For two weeks I heard and felt a slight pop in the front driverside wheel when accelerating from a stop and then when applying the brakes after gaining some momentum. Took it to get looked at by mechanic and actually looked at the area in question myself. (control arm, ball joint, cv, sway link, steering assembly and struts) we could not determine the problem nor could we recreate the 'pop' with the car on the lift. Was suggested that I have my engine mount bushings replaced which is fairly cheap and easy. While waiting for the bushings to arrive my ball joint 'failed'. it did not break, it just slipped out. I was driving approximately 30mph on secondary residential road which was free of bumps, dips, etc. Suddenly I hear a bang, the car jerks and tire screeches. I thought it must be a transmission problem so I put the car in neutral and steer it onto the shoulder. Upon exiting the vehicle I see the driverside wheel has unattached from the ball joint and is now kicked out @ 90degrees. The cv is torn from transmission, stabilizer link is twisted, strut was bent way back, tire has hole worn in it, slight body damage. I was extremely lucky that I had not made it O the highway yet. The ball joint was not broken in any way; it had just slipped from its cuff. I now have the ball joint and bolt that holds it to the suspension knuckle at home for my own inspection. There is clearly a safety issue here. This is an engineering and design flaw and should have never made it past the drawing board. Basically, you have barely 1/16" of the side of the 1/2" bolt exposed to a groove for roughly 1/4". I measured these with a pair of high grade calipers and was appalled, I was appalled when I just looked at the assembly, but those numbers are weak. My sister was in a near fatal auto accident last year. It was never understood what caused the accident. She was in a coma. Guess what... she was driving a Ford Focus.

- Camden , SC, USA

2005 Ford Focus passanger side a arm bolt holding the a arm to the wheel lossend and just one bolt fell out on the road causing the tire and the remainder of the front wheel assembly to jam under the fender pulling the axle out of the transmission stopping the car thankfull that the car was going slow and stopped and not on a freeway at a high rate of speed. This car has only 39171 miles and had been to the Ford dealer frequent for a noise problem that they could not find the noise and never fixed the problem. This car has been in the family and has not been abused comments were made at the repair shop as to the amount of damage the lack of one bolt caused and that lucky as to the speed to which it came apart this event could have been alot worse. The speed was about 25 mph going thru a roundabout traffic signal North bound and continuing to the North making a right starting in the round about then a left in the roundabout and a right leaving the roundabout the wheel jamed under the fender stopping the car in its tracks just clearing the roundabout got out to inspect the reason the car stopped and the passanger wheel was turned right and under the fender the left wheel was facing correct straight ahead.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

I was driving without any warning a pop sound and my clutch would not go into any gears. I had to force it into second gear all the way home. Total of 3 failures approx. 1 month apart final result on my third trip for repairs ended with me unable to stop in time which caused me rear ending the back of a truck. I damaged the front of my car. After numerous attempts to repair my car both engine and body I still have no car. My car has 1,200 miles on it. 2005 Ford Focus bought brand new from dealership and unable to go anywhere in it. I don't have the old parts. The lady told me that she would check into it to see if the damages would be covered by them. Considering the accident would not of happened in the first place if they would of fixed my car right the first time. Either way she called me to let me know they weren't going to cover it.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

: the contact stated the vehicle drifted to the right while driving over 30 mph. The vehicle has been to the dealer on four occasions for this problem. On three occasions the dealer was unable to determine any problems. The fourth occasion the vehicle's front end was realigned however this did not correct the problem.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

'05 Ford Focus zxw. Vehicle less than 2 weeks old. In shop 4th time for vibration in front end and pulling to right. Dealer replaced 1 front tire, balanced all 4, changed camber angle and re-aligned steering wheel. Car still vibrates at 65 and now pulls to left. Back to dealer again for 5th time. Appears to originate from right front. Will press for strut and suspension inspection.

- Cary, NC, USA

While driving any speed vehicle vibrated. Dealership informed the consumer that problem pertained to wheel alignment. Evoq filed by abigil livingston 478-788-1497.

- Macon, GA, USA