2000 Ford Focus Seat belts Problems

THE FORD FOCUS COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A PLYMOUTH NEON THAT WAS ON A DARK ROADWAY WITH ITS LIGHTS OFF AFTER A PRIOR COLLISION. THE BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FOR THE FORD DRIVER FIRED, BUT THE RETRACTOR DID NOT LOCK ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS MATERIAL WORN AWAY FROM THE B-PILLAR FROM THE RAPID EXTENSION OF WEBBING, AND LATCH PLATE HAD A CHANNEL CARVED INTO THE PLASTIC, WHERE THE WEBBING RAPIDLY PASSED THROUGH THE LATCH PLATE. THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SIGNIFICANT RESTRAINING FORCE.

NHTSA ID

10412707

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AFTER HEAVY RAIN, ROADS WET, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, SUN CAME OUT GLARE OFF STREET. CAR TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO TURN LEFT. CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I SAW THE CARS STOP AND THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP, BUT STREETS WERE STILL WET AND MY TIRES LOCKED GOING 25MPH 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND CAR AND I SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE DOWN TO REAR BUMPER OR MY FRONT BUMPER HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SHATTERING MY WINDOW AND LOCKED MY SEAT BELT. CAUSING $800 IN PARTS DAMAGE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. FIRST TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, WILL HAVE INSURANCE REPAIR MY CAR/AIRBAG/SEAT BELT, WINDOW, CAUSING MY INSURANCE TO GO UP. I HAD CHAIR POSITIONED ALL THE WAY BACK SO THE AIRBAG DID NOT HIT ME OR PROTECT ME FROM INJURY (I'M LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS FROM AIRBAG SMOKE THOUGH) I WAS PROBABLY GOING 15MPH WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, IF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF I WOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE AND AN EXTRA $1000 TO MY NAME. BE CAREFUL!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10328181

Incident

Apr 28, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION - PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT FROM THE DOOR PILLAR AND DID NOT RETRACT. CARWAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10185673

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF PUT ON THE BRAKES, THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. SHE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CHECKED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ALSO FAULTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146381

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

28,000 mi

SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY SNUG AROUND MY BODY WHILE BUCKLED, BECOMES LOOSE AND DOES NOT TAKE UP ANY OF THE SLACK. WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS UNBUCKLED IT DOES NOT RECOIL, JUST LAYS THERE LIKE A DEAD SNAKE. I HAVE TO FEED THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE SEAT BELT TIER TO AVOID SLAMMING THE DOOR ON THE SEAT BELT. THIS SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION OCCURRED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT. I HAD TO PAY $216 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO COVER ITS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143850

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH WOULD "STICK", SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE...TWO MONTHS LATER, BROKEN!! ALL THE TUMBLER SPRINGS WENT OUT....$300!! TO FIX AND ONE HOUR LATE TO WORK. PASSENGER OUTER TIE ROD BOOT IS SHOT AND THE TIE ROD WILL NOT COME OFF!!! $45 TO REPLACE!!! SEAT BELT TENSIONER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL!!!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10142008

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

THE REAR SEAT BELT IS SO SHORT IT CAN NOT BE USED. IT WILL LOCK IN CHILD SAFETY MODE WHEN SEAT IS LAID FLAT AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO UNBOLT THE SEAT BELT TO RAISE THE SEAT UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139544

Incident

Jul 12, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WHICH WILL NOT PULL OUT. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS LOCKED. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. ALSO, THE MECHANIC TOOK THE SEAT BELT APART AND UNLOCKED IT SO THAT THE CONSUMER COULD WEAR THE SEAT BELT UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. *SC . *AK

NHTSA ID

10138377

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

FATALITY VEHICLE FIRE, DEC. 8 2004. MY HUSBAND IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 FORD FOCUS, SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS SERVICE VISITS TO BILL BROWN FORD, LIVONIA MI FOR: IGNITION, STEERING COLUMN, WHEEL BEARING, BRAKE, REAR WINDOW CONTROL, SEAT BELT &TRUNK LATCHES, OVERHEAD LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. THE VACUUM LINE & FUEL PUMP & VALVE ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED 2/03, FOLLOWED BY STALLING. IN 6/03, A/C COMPRESSOR & MANIFOLD LINE REPLACED. FUEL LINE & PUMP FAILURE IN 8/03, RESULTED IN GASOLINE SPILL ON RESIDENTIAL STREET MINUTES AFTER PARKING. BOGGING FOLLOWED REPAIRS, PCM REPROGRAMMED & LEAKING PVC TUBE REPLACED 1/04. FUEL PUMP AGAIN REPLACED. IN 8/04, OUR 24 YEAR OLD SON TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEMATIC CAR. WE ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER VEHICLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED A 35 MPH COLLISION WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. AN IMMEDIATE ENGINE EXPLOSION AND FUEL FED FIRE TRAPPED MY SON AND HIS PASSENGER. DESCRIBED BY POLICE AS A RELATIVELY MINOR CRASH WHICH WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CLAIM LIVES, THE SUBSEQUENT UNEXPLAINED ENGINE FIRE CLAIMED TWO YOUNG LIVES. A MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIRBAG WAS ALSO DETECTED. THIS INCIDENT WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO NHTSA BY MY HUSBAND (#10104088). I AM SUPPLYING THESE ADDITIONAL FACTS FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR POSTING OF "0" INJURIES AS THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES. PLEASE TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES, AS THESE TROUBLE PLAGUED VEHICLES SEEM TO BECOME MORE LETHAL AS THEY AGE. CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF THIS INFORMATION IS REQUESTED. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10107840

Incident

Dec 8, 2004

THIS COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING CLARIFICATION OF OUR PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA REGARDING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS : #10104088 AND #10107840. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MISINTERPRETATION OF DATA COLLECTED BY YOUR AGENCY AND POSTED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. DEATHS ARE NOT POSTED, NOR ARE THEY INCLUDED AS INJURIES. THIS MISREPRESENTS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT FAILURES REPORTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110471

Incident

Dec 8, 2004

CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN SEAT BELT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10094013

Incident

Sep 12, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT RETRACT ONCE IT WAS PULLED OUT, AND WAS NOT TO BE USED. VEHICLE WAS TAKENN TO THE DEALER, WHO SPRAYED A LUBRICANT, AND THE RETRACTOR WAS NOW WORKSING. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081727

Incident

Jul 7, 2004

Mileage

54,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V482000 CONCERNING STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE IN JANUARY, BUT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, REAR SEAT BELTS WERE STICKING. WHEN CONSUMER NEEDED TO UNDO THE BELTS THE BUCKLE STUCK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075766

Incident

Jan 13, 2004

Mileage

26,579 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT FRONT END OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. DURING THE COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HER RIGHT SHOULDER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10065531

Incident

Feb 11, 2004

Mileage

44,000 mi

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO DEFECTS WITH HER VEHICLE. *PH THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS PLACED IN BACKWARDS PER MANUFACTURER, THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO INCREASED AND DECREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, THE GEAR STICK SLID OFF THE POST, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN GOING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE POWER KNOB TO THE RADIO WOULD BECOME STICKY WHENEVER THE SUN WAS PRESENT, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN, THE IGNITION SWITCH JAMMED TWICE, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTER DID NOT EXIST. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10057272

ENGINE STARTS TO STALLS WHEN COMMING TO A STOP. THEY CLAIM IT NEEDS A NEW CYLINDER HEAD.

NHTSA ID

10070092

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

Mileage

14,942 mi

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT THREE TIME BECAUSE OF NOISE AND IT'S BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO WEEKS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE WORKING ON IT OR IF THEY ARE REPAIRING OTHER THINGS OR WHAT. I HAVEN'T HAD HEAT THROUGHOUT THE COLDEST PART OF THE WINTER. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK AND THE PAINT IS PEELING. THE CAR HAS LOCKED UP NOT LETTING ME START THE ENGINE TWICE, THEN JUST OUT OF THE BLUE IT DECIDED TO START. I TRIED TO TURN IN AND THE CAR DEALER AT FORD SAID HE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT, DIDN'T WANT IT. WE BOUGHT IT AUG. 9 2000-FORD CREDIT, SIMPLE INTEREST 6.5 --FIRST PAYMENT SEPTEMBER $456.99 A MONTH THEY SAY WE OWE TOO MUCH TO TRADE IN ???THIS MADE NO SINCE. NOW I KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN OUT TO SEA USNAVY FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT I'M A NERVOUS WRECK ABOUT THIS CAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THERE HAS BEEN IS SO MANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE FIXED THEM OR NOT

NHTSA ID

10070084

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT 7 TIMES DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH MY NEW FOCUS. THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 6700 MILES, ALONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THINGS GOT WORSE FROM THERE. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER INTO THE ROOF, THE FUSE ON THE FAN/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MELTED, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, THE FABRIC ON THE SEATS CAUSED ME TO GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. FORD'S LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS AS WELL DURING THESE REPAIRS. I ULTIMATELY TRADED IN MY CAR FOR A COMPETITOR'S CAR AND I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER NOW.

NHTSA ID

10070021

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

CAR HAS HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES AND THE CAR IS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOPS FOR SEVERAL RECALLS AS WELL AS TWICE FOR IGNITION LOCK FAILURE. ONE OF OUR CHILDREN WAS TRAPPED IN REAR SEAT BY DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT & HAD TO BE CUT OUT WITH A KNIFE. CAR STALLS AFTER IT WARMS UP. DEALER SAYS IT'S FUEL PUMP BUT IF THAT WERE SO, WOULDN'T IT STALL WAARM OR COLD. I SPOKE TO AN EMPLOYEE AT ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID FORD WAS FINDING PROBLEMS WITH SENSOR CONNECTED WITH COOLING SYSTEM. WHO DO I BELIEVE? THEY WANT TO CHARGE US $700 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP THAT PROBABLY WORKS FINE.

NHTSA ID

10069680

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

MY COMPLAINT IS ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THE FOCUS. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND WORK DONE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSING, WIRING HARNESS REPLACED, BEARINGS IN FRONT, AND REAR, BRAKE ASSEMBLY, SWAY BAR, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 SETS OF TIRES, AND LINE UP 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD AND THE CAR EATS TIRES. NOW WE HAVE 52,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND A PIN HAS COME LOOSE AND GONE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION, AND CASE. ALTOUGH THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS HASSLE, AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE HAD.

NHTSA ID

10069676

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2000 SINCE THIS TIME THE CAR HAS HAD A NUMBER OF RECALLS ON THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT THE 2000 MODEL OF THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE TO PAY THE AMOUNT THE CONTACT WAS SIGNED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, THE PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT THE CAR DIDN'T KNOW THAT MOST OF THE CAR'S LIFE WOULD BE IN THE SHOP BEING FIXED. ALSO FORD KNEW THAT THE FOCUS WAS PRONE TO THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

10069304

Incident

Mar 15, 2000

REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10049808

Incident

Nov 2, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

I SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH MINIMAL FORCE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR I HIT. THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR, (SMALL SCRATCH ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND A HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED) EXCEPT BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKED (THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT).. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051119

Incident

Oct 12, 2003

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS JAMMED AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO BE WITHDRAWN FOR PROPER USE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045807

Incident

Nov 8, 2003

Mileage

37,300 mi

EVENFLO 5 IN 1 INFANT SEAT. MODEL NUMBER 5751292P1. PROBLEMS GETTING BASE OF CHILD SEAT INSTALLED. *MR WHEN USING THE LATCH, THE YELLOW BASE ADJUSTER HIT THE RIGHT TOP OF THE LATCH ANCHOR. WHEN THE STRAP WAS TIGHTENED IT BROUGHT THE FRONT OF THE BASE UP OFF THE VEHICLE SEAT AND THE BABY'S HEAD FLOPPED FORWARD. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10025074