The contact owned a 2006 Ford Focus. While driving at an unknown speed, the brakes failed and the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was not injured, but was taken to a medical emergency center for observation. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The cause of the brake failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 117,459.

- Parma, OH, USA

Rainfall on/off/moderate. Tires ~5/32" tread; Michelin; age? while navigating interchange from I-64W to I-81N (staunton, va) car lost traction. Several attempts to steer to inside curve shoulder resulted in violent fishtailing & total loss of control. Vehicle slid about 100 yds. In grassy ditch, flipping "1+?" times, leaving driver hanging upside down. Left temple head injury. Sternum injury under shoulder belt. Driver walked away dizzy but oriented. "reckless driving" citation issued. Car totalled. Grocery trip ended badly but driver glad to be "alive". owner purchased auto used in 2013 seeking ESC as standard equipment. Ford denied provision of same. Accident entirely preventable/unnecessary due to manufacturer neglect of key safety equipment as standard issue (electronic stabilization control.)

- Verona, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Focus. While driving at a low speed and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact almost crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The failure recurred two times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Homewood, IL, USA

Engine suddenly started revving up and when brakes applied couldn't stop vehicle completely and lunged forward. Was able to keep control by applying brakes and getting to a parking area, when placed in park the engine went up to 50000 rpms.

- Breezy Point, MN, USA

Vehicle had been taken in to Ford dealership on Sept. 17, 2012 because brakes had been intermittently been locking/sticking up while driving and getting hot (could tell due to burning smell). Basically the brakes would engage and lock up causing the vehicle to run with brakes in closed (braking) position and would not release. The problem was intermittent and did not happen everytime the vehicle was driven due to short distances the vehicle is normally driven. Sometimes by simply turning the car off and then restarting would the brakes release, but not always. Took vehicle to spikes Ford in mission Texas and after about a week they finally diagnosed it as being a problem with the "hcu and ECU module". vehicle was returned to me on 9/24/2012. Car was driven for about a week and brakes still did not seem normal, so we assumed it was since they had just been worked on. On October 1,2012 vehicle was being driven on expressway when suddenly the brakes locked up overheated and vehicle was forced to the right of expressway and off the road. Brakes were so hot that a burnt smell was noticed inside of vehicle. Car was turned off, let cool down and then driven home @ 3-4 miles at low speed, but brakes were not locked anymore. Vehicle was returned to dealership (spikes Ford- mission, Texas) and is still there at this time. They are not sure yet what problem is, but obviously it was not the parts installed and they can't figure what the problem is luckily when vehicle pulled to side of expressway, it was already on far right lane and did not impact any other vehicles or barriers. If this would have happened a mile up the road it could have been a big problem due to no shoulder and cement barriers due to construction possibly causing a big accident.

- Mission, TX, USA

I have a 2006 Ford Focus ZX4 5 speed. I have had to replace the clutch master cylinder 3 times within a years time. The problem is the part is plastic and over time it starts to leak due to the pressure it takes to change gears. I'm in rush hour traffic daily and having to stop and start. The master cylinder shares fluid from the brake reservoir. I have had low to non existent braking power. The master clutch has leaked inside my car and oil dripped onto the clutch and brake peddles causing foot slippage. The latest situations I was stuck in traffic, stop and go, and began having problems getting the car in gear. Next I was backing up slowly when I experienced no clutch peddle and the car began speeding up I could not get it out of gear I had to shutdown the engine to stop the car from pulling and get it out of gear. The car idles high when I come to a light or stop sign and eventually comes down. The gas peddle sticks in cooler weather. There are times when I'm in traffic I have to press really hard.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA