2000 FORD FOCUS Suspensionmultiple Axle Problems

CONSUMER'S HUSBAND, WHILE IN MOTION, NOTICED THE VEHICLES REAR END WAS MAKING NOISE. UPON TAKING TO THE FORD DEARERSHIP, HE LEARNED THAT THE REAR BERAINGS HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. BOTH OF THE BEARINGS HAD FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. *JG

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, CONSUMER STATES' THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TIRE WOBBLING. TOOK TO FORD AND THEY STATED THE REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

PASSENGER REAR TIRE MAKING NOISE AND WOBBLING. VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. PROBLEM WITH WHEEL BEARING. *MR

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

LAST MONTH, I REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ON MY FORD FOCUS WHEN IT FAILED. I HAVE HEARD REPORTS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FLAW IN DESIGN. MORE DANGEROUS THAN THAT, THOUGH, IS THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAR LOST POWER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER RIGHT-HAND TURNS OR GOING UPHILL. IT DID NOT STALL, SIMPLY SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER FOR BETWEEN 2-5 SECONDS. ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE MERGING ONTO THE CAPITAL BELTWAY ON OUR WAY TO VISIT FRIENDS, AND THE CAR LOST POWER, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM, AS FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. THE REPAIRS COST OVER $425, AND INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP AND...

REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS MAKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT REAR BEARING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

DEALERSHIP SAD PARTS TO RECALL 01I017000 CONCERNING REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ARE ON BACK ORDER.*AK

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 55,000 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIR UNDER RECALL .FORD REFUSED TO SELL ME THE IMPROVED OR REDESIGNED WHEEL BEARING PARTS, BUT INSTEAD WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME DESIGN BEARINGS THAT ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO EARLY FAILURE, AS THEY HAD ALREADY DEMONSTRATED BY FAILING AT 55,000 MILES. I AM NOW DRIVING A FORD VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED AND PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURES BECAUSE IT ENCOMPASSES AN ADMITTED FLAWED COMPONENT, THIS EXPOSES ME AND OTHERS DRIVERS ON THE ROAD TO AN UNWARRANTED RISK INVOLVING VEHICULAR SAFETY AND POTENTIAL PERSONNEL INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS THAT COULD INCLUDE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. IN THE INTEREST OF PERSONNEL AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO DEMONSTRATE ADEQUATE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, I FEEL IT IS FMCS RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHAT I WANT:1)...

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOME NOISE COMING FROM REAR WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AT 65MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO COME OFF OF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY FORD FOCUS 2000, IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO RECALLS FOR WHEEL BEARINGS, PANELING, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED. SINCE LATE SEPT. 2000, THE ENGINE DIES AT APPROX. 45/MPH WHEN I PRESS THE CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR, SLOWING FROM A HIGHER SPEED. ON AUG. 21, 2001, I TOOK THE THE CAR TO MAROONE FORD IN MARGATE, FLORIDA BECAUSE IT HAD STALL (DIED) TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SAID THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IT PROPERLY. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD AND THEY CAME OUT AND DROVE WITH ME. THE CAR DID NOT STALL AT THAT TIME, AND HE ADVISED ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE CAR! I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN LIED TO BY FORD AND...

C V JOINT AND SHAFT FELL APART WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. PIECES THROW EVERYWHERE.WHEEL BEARINGS MELTING TO REAR DRUMS . BACK DRUMS REPLACED AND ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS. DOOR LOCK SYSTEM REPLCED AFTER STOP WORKING. *AK

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...

BEARING FAILURE DAMAGED ABS SYSTEM. ONLY WARNING WAS ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THEN RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 75 MPH, CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER BEFORE CAR COULD BE CONTROLLED. PREVIOUSLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 22,764 MILES. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT ATTACHED TO THAT FAILURE, AS WE COULD HEAR THE SLIGHT ROUGH OR GRINDING NOISE, AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANT SERVICE. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED, AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK

MOLDING ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR COMING OFF; DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE B/C OF ALL THE RECALLS AND CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK FOR ALL OF THESE RECALLS; THUMPING COMING FROM UNDER STEERING COLUMN, TOLD THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR, BUT SOUNDS LIKE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED IN REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; OVERDRIVE OFF BUTTON DOESN'T WORK; BRAKES SQUEAK AND WEAR DOWN TOO EASILY AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET THEM REPLACED;THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR B/C I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET MY OLD CAR FIXED ALL OF THE TIME. I THOUGHT BUYING A NEW CAR WOULD ELIMINATE THIS, BUT I TAKE THIS TO THE SHOP ALL THE TIME FOR RECALLS AND PROBLEMS. THIS IS INSANE! SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!

AFTER RECAL O1I700000 CONCERNING REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS DONE, THEY STARTED HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS COMPLAINT IS THE FACT THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS OLD. THE SECOND TIME CAME WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VACATIONING IN VERMONT WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS NEAR FALLING OFF. THE FINAL TIME THE REAR BEARINGS FAILED, THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A SECOND RECALL ON THE REAR BEARINGS. IN ADDITION, MY FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A-PILLAR TRIM PANELS REPLACEMENT , AND DECKLID WIRE HARNESS RREPLACEMENT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRS ON THIS CAR, THAN I HAVE SPENT COLLECTIVELY ON ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *TS

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION AND NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE, DEALER STATED BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON FRIDAY JAN4 TH WHEN I GOT IT TO THE FORD MECHANIC HE SSAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING, WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME PART OTHER FOCUS ARE BEING RECALLED FOR. THE MECHAINC ALSO TOLD ME WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE TIRE COMING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CALLED FORD THEY SAID SINCE MY CAR WASN'T ON THE RECALL LISTS THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH THE PART THAT BROKE IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON OTHER FOCUS AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 42212 MILES ON IT AND BEARINGS SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN THAT SOON. SO I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DELT...

TIRE CAME OFF IN DRIVEWAY WITH LITTLE WARNING - THIS CAR HAS SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED BEARING REPLACEMENT THIS SOON. A NEW DESIGN NEEDS DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT OF BEARINGS FOR 2 YEARS AS FORD HAS ANNOUNCED. A RECALL WAS SENT TO OWNERS IN A COLORFUL FLIER LIKE ADVERTISEMENT. THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE DUE TO THE FACT IT LOOKED LIKE AN AD NOT LIKE A RECALL PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BY FORD INSIDE A BROWN ENVELOPE CORRECTLY LABELED, ADDRESSED AND SENT TO OWNERS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON.*AK

RECALL 00 V 303 000/REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. DEALER METRO FORD, SCHENECTADY, NY; PHONE# 382-1010 UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

FIRST FAILURE(18,925 MILES)- LOUD MOAN COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. SECOND FAILURE(28,218MILES)- LOUD GRINDING AND CLUNKING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AGAIN.*AK

TIRES ON VEHICLE IS WEARING DOWN. REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM. TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NEVER HEARD OF PROBLEM BEFORE.*AK

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING CAUSED CAR TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY AT 55MPH, DRIVER SLOWED TO 20MPH TO AVOID BEING PULLED OFF ROAD. DRIVER TRIED TO SLOWLY DRIVE TO REPAIR STATION BUT CAR KEPT WOBBLING ON ROAD SO STOPPED AND HAD CAR TOWED INTO GARAGE..IGNITION /LOCK SYSTEM FAILED IN JANUARY AND LEFT DRIVER STRANDED. CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED. IN ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT OCCURED IN OCTOBER 2000 THE FUEL ASSEMBLY RECALL WAS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED AND CAUSED CAR ACCELERATOR TO NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 1-3MPH AT FULL ACELLERATION. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. I DO NOT HAVE PAPERWORK ON THIS INCIDENT BUT PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT BERGSTROM FORD, NEENAH, WI 54956*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT WHILE DIVING 60 MPH. CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM WHEEL, AND VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. ON 6 MAY 2001, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WITH PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON WHEEL BEARINGS, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK *JB

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE, VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEEDED WHEEL BALANCE. CONSUMER GOT IT BACK, NOISE GOT LOUDER. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG. THIRD TIME WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN A SERVICE PERSON WENT OUT WITH CONSUMER ,AND BEFORE THEY COULD LEAVE THE LOT CONSUMER TURNED AROUND. THEY HAD BEEN TELLING CONSUMER IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BEFORE CONSUMER WENT ON LONG DISTANCE TRIP. DEALER DETERMINED IT TO BE REAR WHEEL BEARING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON I275 NTH I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE A FLAT TIRE WOULD MAKE.GOT OFF MOTORWAY TO INVESTIGATE, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. GOT BACK ON ONLY TO FIND THE CAR STARTING TO PULL TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. LUCKILY I WAS NEAR A REST AREA, PULLED OFF. ONLY TO FIND SMOKE POURING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. IT HAD SIEZED SOLID. IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO FIXED THE FOLLOWING, DRUM&BEARING CUP, SPINDLE, RETAINER ASY WHEEL, ROTOR BRAKE SK, CAP REAR WHEEL AND THE ABS SENSOR. REFUSED TO CHECK OTHER SIDE AS THAT HAD ALREADY(MUCH EARLY BEEN FIXED UNDER A RECALL) WHILE THEIR THEY DID FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, IN CIRCUIT 15RL3(GN.RD) @ C-87 TERMINAL WAS NOT SEATED IN CONNECTOR, FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS IMPROVED FROM 28MPG TO 31MPG. LOCAL DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH TOLD ME MY CONCERNS WITH THE OTHER...

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES IN THE REAR END, AS THE CONSUMER LOWERED THE SPEED THE NOISE SEEMED TO GET WORSE, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND BOUNCING ALL OVER THE ROAD, UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER IF WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL RETAINER BEARING FAILED AND DESTROYING THE SPINDLE AND DRUM, THIS COMPONENT WAS RECALLED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. NLM

WHIEL DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER WHO FOUND THAT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD LOCKED UP. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, AND AFTER HAVING IT INSPECTED BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP LEFT REAR BEARINGS FAILED ON HIGHWAY.*AK

THE CONSUMERS RIGHT WHEEL DRUM ASSEMBLY BEGAN TO MAKE GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISES AND THE VEHICLE IS BEGINNING TO VIBRATE, FORD RECALLED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BUT NOT THE RIGHT. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A STREAKING NOISE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING. NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AT DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT. *AK

REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING CAR TO JERK SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS TOO!

THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS. ALSO HAD INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH, DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL CAME OFF WITH DRUM STILL IN IT.*AK

REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING REAR TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS ON TWO FLATS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

AXLE WHEEL BEARING WILL DISINTEGRATE ON HIGHWAY, IT WENT INTO A REAREND CURVE. REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. *AK SECOND WHEEL BEARING WAS DISCOVERED DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE. *YH