FORD AIR BAG SWITCH Complaints

WE OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS 4DR LX. ON 2/18/2004 AND AGAIN ON 6/20/2004, WE PUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. WE TRIED EVERYTING, INCLUDING JIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD THREE KEYS FOR THE CAR AND FOUND THAT ONE WORKED, BUT THE OTHERS DIDN'T. IT WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (NOT FORD'S), WHICH COVERED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE IGNITION ASSEMBLY. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP AGAIN, 4 MONTHS LATER, UNDER A PARTS WARRANTY (LESS THAN 1 YEAR/ 12,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST TIME). THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THIS TIME, WE WERE OUT OF TOWN ON A HOLIDAY SUNDAY (FATHERS' DAY), NO RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE, NO PLACE TO STAY. NEITHER KEY WORKED (HAD TWO). WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WORKED ON IT THE LAST TIME. IT IS THERE NOW. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE SEES THIS OFTEN/ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AS DO SOME OF THE WEBSITES LISTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. THIS TIME IT SHOULD BE UNDER FORD'S PARTS WARRANTY, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND ONE OF US WILL BE STRANDED SOMEPLACE AND NOT ABLE TO GET HELP. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AND IF YOU FIND THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AS IT APPEARS TO BE, PLEASE MAKE FORD RECALL THIS PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. OUR CAR ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON IT. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM (HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES). IT IS NOW OUTSIDE THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, AND IT DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE LEMON LAW. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE CAR NOW, NOR SHOULD WE HAVE TO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY (BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL BUY IT, KNOWING THAT THEY COULD GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE, TOO). THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK

SINCE AUGUST 2003, I HAVE EXPERIENCED IGNITION LOCK FIVE (5) TIMES WITH MY 2001 FORD FOCUS. FIRST TWO "REPAIRS" (8/03 AND 12/03) WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I NEVER SAW THE OLD PART. HOWEVER, WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SUBSEQUENT REPAIR TO THE SAME PROBLEM (2/04), I WAS TOLD THAT A PERMANENT REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ME $500+, BUT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER COULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I GOT NO RESPONSE TO MY INQUIRY ABOUT WHY NO PERMANENT FIX HAD BEEN MADE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I DIRECTED THEM TO PERFORM THE REPAIR I COULD AFFORD - THE CYLINDER. I NEVER SAW THE OLD PART THAT TIME EITHER. THE CAR WAS RE-KEYED AS WELL. THE IGNITION LOCKED AGAIN ON 5/20/04, AND AFTER I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE TUMBLERS AND RE-KEYED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE, AS THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE IGNITION LOCKED AGAIN ON 5/25/04. *LA THE INITIAL REPAIR TO THIS PROBLEM WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SERVICE BULLETINS AND A SIGNIFICANT RECORD OF COMPLAINTS ISSUED ON THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM EARLY 2001. AT NO POINT HAVE I RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY ANSWER, FROM THE DEALER OR FROM FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, TO WHY THE PERMANENT REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED IN AUGUST 2003. I FEEL THAT THE DEALER MADE NO ATTEMPT TO EFFECT A REPAIR ON THIS PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS WARRANTED, BUT STALLED WITH TEMPORARY FIXES UNTIL THE MILEAGE/AGE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PAY, BOTH FOR PARTS AND LABOR. AS IT NOW STANDS, I WILL BE TAKING MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR THE REPAIR AND A SECOND OPINION, AND HOPE I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK. I REFUSE TO PAY EVEN TEN CENTS FOR A REPAIR BY A SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS ALREADY FAILED TO MAKE THE SAME REPAIR FOUR TIMES!

I WANT TO COMPLAINT ON THE FORD WINDSTAR HEADGASKET/ENGINE. 4 TIME REPAIR NOW AGAIN NEED REPAIR AND FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY 4100.00 *LA

I PURCHASED MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN OCTOBER 2001. IN APRIL 2003, I HAD TO GET THE FRONT BRAKES, PADS, SHOES AND ROTORS REPLACED. THIS IS AFTER I HAD ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT NONE OF THIS WAS COVERED. I WAS OUT OF OVER $400. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN 13 MONTHS LATER. EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY AND I CAN'T GET AN EXPLANATION FROM FORD. I PURCHASED A LEMON. THE SWITCH ALSO BROKE ON MY TURN SIGNALS. IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF. THIS HAPPEN IN FEB. 2003. AGAIN, A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. *MR

MY 1999 F-150 5.4 LTR 4WD STARTED MAKING LOUD TICKING NOISE @ 39,000 MILES.TOOK TRUCK TO BURCH FORD FROM WHOM I PURCHASED VEHICLE & THEY DIAGNOSED TICKING NOISE AS A BAD CAT. CVRTR!!! THEY ALSO ADVISED ME OF LEAKING HEAD GASKET FROM (R)REAR HEAD AND A REPAIR COST OF $3,200 W/ (12 MO./12,OOO MI.WARRANTY !!! )ON REPAIR.WHEN I PICKED UP VEHICLE & STARTED ENGINE,THE SAME LOUD TICKING NOISE (ONLY WORSE) WAS STILL THERE!!! BURCH FORD & FORD MOTOR CORP REFUSED TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM OR WARRANTY THEIR REPAIR.WHILE TRYING TO GET ASSISTANCE, I DROVE VEHICLE BARE MIN AND APROX. 300 MILES AFTER THE "REPAIR",THE ENGINE BLEW # 3 SPARK PLUG OUT OF (R) HEAD LIKE LIKE A ROCKET & MASSIVE LOSS OF POWER WHICH NEARLY LEFT ME IN DIRECT PATH OF A LOADED SEMI TRUCK !!!(THOUGHT I WAS GOING BE CRUSHED TO DEATH).I HAD TRUCK TOWED BACK TO BURCH FORD & THEY FAXED ME A ESTIMATE OF $3,200. MORE TO REPLACE HEAD (NOW TOTAL IS $ 6,400. FROM THE TWO REPAIRS!!!) AND IN BOLD PRINT @ BOTTOM OF EST. SAY'S ....NO WARRANTY!!! VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE & NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD MOTOR CORP ARE WILLING TO OHNOR THEIR ORIGINAL REPAIR,OR ASSIST IN THIS CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM THAT RESEARCH SHOWS HAS OCCURING BY THE HUNDREDS ON 4.6 ,5.4 & NOW MANY V-10 ENGINES FROM 1996 TO 2004........ (8 YRS.)!!! MY TRUCK IS MY PRIDE & JOY & WITH APROX. 39,000 MILES ON IT,MY $ 40,000.00 RIDE MAY BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO CURRENT BOOK VALUE & CONTRAVERSIAL $$$$$COST OF REPAIR!!! THIS IS MY 6TH FORD VEHICLE(ALL OF WHICH WERE PAID OFF IN FULL 1-2YRS.EARLY!!!)IN THE LAST 9 YRS.I'VE BEEN A MORE THAN LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER,...BUT WITH BLATENT DISSREGARD FOR THEIR BREAD & BUTTER,(LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS) FORD SEEMS TO BE FOR 8 YRS. NOW; GROSSLY AND W/O ANY REMORSE, FAR LESS THAN A LOYAL AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER !!!...RESPECTFULLY,...J.L. *AK

IGNITION CYLINDAR FROZE, RENDERING THE KEY UNABLE TO BE TURNED. TOWED TO HAVE FIXED AND CYLINDAR WAS REPLACED WITH NEW FORD PART. THIS IS THE 2ND CYLINDAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR...THE 1ST TIME THE KEY WAS STUCK AND WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE CYLINDAR. TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED, IT HAPPENED A AGAIN WHERE THE CYLINDAR FROZE. THE TUMBLERS ARE OF AN INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND IT IS UNLIKELY THERE IS A PERMANENT REMEDY WITHOUT A DESIGN IMPROVEMENT.*AK

WE OWN A 2001 EXPEDITION THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE SAME TIRES RECALLED P275/60R17. I WENT TO GREENVILLE TO PICK UP MY SON ON THE WAY HOME I FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKING AND DID'NT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND WE HEAR A BANG NOISE I PULLED OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CHECKED MY TIRES THE BACK RIGHT SIDE HADE A LARGE BARE SPOT ON THE TIRE SHOWING THE SEPARATION AND WIRES OF THE TIRE. MY SON WHO JUST HAD SURGERYON HIS FOOT HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRE. NO-ONE WAS HURT. I KNOW THE LORD WAS TRUELY LOOKING OUT FOR US BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED FROM THESE TIRES SEPARATING. I CALLED BEN SATCHER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE RECALLED TIRES AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR US. I THINK IF WE WERE KILLED THEY'D HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS. BUT THE PURPOSE OF WRITING THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW I THINK MORE TIRES WERE EFFECTED THAN CONTINENTAL TIRES IS CONSIDERING. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT BECAUSE I BELIEVE OTHERS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET HELP EITHER. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER INVESTIGATION OF THESE TIRES. I HAVE SEEN THE COMPLAINTS POSTED AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED AFTER THE ORGINIAL RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND WE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING AFTER YOUR EXPIRATION DATE OF HELPING PEOPLE. IF A TIRE IS BAD IT'S SEEMS TO ME YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT A CAP ON THAT. *AK

I OWN A 2002 TAURUS WITH 40000 MILES AND TWICE KNOW I'VE HAD WORK DONE ON MY BLOWER UNIT. THE FIRST TIME I LOST ALL SETTINGS EXCEPT HIGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A BAD RESISTOR AND REPLACED THE RESISTOR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE BLOWER UNIT. HE WILL PUT IN A MODIFICATION AND REPLACED THE BLOWER UNIT. A WEEK LATER WE HAD BAD RAIN IN NEW ENGLAND AND THERE WAS AN INCH OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WILL BE GOING IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON AND THE DASH READOUT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A DOOR OPEN WHEN THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AS LONG AS THE CAR BELIEVES THERE IS AN UNLOCKED DOOR. *JB

THE DESIGN OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER BREAKS FRONT WINDSHIELD ON ESCORT ZX2'S. THE COVER FLIPS UP WHEN IT COULD FLIP DOWN WITHOUT DAMAGING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY ZX2 I'VE SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT WHERE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HAS HAD TO HAVE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. A REAL MONEY MAKER FOR DEALERSHIPS OR GLASS SHOPS. *JB