2002 Ford Focus - Firestone tire failures. Bubbles in tires, eventually blow (2) or need to be replaced. Have purchased 5 tires. No problems. Also rims are dented. No pot holes encountered to cause this. No accidents to cause this. First bubble in rear driver's side tire at 6,000 miles. Replaced tire with another Firestone. Tire blew at 18,000 miles. Replaced tire again with non firestones (2). Bubble in two remaining firestones occurred. Replaced again with non-firestones. No problem. Ford denies problem. Firestone denies problem. I have a problem with both. Am purchasing 2006 Monte Carlo in September, ba bye.

- Taylor, MI, USA

While driving 35 mph right tire collapsed inward. Consumer drove the vehicle home. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and dealer informed consumer that right rim hit something and caused the tire to be bent inward.

- Ridley Park, PA, USA

While driving, a loud noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The consumer pulled over and discovered the left front tire blew out. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who informed the driver that the rim was bent and caused the tire to go flat. Please fill in additional information.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Ford Focus rims. The car has less then 25,000 miles. We took it to be looked at due to a shake in the steering wheel. We were informed that it has three bent rims. Also was informed that the dealer nor the manufacture was going to do anything about it. The car is driven only by a stay at home mother and has never been in a accident. Nor has it come into contact with large pot holes.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

2002 Ford Focus ZX5 hatchback model was purchased new from lafres Ford. The check engine light keeps coming on and stays on. Various electrical problems have occurred and various parts have been replaced (documented on all service reports) the check engine light has been a problem from day one and I have experienced other parts burned and replaced in the past, ie cooling fan harness and resistor burnt, burn smell when A/C is in use or the heator, replacement of battery. (car is still under warranty) I continually take the car back and forth to the dealer to have the check engine light corrected. (no reimbursement of toll/bridges and days off from work to have this car properly serviced, no reimbursement of rental cars) when I get the car back the check engine light is off and two days later it is back on again. I periodically call my service advisor at the service department telling him that I just picked up the car and within 24 hours the check engine light came on again. My service advisor tells me that the check engine light does not mean anything and I could drive around with the light onindefinetly althought the light is a nuisance. On 12/11/03 while driving, the check engine light which was already on, the battery light indicator came on, I immediately called the dealer service department and explained to my service advisor of the problem, it was late Friday afternoon, he stated that was not a good sign and advised me to seek service at a Ford service station. Took car to universal Ford. The car began to emit a burning smell I arrived at the dealer service stations and was told that my alternator was no good and that the harness hand burned and all the wires had melted. That is truly an unsafe car, this problem could have caused the car catch on fire and I could have been seriously injured, or become a fatality or others could have gotten hurt. The car is currently at the universal Ford dealer service station.

- Bronx, NY, USA

The tires and wheels on my 2002 Ford Focus are very poor in quality. The rims bend and tires deflate upon hiting a chug hole in the road way causing loss of car control. While always avoiding holes when possible, this is a fact on may roads and hiways. I have never had this happen on any other car. The car is equiped with 205-50-16 Firestone tires and alum. Wheels. The car handles poorly and has been aligned two times in past year. I feel cars equiped like this from the factory are an acident waiting to happen.

- Odessa, MO, USA

Tire sidewall too soft to protect wheel rim at recommended mfg. Pressure. Rim bent just driving over common drive way curbs. Had to replace alloy wheel.

- Berea , OH, USA

Ford Focus 2003 ZX5 with 16" alloy wheels and Firestone tires seems to be susceptible to road hazard damage more than other cars I have had. One bubbled tire, and another punctured tire within weeks of each other. The Focus alloy wheels are the worse problems. At least two have been bent to the point of causing steering and vibration problems on car. One wheel has two visible bumps, and one wheel has a massive bump from some unknown road holes. I have never had a car that had such weak rims. I am not replacing the wheels until I talk to either Ford or a lawyer.

- Akron, OH, USA

Consumer states that left front rim is cracked in center of rim.

- Skokie, IL, USA

Consumer had problems with the tires and trims on the vehicle. While driving at more then 40 mph the tires would explode and the rims would bend. Manufacturer was contacted, and told consumer that this was the way the vehicle was made.

- Hubert, NC, USA

The rim was defective, which caused the tire to lose air.

- Albany, CA, USA

While getting a front tire replace, the technician informed that the front rims were bending. Consumer states the vehicle was never involved in an accident or hit any thing hard enough to cause the rims to bend. Dealer and the manufacturer have been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Clifton, NJ, USA