NHTSA Complaint #763882 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

SINCE PURCHASED. ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. HERE IS A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL PROBLEMS IVE HAD WITH THE CAR, WHICH INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:3 MONTHS: THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WENT OUT. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED (2 TIMES). THE GAS GAUGE STUCK ON EMPTY (TWICE). I FELT A CONSTANT PULSATING ON THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT ALL NEW CARS HAVE THAT FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS WHILE THEY GET USED TO NEW CHEMICALS RUNNING THROUGH THEIR SYSTEM. NEARLY 2 YEARS LATER, THE PULSATING IS STILL THERE. THE CAR EXPLODED. I PARKED MY CAR ON A HILL, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. THEN I HEARD SOME CLICKING AND A LARGE BOOM. I TURNED AROUND TO SEE SPARKS AND SMOKE POURING OUT OF MY HOOD, A HORRIBLE SMELL ENGULFED THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MY CAR (WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP) WAS ROLLING DOWN A HILL TOWARDS AN INTERSECTION. THE OIL PRESSURE UNITED HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. THE CAR TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. 6 MONTHS: THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEY STILL SQUEAKED EXCESSIVELY. THEY STILL SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SCRAPPING. I TOOK IT BACK IN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE 2000 FORD FOCUS HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. EVEN AFTER REPLACED, THE BRAKES WOULD TAKE MUCH PRESSURE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP AND WOULD SQUEAK. THE TRUNK WOULD SOMETIMES NOT SHUT. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT ALWAYS WORK. THE FRONT TIRE KEPT GOING FLAT. FORD SAID IT WAS MY DRIVING. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THE NEW TIRE KEPT GOING FLAT. THEY SAID THE NEW TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT AND THE STEM. W/IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS: ON AT LEAST 11 OCCASIONS THE CAR WOULD NOT START UNTIL TURNED OVER A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CAR HAS LOW PICK UP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STUCK ON. ENGINE LIGHT WAS STUCK ON. THE GAS TANK NEEDED A NEW PART. THE STICK WILL NOT ALWAYS GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE HEAT IS ON FOR OVER 15 OR SO MINUTES A HEAVY BURNING SMELL IN CAR. BEARINGS/SHOCK PROBLEM.*AK