NHTSA Complaint #10402111 — 2006 FORD FOCUS

WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, OUR FORD FOCUS STARTED MAKING A THUMPING NOISE WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SLIGHT VIBRATION OF THE CAR. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO GET THE TIRES RE-BALANCED AND ROTATED. AFTER A ROAD TEST (I WENT ALONG), THE DEALER SAID THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE 'CUPPED' AND THAT REBALANCING AND ROTATING WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS OK. THE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON THEM, AND ARE THE SECOND SET ON A CAR THAT HAS JUST ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT FASTER THAN EXPECTED FOR THE GOOD QUALITY TIRES THAT I PUT ON TO REPLACE THE FACTORY ORIGINALS (WHICH WORE OUT EARLY). THE THUMPING IS NOISY, BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL IF THINGS GET WORSE WHEN ON A LONG TRIP, OR IF THE TIRES FAIL DUE TO THE STRESS OF THE 'CUPPING'. FROM CHECKING THE INTERNET, OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (OVER A NUMBER OF MODEL YEARS), IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE REAR OF THIS CAR WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE AND RAPID TIRE WEAR LEADING TO THE 'CUPPING' AND RESULTANT NOISE AND (I AM GUESSING) BOUNCING ON THE ROAD. I EXPECT THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME SORT OF REPAIR THAT COULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE ACCIDENTS. BUYING NEW TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES IS NOT THE SOLUTION. *TR