While driving westbound on I-90 the front right tire on my 07 Ford Focus came off with its struts still attached to the tire; resulting in the car spinning out of control and flipping over a few times before landing driver side down in the curb. The car was totaled to say the least.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Year of vehicle: 2007 make: Ford model: Focus SE date of purchase: July 2007 selling/: spreen Honda odometer @ purchasing: 24,900 current mileage: 49,000 problem(s) with the following: Transmission - repair attempts: SRS/airbag lamp - repair attempts: Steering shake/vibration - repair attempts: Seat belt repair/replacement - repair attempts: Air bag light is back on again in the 'on' position - multiple repair attempts: Complaint to dealer: Yes. Cld spreen Honda spoke to owner who sent me to a salesman. The next time I returned it to fritz dealership (since they did orig work), for same probs & I was told I wouldn't get a courtesy car and they had no idea how long it would take for repairs. The interior airbag light was in the 'on' position, the transmission began slipping, the front end was shaking like before. Car was returned the 2nd time for the same problems. I was told it was defective parts & had to be ordered. No courtesy car this time like the first time so I was stranded (I'm disabled and nd trans). The car is falling apart little by little with the back door handle broken completely. The seller (spreen Honda) said I would hv to get a new loan on a new vehicle instead of 'exchanging vehicles' as promised in my conversations with the owner, at spreen Honda, place of purchase. I refused this 'hustle' because this was not what I was told over the phone, but after 2nd set of repairs, the car would be replaced...not me purchase another car and give up another down payment! I didn't agree to this and walked out. This car has been under repair for weeks off/on for the same or similar problem I.e., the transmission first repair was only a few months after purchase, along with front end shaking. I was given a courtesy car while repairs we done w/out the 1st time, but not the 2nd. I was told my car had a 'defective part' & had ordered it. The car has been returned again for same probs mentioned above. Airbag light is bk on again and transmission slip.

- Grand Terrace, CA, USA

For about a month before bringing my car to Ford I had been noticing a vibration feeling in the steering wheel though the wheel was not shaking. This was only happening when I was going faster than 50-55mph. I checked the air pressure in the tires and all was ok. Finally, I brought it to Ford and they found a bent control arm in the front R/S. in addition, they found a slipped belt on the L/R tire and R/F tire had uneven wear. Ok, so here's my complaint....there is no way that I hit anything so hard that I bent my control arm in the first place!!!! since there is no way to prove this I had to live with the fact that I would have to pay for this repair - almost $400. The problem I have is with the tires. Since the repair in the front was the same place that the tire had uneven wear, I had to eat this one too - $125. The problem is, what about this slipped belt in the rear tire? I guess I was to blame for that one too. Maybe these pirelli tires are the problem. I should have read the complaints here before I brought the car back to Ford. Ford didn't have any other tires that fit these rims, but the same pirelli's that were on the car in the first place. Since the car was already in the shop and my time is limited, I was stuck getting the same junk. My message....don't make the mistake I made - do not replace the tires on your Focus with the pirelli's that came with the car. If I can save some people a few headaches and some money, I will feel much better for the mistake that I made.

- Aberdeen, NJ, USA

2007 Focus 3 door ses purchased new in 11-06. Began noticing minor steering wheel vibrations after 6 months and dealer had rotated tires at 8K miles. At 14 months and 17K miles the steering wheel vibration became unacceptable. Dealer did a front alignment after telling me the wheels were way out of spec. The pirelli P6 original tires are now severely worn in misalignment patterns and must be replaced. Very disappointed. If you own a Focus and have any unusual feel in the steering and handling, get it checked asap.

- Santee, CA, USA