NHTSA Complaint #10086626 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOR MY 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER JUST 37,700 MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE SQUEALED ALMOST SINCE DAY ONE (WE PURCHASED IT NEW IN AUGUST 2001), HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKING AND REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES (MCMAHON FORD, NORWALK, CT) AND THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO SQUEAL, OR THAT THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OR THAT IT'S DUE TO DUST, OR DENIED THAT THEY SQUEALED AT ALL. THE REPAIR PLACE SAYS THE ROTORS CANNOT BE TURNED AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE MADE TO BARELY MINIMUM STANDARDS. THEY ARE RETURNING THE WORN PARTS. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAILING (FOR ONE THING, BECAUSE OF THE PERMANENT SQUEAL) AND THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND THIS PROBLEM THE LAST TIME WE HAD IT IN FOR A CHECKUP BEFORE IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY, WHICH IS OF THE MOST CONCERN TO ME. *JB