NHTSA Complaint #755566 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

MY DAUGHTER WAS SO EXCITED TO BUY HER FIRST CAR. I'M NOT SURE WHY BUT SHE CHOSE A FORD FOCUS AND QUALIFIED FOR A FIRST TIME BUYER PROGRAM. AFTER A FEW MONTHS SHE STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. IT GOT SO BAD SHE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. LATER SHE TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOLD HER THE BRAKE PADS WERE WARPED BECAUSE SHE DROVE THROUGH WATER AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. NEXT TIME SHE WENT IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER SHE HAD A ONE-VEHICLE WRECK. SHE WAS NOT HURT BUT THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED. AFTER THREE ESTIMATES WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WITH A GOOD REPUTATION FOR QUALITY WORK. THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF ADAQUATE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. AT A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES SHE BEGAN HAVING MORE SERIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS. AGAIN SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD HER THE BRAKE PADS WERE BAD AND THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. (AT 20,000 MILES) THEY OFFERED TO DO THE $400+ JOB FOR A 12% DISCOUNT SINCE THE JOB WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SHE TOOK IT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO DID THE JOB FOR ABOUT $200. ADD ALL THE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR THAT LEAKED (THEY "FIXED IT" SEVERAL TIMES. IT STILL LEAKS. ACTUALLY, THIS CUTE LITTLE BLUE FORD FOCUS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAINTED "LEMON YELLOW". ANOTHER THING - WHEN SHE TOOK THE CAR IN SHE TOOK A FRIEND WITH HER TO DRIVE HER TO WORK. DURING THE CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HE, AND I QUOTE, "TOLD THEM TO SHUT UP - HE WOULD NOT BE DOUBLE TEAMED. THEY DO NOT TEACH THAT IN CUSTOMER RELATION SCHOOL, DO THEY? DO YOU THINK THIS SAME DEALER WOULD TAKE IT IN FOR A TRADE IN?*AK