NHTSA Complaint #761792 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

DESPITE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RECALLS, OUR LEFT REAR TIRES WARPED SO BADLY DUE TO THE BEARING DEFECT THAT WE WERE FORCED TO REPLACE THEM. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGED TIRES AND FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS THE VEHICLE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE DAMAGE. WE REPLACED BOTH REAR TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHICH MADE STEERING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. DESPITE THE NEW TIRES, THERE IS STILL FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE WE ARE NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT THE BEARING RECALL HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH NEW TIRES FOR SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCINGS AND YET WE STILL GET STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WHOLE SITUATION IS CAUSING FEAR IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE OUR DEALER TELLS US THAT THE ONLY RECOURSE WE HAVE IS TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR CONSTANT ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCING TO AVOID THE VIBRATION AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL FOR SIMILAR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS THE HONDAS AND NISSANS.*AK