NHTSA Complaint #10267175 — 2005 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED MY USED VEHICLE IN 06/08 AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TIRES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE "ONE BAD TIRE". IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL THE TIRES IN GOOD AND EQUAL CONDITION I PURCHASED THREE MORE. OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR "ALIGNMENT ISSUES" AND TO A PRIVATE ALIGNMENT SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THE FORD FOCUS THAT ALLOWS A "GENEROUS" SPREAD FOR ALIGNMENT SPECS. AS LONG AS IT CAN BE ALIGNED WITHIN FORD'S SPECS IT IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE, HOWEVER THE TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR UNEVENLY CAUSING VIBRATION AND INCORRECT TREAD WEAR. I WAS TOLD BY FORD TODAY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE "NUMBER IS" BUT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL THAT "MAGIC NUMBER" IS REACHED. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE ALSO ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" THAT ALLOWS ONLY THOSE VEHICLES THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO THEIR "GENEROUS" SPECS TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT ONLY A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO TIRE WEAR BUT AFFECTS TRACKING IN SNOW AND WATER WHICH ALSO HEIGHTENS RISK. *TR