NHTSA Complaint #739616 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

THESE ARE THE PROBELEMS WITH MY CAR. IT IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD, YET THIS CAR HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS. THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM IS WITH THE BRAKES. THEY CONTINUALLY SQUEAK AND I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED SINCE. I HAVE ALSO MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HAD THE BREAKS DEGLAZED AND SERVICED MANY TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS WITH THE VENTALATION. THE ENGINE STRONGLY SMELLS OF BURNING OIL/FUEL. THIS PROBLEM WAS CHECKED AND FIXED THREE TIMES, BUT THIS PROBLEM ALSO CONTINUES. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG INSIDE THE CAR THAT PASSENGERS NOW REFUSE TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL IS ALSO VERY STRONG FROM OUT SIDE THE CAR. THE THIRD PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE LOCK AND LATCH ARE VERY TIGHT AND ARE SOME TIMES IMBOSSIBLE TO TURN OR OPEN WITHOUT EXESSIVE FORCE. THE DOOR HINGES ARE ALSO STIFF. THIS IS A LOT OF FRICTION IN THE HINGES MAKING LOTS OF NOISE AND NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO MOVE SMOTHLEY. THE LAST PROBLEM I AM REPORTING IS WITH THE SUSPENSION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED MORE THAN 5 TIMES AND IT IS STILL A VERY BIG PROBLEM. NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN AND THE SQUEAKING AND HUMMING IS STILL VERY LOUD. THERE ARE ALSO LOUD CLANKING NOISES COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION.*AK