2005 Ford Focus Suspension Problems

MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING ALL RUSTED & FULL OF HOLES.

NHTSA ID

11331823

Incident

Jun 21, 2020

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE CAUSES SLIGHT NOISE AND LEAKS CONNECTING. TO THE ENGINE. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE A LOOK THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE MUFFLER AND EXHAUST PROBLEMS CAUSING A LOT TO BE REPAIRED OUT THE POCKET ON THE HIGHWAY IT SEEMS TO SUCK AIR STALL A LITTLE WHOLE IN MOTION

NHTSA ID

11195328

Incident

May 12, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A 5 LANE CITY ROAD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. FORTUNATELY THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING AND NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS CERTAINLY THERE. THE CONTROL ARM FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED AND NEARING FAILURE AS WELL. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER. IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE. IN MY 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON AUTOMOBILES I'VE NEVER SEEN A CONTROL ARM FAILURE LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ID

11004236

Incident

Jul 7, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO BUY A RE-FURBISHED MOTOR, THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AND THE SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONER ALL NEEDED REPAIRING. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL FROM DOT, [XXX], I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TALLAHASSEE FORD. THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS MISTAKEN. MY VIN # WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT FORD KEPT GIVING ME A RUN-AROUND AND THEY LIED. SO NOW, I HAVE APPARENTLY MISSED A DEADLINE WHICH WAS NOT LISTED ON THE ORIGINAL NOTICE TO ME. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS HAS REALLY STRESSED ME OUT AND IT REALLY MAKES ME NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD FROM ANYONE. ON ETHICS ALONE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM DO WHAT THEY BASICALLY REFUSED BY LYING TO ME. IT WAS IN MOTION AND WENT TO THE SHOP WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE NOTICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10924031

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

35 mi

ALL 4 EAGLE GT TIRES THAT ARE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD ARE WORN AND SCALLOPED DUE TO A KNOW PROBLEM TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ID: 10034585 JULY 10, 2010 AND SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TB-21399 COMPONENT(S): TIRES NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10034585. OUR MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SERVICE BULLETIN SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING ISSUES TO CAUSE THE TIRE WEAR. THE SOLUTION THAT FORD HAS COME UP WITH IT TO ADD 4 ADDITIONAL UPPER CONTROL ARMS AT $140 A PIECE PLUS LABOR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FORD THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ONE BUT ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE EITHER INJURED OR KILLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ADVISED THEM THAT I WILL KEEP ALL RECEIPTS FOR NEW TIRES. THIS IS THE 4 SET OF TIRES IN 3 YEARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I ADVISED THEM I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE TIRES ARE TOTALLY WORN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE AND THEN LET MY INSURANCE CARRIER DEAL WITH THEIR FAULTY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618111

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE STABILIZER ARMS WERE INSTALLED. PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. IN ADDITION, THE AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT THE COMPONENT DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ID

10505807

Incident

Jun 7, 2006

Mileage

200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOR FOCUS ZXW STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE KEY WOULD BECOME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT GLUED THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON IN PLACE AND CHANGED THE IGNITION, WHICH RESOLVED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE METAL FRAME OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME CRACKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PROP THE SEAT UP SO THAT HE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000. UPDATED 02/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/21/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER HAVING THE FLUID FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE RIGID AND WERE EASY TO BREAK, THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY WEIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND SECONDARY ROAD BUMPS. THE HEAT SHIELDS ATTACHED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE DESIGNED POORLY, TO THE POINT THEY WERE BENT AND CAUSED A RATTLE. THE STEEL RIMS, BENT EASILY, WHICH CREATED A VIBRATION AND BALANCE PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS LENSES WERE DISCOLORED, THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS, THE HOOD CABLES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE HOOD CABLE FROZE AND BROKE. UPDATED 07/25/13

NHTSA ID

10487466

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

Mileage

205,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10438603

Incident

Dec 3, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

FOR TWO WEEKS I HEARD AND FELT A SLIGHT POP IN THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND THEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AFTER GAINING SOME MOMENTUM. TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC AND ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE AREA IN QUESTION MYSELF. (CONTROL ARM, BALL JOINT, CV, SWAY LINK, STEERING ASSEMBLY AND STRUTS) WE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM NOR COULD WE RECREATE THE 'POP' WITH THE CAR ON THE LIFT. WAS SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE MY ENGINE MOUNT BUSHINGS REPLACED WHICH IS FAIRLY CHEAP AND EASY. WHILE WAITING FOR THE BUSHINGS TO ARRIVE MY BALL JOINT 'FAILED'. IT DID NOT BREAK, IT JUST SLIPPED OUT. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON SECONDARY RESIDENTIAL ROAD WHICH WAS FREE OF BUMPS, DIPS, ETC. SUDDENLY I HEAR A BANG, THE CAR JERKS AND TIRE SCREECHES. I THOUGHT IT MUST BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SO I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND STEER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I SEE THE DRIVERSIDE WHEEL HAS UNATTACHED FROM THE BALL JOINT AND IS NOW KICKED OUT @ 90DEGREES. THE CV IS TORN FROM TRANSMISSION, STABILIZER LINK IS TWISTED, STRUT WAS BENT WAY BACK, TIRE HAS HOLE WORN IN IT, SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I HAD NOT MADE IT O THE HIGHWAY YET. THE BALL JOINT WAS NOT BROKEN IN ANY WAY; IT HAD JUST SLIPPED FROM ITS CUFF. I NOW HAVE THE BALL JOINT AND BOLT THAT HOLDS IT TO THE SUSPENSION KNUCKLE AT HOME FOR MY OWN INSPECTION. THERE IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. THIS IS AN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT PAST THE DRAWING BOARD. BASICALLY, YOU HAVE BARELY 1/16" OF THE SIDE OF THE 1/2" BOLT EXPOSED TO A GROOVE FOR ROUGHLY 1/4". I MEASURED THESE WITH A PAIR OF HIGH GRADE CALIPERS AND WAS APPALLED, I WAS APPALLED WHEN I JUST LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY,BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE WEAK. MY SISTER WAS IN A NEAR FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT LAST YEAR. IT WAS NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. SHE WAS IN A COMA. GUESS WHAT... SHE WAS DRIVING A FORD FOCUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399987

Incident

Apr 2, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

2005 FORD FOCUS PASSANGER SIDE A ARM BOLT HOLDING THE A ARM TO THE WHEEL LOSSEND AND JUST ONE BOLT FELL OUT ON THE ROAD CAUSING THE TIRE AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO JAM UNDER THE FENDER PULLING THE AXLE OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION STOPPING THE CAR THANKFULL THAT THE CAR WAS GOING SLOW AND STOPPED AND NOT ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 39171 MILES AND HAD BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER FREQUENT FOR A NOISE PROBLEM THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE NOISE AND NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED COMMENTS WERE MADE AT THE REPAIR SHOP AS TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THE LACK OF ONE BOLT CAUSED AND THAT LUCKY AS TO THE SPEED TO WHICH IT CAME APART THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT WORSE. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH GOING THRU A ROUNDABOUT TRAFFIC SIGNAL NORTH BOUND AND CONTINUING TO THE NORTH MAKING A RIGHT STARTING IN THE ROUND ABOUT THEN A LEFT IN THE ROUNDABOUT AND A RIGHT LEAVING THE ROUNDABOUT THE WHEEL JAMED UNDER THE FENDER STOPPING THE CAR IN ITS TRACKS JUST CLEARING THE ROUNDABOUT GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE REASON THE CAR STOPPED AND THE PASSANGER WHEEL WAS TURNED RIGHT AND UNDER THE FENDER THE LEFT WHEEL WAS FACING CORRECT STRAIGHT AHEAD. *CN

NHTSA ID

10307670

Incident

Feb 7, 2010

Mileage

39,171 mi

I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING A POP SOUND AND MY CLUTCH WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEARS. I HAD TO FORCE IT INTO SECOND GEAR ALL THE WAY HOME. TOTAL OF 3 FAILURES APPROX. 1 MONTH APART FINAL RESULT ON MY THIRD TRIP FOR REPAIRS ENDED WITH ME UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME WHICH CAUSED ME REAR ENDING THE BACK OF A TRUCK. I DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY CAR BOTH ENGINE AND BODY I STILL HAVE NO CAR. MY CAR HAS 1,200 MILES ON IT. 2005 FORD FOCUS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM DEALERSHIP AND UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE IN IT. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THE LADY TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD CHECK INTO IT TO SEE IF THE DAMAGES WOULD BE COVERED BY THEM. CONSIDERING THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT OF HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THEY WOULD OF FIXED MY CAR RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. EITHER WAY SHE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276944

Incident

Jul 17, 2005

Mileage

1,200 mi

I PURCHASED MY USED VEHICLE IN 06/08 AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TIRES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE "ONE BAD TIRE". IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL THE TIRES IN GOOD AND EQUAL CONDITION I PURCHASED THREE MORE. OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR "ALIGNMENT ISSUES" AND TO A PRIVATE ALIGNMENT SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THE FORD FOCUS THAT ALLOWS A "GENEROUS" SPREAD FOR ALIGNMENT SPECS. AS LONG AS IT CAN BE ALIGNED WITHIN FORD'S SPECS IT IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE, HOWEVER THE TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR UNEVENLY CAUSING VIBRATION AND INCORRECT TREAD WEAR. I WAS TOLD BY FORD TODAY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE "NUMBER IS" BUT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL THAT "MAGIC NUMBER" IS REACHED. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE ALSO ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" THAT ALLOWS ONLY THOSE VEHICLES THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO THEIR "GENEROUS" SPECS TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT ONLY A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO TIRE WEAR BUT AFFECTS TRACKING IN SNOW AND WATER WHICH ALSO HEIGHTENS RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267175

Incident

Jun 16, 2008

Mileage

64,000 mi

WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 SES BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 2005. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES 5 TIMES, TWO OF THE 5 TIMES WE REPLACED THE WHOLE SET. THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES ON THE REAR OF VEHICLE (YOKOHAMA 205/50/ZR16) WERE BALD AT 11,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME WE REPLACED THEM WITH 4 NEW YOKOHAMA TIRES. SIX MONTHS LATER, WE HAD TO BUY ANOTHER COMPLETE SET OF TIRES (MICHELIN/205/55/R16) BECAUSE THE TIRES IN THE REAR WERE CUPPING AND WEARING IN A DIAGONAL CROSS PATTERN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD BOTH TIMES AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY FACTORY DEFECTS ON THE VEHICLE. FORD CLAIMED IT MUST BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WE PAID $79.99 FOR A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND EVEN HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED, AS WELL AS SHOCKS AND STRUTS, AND FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 3 MORE TIMES, JUST LAST WEEK BUYING TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE REAR. WE REPLACED TIRES ON 7/13/2006 (16,463 MILES), THEN ON 7/6/2007 (25,926 MILES), THEN ON 1/16/2009 (43, 556 MILES). ALL OF THE TIRES PURCHASED HAD 80,000-85,000 MILE WARRANTIES ON THEM. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND CLEARLY OUR VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. REFERENCE OIB-NHTSA, TSB #19064. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THE DEFECTS WITH THESE VEHICLES, AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASED THEM IN GOOD FAITH. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO INVEST $3,000 IN COSTS FOR TIRES IN 3.25 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256169

Incident

Jan 23, 2009

Mileage

11,000 mi

MY 2005 FORD FOCUS WHICH I BOUGHT NEW OFF THE DEALERSHIP NOW HAS 100000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK END FISHTAILS BACK AND FORTH AS IF IT IS BEING HIT BY A STRONG WIND. AS SOON AS I TOLD A REPAIR SHOP THIS THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THE REAR CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEED TO BE EVER CHANGED ON A VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT WHEN THEY ORDER A NEW ONE FROM FORD, THE NEW ONE SENT IS MUCH STRONGER AND BULKIER WHICH TELLS THEM THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS IS OVER $1200! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU FEEL YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME. UPON HEARING THIS, I CONTACTED MY PARENTS WHO ALSO HAVE A FORD FOCUS AND THEY SAID THAT THOUGH THEY HAVE ONLY HALF THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THEIR VEHICLE IT IS ALSO A 2005 MODEL AND IT HAS STARTED TO DO THIS ALSO TO THEM BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, IF IT WAS JUST BAD ROADS OR WHAT. VERY DANGEROUS AND FORD HAS NO RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10255209

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WERE LOUD NOISES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION, REAR WHEEL BEARING; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,319. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10253090

Incident

Dec 21, 2008

Mileage

56,319 mi

WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ISSUES/COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED HERE FROM THE DOME/AIRBAG LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, THE KEY GETTING STUCK OR THE CAR STALLING IN NOT STARTING, DISRESPECT/UNPROFESSIONAL FROM FORD REPAIR STAFF OR CALLING FORD CORPORATE, AND THE MOST FAMOUS FOCUS MOMENT OF ALL, WHEN THE CAR SHAKES AT SPEEDS OF 50 OR ABOVE ON HIGHWAYS. O FORD!, HOW YOU'VE SCREWED US ALL!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10238859

Incident

Oct 25, 2006

VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED. DURING THE 62,325 MILES I OWNED THE CAR I WENT THROUGH 3 SETS OF HIGH QUALITY TIRES AND 7 ALIGNMENTS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS HAPPENS A LOT, FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUT TIRE SHOPS AND CAR OWNERS WILL TELL YOU DIFFERENT. I PUT ABOUT 25K MILES A YEAR ON A CAR, SOMEONE THAT PUTS 10K WOULD NT NOTICE THIS PROBLEM AS OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224055

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

REAR END IS CONTINUOUSLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING SCALLOPING TO THE REARS OF TWO SETS OF TIRES. FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD HEADQUARTERS REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION, EXPLAINING IT IS MY "TOUGH LUCK" AND THAT I NEED TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND CONTINUE TO PAY ONCE TO TWICE A YEAR FOR ALIGNMENT IF TIRES HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED. MANY OTHER MECHANICS I TALK TO SAY THE FOCUS IS NOTORIOUS FOR REAR END ALIGNMENT, BUT FORD WILL NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION OR TAKE CONCILIATORY ACTION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173367

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

2005 FORD FOCUS STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE AXLE TO BREAK. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. *KB *JB

NHTSA ID

10170131

Incident

Jun 23, 2006

THIS IS ABOUT A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3, BOUGHT NEW WITH 8 MILES ON THE CAR. DRIVING ALONG @ 65 MPH & ACCORDING TO WITNESSES IN BACK OF CAR, THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN FISH-TAILED THEN STARTED FLIPPING FRONT END TO BACK END 5 TO 7 TIMES FOR A GOOD 100 TO 150 FEET ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND BECAUSE OF A SEAT BELT THERE WAS ONLY MINOR INJURIES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161058

Incident

Jun 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. THE FOURTH OCCASION THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS REALIGNED HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10160173

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

11,377 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AROUND A SHARP CURVE, THE BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING ONTO A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHER DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED BALL JOINT FAILURE LED TO THE ACCIDENT. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, AS WELL AS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10152672

Incident

Mar 14, 2006

Mileage

12,000 mi

EVERY TIME WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE REAR END WOULD WIGGLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AT 20 MPH OR FASTER, IT FELT AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL AT ANY TIME, IT WAS REAL BAD WHEN YOU WENT FROM CLEAN ROADS TO SLIPPERY, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO SIDEWAYS ! FORD GAVE OUR DEALER SEVERAL THINGS TO TRY, BUT THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO STOP CAR FROM WIGGLING ALL OVER, THIS CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, DEALER HAD THE CAR AT THERE LOT FOR APROX 28 DAYS, MAINLY BECAUSE I WOULD NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN ROADS WERE SLIPPERY, WE FEARED FOR HER SAFETY ! FORD DECIDED THEY COULD DO NO MORE UNTIL FORD SERVICE ENGINEER HAD A CHANCE TO DRIVE IT ON SLIPPERY ROADS, HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET HERE WHEN ROADS WERE BAD, HE DID A WEEK OR SO AGO DRIVE A XZ3 AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHEN THE ROADS WERE ICY, HE CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR DEALERSHIP TO TELL HIM THAT THE FOCUS HE DROVE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD, AND THAT IT ALMOST WENT SIDEWAYS WHEN HE WENT FROM SLIPPERY TO DRY ! SO THEY DECIDED THAT ALL FOCUS ZX3 MUST DO THAT, AND THAT THERE WAS NO FIX ! ONLY PARTS THAT I KNOW THAT WERE CHANGED WERE THE TIE-BLADES ? FORD WOULD NOT HELP US GET OUT OF IF THIS CAR, BUT OUR DEALER WORKED VERY HARD WITH US, AND GOT MY WIFE IN TO A 2006 ESCAPE YESTERDAY ! A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO SIMMONS FORD IN VICKSBURG MICHIGAN ! *NM

NHTSA ID

10151094

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

5,800 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEEL COVERS POPPED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE COVERS CAME OFF THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE COVER BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. HE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY WOULD REVIEW THE PROBLEM ONLY IF THE WHEEL COVER WAS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10142645

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

'05 FORD FOCUS ZXW. VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD. IN SHOP 4TH TIME FOR VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND PULLING TO RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED 1 FRONT TIRE, BALANCED ALL 4, CHANGED CAMBER ANGLE AND RE-ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL. CAR STILL VIBRATES AT 65 AND NOW PULLS TO LEFT. BACK TO DEALER AGAIN FOR 5TH TIME. APPEARS TO ORIGINATE FROM RIGHT FRONT. WILL PRESS FOR STRUT AND SUSPENSION INSPECTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133136

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

Mileage

200 mi