2000 FORD FOCUS Complaints

I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WITH NO SIGNS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE NEVER RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, SO I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS GIVEN A JUMP AND THE ENGINE STARTED, BUT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING MUCH LOUDER THAN USUAL. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CORRECTED, IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC TOMORROW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE LOCKS FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE JANUARY OF 2009. IN MAY OF 2009, THE DOORS OPENED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS:LATCH) AND IT WOULD COST $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND I WENT TO START IT, AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A FEW TRIES, IT FINALLY TURNED. WENT TO THE STORE, PARKED AND WENT IN, CAME BACK OUT, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER 1/2 HOUR, IT FINALLY TURNED. THIS HAS BEEN REPEATED ABOUT 15 TIMES AND IT'S BEYOND FRUSTRATING. THE CAR RUNS FINE OTHERWISE. IT'S NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, I KEEP IT MAINTAINED, AND IT SITS IN THE GARAGE WHEN IT'S NOT BEING DRIVEN. I TRIED TO START IT YESTERDAY, AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TODAY AND IT WILL NOT TURN. I HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT IN 2 HOURS AND I NEED THE CAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS, WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE (2000 ZTS). I LOVE THIS CAR, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A DEAL BREAKER WHEN I GET READY TO TRADE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THERE WAS A BUMPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN. HE NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED AWAY. THE TIRE WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED ONTO THE WHEEL. HE MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TIRE AND RIM WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 196,400. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF THE CENTER OF THE RIM REMAINED BOLTED TO THE VEHICLE, BUT A LARGER PORTION OF THE RIM SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/18/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WOULD BEND, FRAY AND BREAK WHEN CLOSING THE REAR LIFTGATE. WHILE CLOSING THE LIFTGATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE REAR WIPER, WASHER AND THE TOP REAR BRAKE LIGHT WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. HE REMOVED THE SLEEVE AND MENDED THE WIRES TOGETHER WHICH CAUSED THE COMPONENTS TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FELT THAT IF THE WIRES CONTINUED TO BEND, THE FAILURE WOULD RECURR. HE CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL 00V411000 BUT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,766 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH FORD FOCUS MODELS FROM THE YEAR 2000. THERE IS NOTHING THAT PRECIPITATES THE PROBLEM- IT JUST DOESN'T WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY OFFICE BUILDING- BUT IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND HE CAME AND REPLACED THE IGNITION. HE SAID THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF NHTSA IS STILL MONITORING THESE ISSUES WITH THE FORD FOCUS FIRES. *NJ

I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY 16 MONTH OLD SON AFTER I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I PARKED MY CAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND I HAD NO TROUBLE REMOVING THE KEY. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER SHOPPING FOR AN HOUR AT FIRST I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I KEPT TRYING AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND I COULD NOT START MY CAR. MY HUSBAND WENT TO THE CAR LATER TO SEE IF HE COULD GET IT TO WORK AND HE COULD NOT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THAT MY FORD FOCUS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED AND RATHER THAN PAY FOR TOWING & REPAIRS WE DECIDED TO DONATE THE CAR TO CHARITY (WHO WOULD TOW IT FOR FREE) AND BUY OURSELVES A NEW CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED OVER $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY PASSED IT FOR INSPECTION. THEY EVEN PLACED THEIR OWN INSPECTION STICKER ON THE VEHICLE. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LATER, THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TWISTED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, IT STALLED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE OVER 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DOOR OPENS AND WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2005 FOR THIS FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.