NHTSA Complaint #10078478 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

AT ABOUT 13,000 MILES MY 2003 FORD FOCUS BEGAN TO VIBRATE IN THE FRONT (STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT). I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL TIRE CENTER AND HAD THE TIRES BALANCED. I THEN WENT ON VACATION IN MY CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO VIBRATE THROUGH THE TRIP. WHEN I RETURNED I TOOK MY CAR TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT MY GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES HAVE PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING THE VIBRATION. MY TIRES ALSO HAVE SCALLOPING, BUT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE ALIGMENT WAS WITHIN FORD SPECIFICATIONS. I NOW HAVE A CAR LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND JUST OVER 16,000 MILES IN NEED OF NEW TIRES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAPID WEAR OF THE TIRES AND THAT THIS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER DRIVERS OF THE 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 FORD FOCUS BECAUSE THE GOODYEAR TIRES HAD A VERY SOFT RUBBER COMPOUND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, BUT PREMATURE WEAR AND THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE TIRES AT MY EXPENSE. I AM NOW PLANNING ON GOING TO MY LOCAL TIRE DEALER AND REPLACING THE TIRES. *AK