2001 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls

ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 8, 2002 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 AND I WAS TRYING TO TURN ONTO THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN ALL THE WAY AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND I CRASHED INTO A CURB AND WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MY LEFT FOREARM WAS BURNT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000024 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AS I WET OVER A SPEED BUMP BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHATTERING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DRIVER GOT MINOR BURNS ON LEFT ARM PASSENGER WAS HIT WITH GLASS FROM WINDSHIELD. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000511 at NHTSA ↗

THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED WITH MY CAR WAS THE STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH. AT 12036 MILES, I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME CAR NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. IT ALSO NEED THE ROTORS TURNED AND THE TIRES ROTATED BECAUSE AT 12000 MILES THEY WERE STARTING TO WEAR. THEY GAVE ME A BILL FOR $101 THEY STATED THESE ITEMS WERE "WEAR" ITEMS AND W…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000523 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A CHEMICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND DEFROSTER. I HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO MATHEWS FORD FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIANS SMELLED THE ODOR AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM OUT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE ODOR RETURNS. I GET VERY POOR GAS MILEGE, THE BRAKES GRIND, SQUEEK, AND THUMP, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOWS HAVE A LOUD SQUEEK,THE TRUNK WON'T CLOSE COMPLETLY UNLESS YOU SLAM IT AS HARD AS YOU CAN,

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000726 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAVE PUT 17,100 MILES ON IT SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN MAY, 2001. AT THE LAST SERVICE, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 2002, THE FORD MECHANIC AT PRICE FORD IN MILLINGTON, TN. STATED THAT MY FRONT BRAKES & ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON. THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THIS AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR CAN OCCUR ON A CAR WITH ONLY 17,100 MILES! I HAVE OWNED 9 AUTOMOBILES IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BRAKES WEARING OUT IN UNDER 20,000 MILES! THIS MUST BE A DEFECT, OR ENGINEERING MISTAKE WITH FORD'S BRAKES! I INITIALL…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000869 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE STALLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR 3 TIMES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000965 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH WAS INVOLVED ON SIDE COLLISION AT THE DRIVER SIDE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001104 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STARTS TO FLICKER, WITHOUT WARNING. THEN THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 18,062 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001195 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-12-14 (December 14, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STATION WAGONS AND 3-DOOR VEHICLES. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A FOLDING 60/40 SECOND SEAT THAT BECOMES A LOAD FLOOR IN THE FOLDED POSITION. WHEN THE 60% PORTION OF THE SEAT IS FOLDED DOWN AND A LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE LOAD FLOOR, THE OUTBOARD HINGE PIVOT COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE HINGE.

Consequence: IF THE SEAT IS THEN RETURNED TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT RE-ENGAGING THE HINGE PIVOT, THE SEAT AND SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE INTENDED LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED SEAT BACK HINGE PIVOT.

Reported: 2001-03-28 (March 28, 2001)

PM CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE SPRING COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING AN IN-PROCESS TEST AND THE OCCUPANT MAY NOTICE A CHUCKING, OR PERCEIVED LOOSENESS OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK, OR THE SEAT BACK COULD UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINE.

Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE SPRING FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2001-08-08 (August 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, OR IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.

Consequence: LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2002-11-06 (November 6, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ZETEC ENGINES, LOOSE OR BROKEN ATTACHMENTS AND MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES COULD LEAD TO CABLE INSULATION DAMAGE.

Consequence: THIS, IN TURN, COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY CABLES TO SHORT RESULTING IN HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CABLES. BESIDES HEAT DAMAGE, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO START, OR SMOKE, MELTING, OR FIRE COULD ALSO OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY CABLES FOR THE CONDITION OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND PROPER TIGHTENING OF THE TERMINAL ENDS. AS NECESSARY, CABLES WILL BE REROUTED, RETAINING CLIPS INSTALLED, AND DAMAGED BATTERY CABLES REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2002-11-06 (November 6, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOOSE PINCH BOLTS THAT SECURE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

Consequence: LOOSE PINCH BOLTS COULD EXHIBIT NOISE, VIBRATION AND, IN EXTREME CASES IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, SEPARATION OF THE JOINT OR FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLE PINCH BOLT FOR TIGHTNESS AND CORRECT AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.

Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.