NHTSA Complaint #10069986 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WE PURCHASED THIS 2000 FORD FOCUS ON 11/13/00. WE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JANUARY 2001 AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/25/01 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 8/01/01, 1/11/02,7/09/02, AND 2/13/03. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, GRINDING WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. ONE OF THE TIMES IT WAS TAKEN IN WE HAD COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 4TH GEAR. EACH TIME THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/30/03 FOR ROAD NOISE AND WOBBLING IN THE WHEEL. THE TIRE ALMOST FELL OFF ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME WE WERE ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS. WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THIS AND IN FACT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL HE LOOKED UP OUR VEHICLE IN THE COMPUTER. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: FOUND RELATED DAMAGE BECAUSE OF RECALL AS FOLLOWS, LEFT DRUM, SPINDLE AND BEARINGS REFACED RIGHT DRUM R & R RIGHT SPINDLE. REAR SHOES REPLACED PARTS FOR RELATED DAMAGE. THIS IS THE INFORMATION STATED ON THE INVOICE. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO BEEN ON SO WE ASKED THEM TO ALSO FIND OUT WHAT THAT PROBLEM WAS. THEY FOUND GROSS LEAK FOUND AT EVAP MANIFOLD LINE. REPLACED LINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL RECALLS INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF A BATTERY CABLE ON 1/30/03 AND ANOTHER UNSPECIFIED RECALL ON 10/02/01. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 67 DAYS IN THE 27 MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OWNED IT. IT NOW HAS 35,800 MILES AND THE WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TRAIN AND CHARGE US A $50 DEDUCTIBLE EACH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES SERVICE ON THIS SYSTEM.