Ford said there is nothing wrong with my car and it is perfectly safe. I am very unhappy, I am stuch with a car I don't want any more, dont trust, and now becuase of the damage unable to trade in. I have only owned this car since Oct of 2000. I feel that this is a major defect in the car and Ford is just trying to cover it up.

- Eglin, FL, USA

problem #1

Apr 162001

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While backing into driveway, vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer could not stop vehicle, vehicle hit tree. Vehicle was totalled. The consumer had minor injuries during the accident but vehicle was totaled. The consumer believes some kind of defect caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate on its own.

- Greensborough, NC, USA