NHTSA Complaint #10227926 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

FOR ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE BRINGING MY CAR TO FORD I HAD BEEN NOTICING A VIBRATION FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS NOT SHAKING. THIS WAS ONLY HAPPENING WHEN I WAS GOING FASTER THAN 50-55MPH. I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND ALL WAS OK. FINALLY, I BROUGHT IT TO FORD AND THEY FOUND A BENT CONTROL ARM IN THE FRONT R/S. IN ADDITION, THEY FOUND A SLIPPED BELT ON THE L/R TIRE AND R/F TIRE HAD UNEVEN WEAR. OK, SO HERE'S MY COMPLAINT....THERE IS NO WAY THAT I HIT ANYTHING SO HARD THAT I BENT MY CONTROL ARM IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO PROVE THIS I HAD TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR - ALMOST $400.00. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS WITH THE TIRES. SINCE THE REPAIR IN THE FRONT WAS THE SAME PLACE THAT THE TIRE HAD UNEVEN WEAR, I HAD TO EAT THIS ONE TOO - $125.00. THE PROBLEM IS, WHAT ABOUT THIS SLIPPED BELT IN THE REAR TIRE? I GUESS I WAS TO BLAME FOR THAT ONE TOO. MAYBE THESE PIRELLI TIRES ARE THE PROBLEM. I SHOULD HAVE READ THE COMPLAINTS HERE BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO FORD. FORD DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER TIRES THAT FIT THESE RIMS, BUT THE SAME PIRELLI'S THAT WERE ON THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE. SINCE THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN THE SHOP AND MY TIME IS LIMITED, I WAS STUCK GETTING THE SAME JUNK. MY MESSAGE....DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I MADE - DO NOT REPLACE THE TIRES ON YOUR FOCUS WITH THE PIRELLI'S THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. IF I CAN SAVE SOME PEOPLE A FEW HEADACHES AND SOME MONEY, I WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER FOR THE MISTAKE THAT I MADE. *TR