Ford Focus Recall
kris
11-27-2001, 10:20 PM
http://www.startribune.com/stories/432/856981.html
Ford recalls 2000 and 2001 Focus compacts
Associated Press
Published Nov 27 2001
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling 279,646 of its 2000 and 2001 model year Focus compact cars because of a problem that could cause the rear wheels to wobble, the automaker said.
The problem stems from corrosion caused by road salt used to melt snow and ice in the winter, Ford spokesman Mike Vaughn said today.
``It's not a safety issue. This is a high-corrosion issue,'' Vaughn said.
The recall covers cars sold in or currently registered in 21 northern U.S. states and six Canadian provinces where salt is used on roads.
Cars affected were built between July 1999 and June 19, 2001, Vaughn said.
Road salt could corrode rear-wheel bearings causing them to wear prematurely and create ``noticeable noise,'' Vaughn said.
No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of such damage, he said. Notices will be sent to all affected customers early next month, Vaughn said.
The Focus has been hit by a string of quality glitches during the past two years. The 2000 model year alone had undergone seven safety recalls since it was introduced in mid-1999. Yet the model still has managed to lure a younger audience than Ford's previous compact, the Escort.
My favorite part:
``It's not a safety issue. This is a high-corrosion issue,'' Vaughn said.
Yeah, wobbly rear wheels aren't a safety issue. In fact, they make your car more stable at high speeds, right?
http://forums.clubsi.com/ubb/biglaugha.gif
Ford recalls 2000 and 2001 Focus compacts
Associated Press
Published Nov 27 2001
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling 279,646 of its 2000 and 2001 model year Focus compact cars because of a problem that could cause the rear wheels to wobble, the automaker said.
The problem stems from corrosion caused by road salt used to melt snow and ice in the winter, Ford spokesman Mike Vaughn said today.
``It's not a safety issue. This is a high-corrosion issue,'' Vaughn said.
The recall covers cars sold in or currently registered in 21 northern U.S. states and six Canadian provinces where salt is used on roads.
Cars affected were built between July 1999 and June 19, 2001, Vaughn said.
Road salt could corrode rear-wheel bearings causing them to wear prematurely and create ``noticeable noise,'' Vaughn said.
No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of such damage, he said. Notices will be sent to all affected customers early next month, Vaughn said.
The Focus has been hit by a string of quality glitches during the past two years. The 2000 model year alone had undergone seven safety recalls since it was introduced in mid-1999. Yet the model still has managed to lure a younger audience than Ford's previous compact, the Escort.
My favorite part:
``It's not a safety issue. This is a high-corrosion issue,'' Vaughn said.
Yeah, wobbly rear wheels aren't a safety issue. In fact, they make your car more stable at high speeds, right?
http://forums.clubsi.com/ubb/biglaugha.gif
focalBlur
12-21-2001, 01:55 AM
getting that done tomorrow :D
you should see the recall letter it is so goofy looking
it's all colorful and whatnot
you should see the recall letter it is so goofy looking
it's all colorful and whatnot
ucgrad
11-07-2002, 02:49 AM
I bought my ford focus used from a dealer in Nov 2001. After owning it for a few months I noticed a grinding sound coming from the right rear of the car. This continued off and on for a few weeks, but the sound was always very faint and I couldn't confirm if I was even hearing anything other than road noise.
Then one night I was on the fwy and the noise started, this time it was loud. Within ten seconds the car started to wobble in the rear and it felt like the wheel was falling off. As I tried to get over to the emergency lane it kept getting worse, I didn't think I was going to make it out of traffic before the wheel broke off, but I did.
I called AAA and had it towed to the dealer. The car had 39,000 miles on it at the time. The dealer had to replace the wheel bearings, spindle, and drum. Initially when I asked if this was covered, dealer said the car was out of warranty and Ford would not cover it (Warranty expired at 36,000 miles). However, I called Ford and explained the problem and Ford called the dealer and had them comp the repairs. I didn't have to argue with Ford at all, they offered to cover the costs immediately.
Three months later (44,000 miles), I began to hear the noises again when I stopped fast so I took it back in. According to the technitions note on my reciept he determined--'rear bearing noisey drum scraping on backing plate". The tech also wrote "front brakes are noisey and pulsate when braking"
I live in So California. There is no salt on the roads or even much rain to corode our cars. The problem is not caused by corosion, but rather bad design.
Regarding the brakes, I didn't know about the problems owners are experiencing, so I got them done at a brake shop. To my suprise in addition to the pads, the drums also needed to be replaced. It cost me almost $300 to get the front breaks done. I also noticed excessive brake dust before I got them done and after. When I wash my wheels the water is black for a long time.
I am still dealing with noisy breaks, . I will take it back in when I can.
I wish I wouldn't have bought a Focus, because it probably won't last me very long. My problem is that I am stuck with the loan payment that I have to pay off before I can get something else. I am upside down in the loan now, the values of the car dropping dramatically (esp with the recalls). I am a single mother of two and the sole supporter of my family. I expected a car that would last at least as long as the loan without major mechanical problems. This is far more than can be explained from normal wear and tear.
Then one night I was on the fwy and the noise started, this time it was loud. Within ten seconds the car started to wobble in the rear and it felt like the wheel was falling off. As I tried to get over to the emergency lane it kept getting worse, I didn't think I was going to make it out of traffic before the wheel broke off, but I did.
I called AAA and had it towed to the dealer. The car had 39,000 miles on it at the time. The dealer had to replace the wheel bearings, spindle, and drum. Initially when I asked if this was covered, dealer said the car was out of warranty and Ford would not cover it (Warranty expired at 36,000 miles). However, I called Ford and explained the problem and Ford called the dealer and had them comp the repairs. I didn't have to argue with Ford at all, they offered to cover the costs immediately.
Three months later (44,000 miles), I began to hear the noises again when I stopped fast so I took it back in. According to the technitions note on my reciept he determined--'rear bearing noisey drum scraping on backing plate". The tech also wrote "front brakes are noisey and pulsate when braking"
I live in So California. There is no salt on the roads or even much rain to corode our cars. The problem is not caused by corosion, but rather bad design.
Regarding the brakes, I didn't know about the problems owners are experiencing, so I got them done at a brake shop. To my suprise in addition to the pads, the drums also needed to be replaced. It cost me almost $300 to get the front breaks done. I also noticed excessive brake dust before I got them done and after. When I wash my wheels the water is black for a long time.
I am still dealing with noisy breaks, . I will take it back in when I can.
I wish I wouldn't have bought a Focus, because it probably won't last me very long. My problem is that I am stuck with the loan payment that I have to pay off before I can get something else. I am upside down in the loan now, the values of the car dropping dramatically (esp with the recalls). I am a single mother of two and the sole supporter of my family. I expected a car that would last at least as long as the loan without major mechanical problems. This is far more than can be explained from normal wear and tear.
dLocke
11-07-2002, 03:53 PM
I'm sorry to hear your story. It sounds like you're not liking your car. I'm actually in the market for one, believe it or not!. But I think I may pass on the 2000 models altogether.
Might I suggest an extended warranty for your car from a company like www.warrantybynet.com. You can purchase extended warranties up to 100,000 miles for around $1,000 (varies by model and if you go deductbile or not). And no, I don't work for them but I'm steering you to one of the many companies that offer this service. Hope you have more luck in the future.
Might I suggest an extended warranty for your car from a company like www.warrantybynet.com. You can purchase extended warranties up to 100,000 miles for around $1,000 (varies by model and if you go deductbile or not). And no, I don't work for them but I'm steering you to one of the many companies that offer this service. Hope you have more luck in the future.
iHATEtheFOCUS
11-07-2002, 06:18 PM
I HAVE THE EXACT SAME STORY AS UCGRAD!!! I took my car in at 18k, 20k, and 28k, telling the dealer that the car was shaking at higher velocities, and a humming type sound was coming from the right rear wheel. The dealer claimed to fix it, and the sound did go away for a couple thousand miles, but came back after the warranty had expired. While driving on the freeway, I heard the noise get EXTREMELY LOUD, with several other loud banging type clunking noises from the same area. Knowing cars (I have worked on all of my old cars, I know cars well), I knew immediately this was the bearing assembly. As I began to slow down, the tire wobbled so bad I lost control on the freeway (at 65 MPH), began to spin and came to a rest in the middle of the freeway, just a few inches from another car and the middle divider. I was very surprised the tire had not fallen off, but was able to pull off to the side of the road. Even exiting the freeway at 30 MPH (my maximum speed at that time) I felt the car loosing control.
When I called two different dealers, I received the same run around, "sorry, the recall is for the left bearing, not the right". I called the Ford Company (not the dealer), who said it is only the left bearing because, "the right one receives enough torque from the rotation of the wheel, so it won't fall off".
Obviously, Ford needs to take a few physics courses to understand torque. When you travel in REVERSE, this loosens the nut. When you travel in reverse AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE SPINNING ON THE FREEWAY OUT OF CONTROL, this loosens the nut. Regardless, there is enough evidence on the internet about the right bearing.
Ford has attempted to cover this up with both bearing recalls in only a few states back east, and blames it on the salt corrosion. When they do the "left bearing recall only", they are attempting to buy time and save money.
LET'S GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT...IT IS THE SAME FREAKIN PART! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEARINGS! IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT SIDE (LIKE FORD HAS ADDMITTED), THEN LOGICALLY, THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. FORD WOULD NOT MAKE TWO DIFFERENT BEARINGS, AS IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO PRODUCE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS. THEY MAKE ONE, AND ONE ONLY FOR THE REAR WHEELS OF ALL FOCUS MODELS.
I am thinking about a class action law suit over this...I have already contacted NHTSA, who is performing an investigation, but haven't heard anything.
There is another major design flaw (besides the 10 other mandatory recalls on this year/model alone). The front brakes wore out after only 18k miles. Now I know 18k sounds like many miles, but 90-95% of these were long distance highway miles (without braking). IF YOU LOOK AT ANY FORD FOCUS ON THE ROAD, YOU WILL SEE AN ABNORMALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS. This is due to the excess weight in the engine compartment, and poorly distributed weight throughout the vehicle. The rear drum brakes are not doing the necessary work to relieve the front disk brakes. Therefore, the front brakes are wearing out EXTREMELY FAST. The idiot Ford Service Manager got into a major argument with me in front of at least twenty people, yelling and screaming that I knew nothing about brakes, and that he was the "certified brake expert". He then began to tell me I couldn't comprehend the "physics of brakes". Little did he know, I AM A GEOPHYSICIST:D .
I know it's immature, but I only have one message for Ford (besides the fact I will never buy another Ford, and I'm going to sue them for anything I can get)........
:flipa:
Regards,
The
I Hate the Focus
guy
When I called two different dealers, I received the same run around, "sorry, the recall is for the left bearing, not the right". I called the Ford Company (not the dealer), who said it is only the left bearing because, "the right one receives enough torque from the rotation of the wheel, so it won't fall off".
Obviously, Ford needs to take a few physics courses to understand torque. When you travel in REVERSE, this loosens the nut. When you travel in reverse AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE SPINNING ON THE FREEWAY OUT OF CONTROL, this loosens the nut. Regardless, there is enough evidence on the internet about the right bearing.
Ford has attempted to cover this up with both bearing recalls in only a few states back east, and blames it on the salt corrosion. When they do the "left bearing recall only", they are attempting to buy time and save money.
LET'S GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT...IT IS THE SAME FREAKIN PART! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEARINGS! IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT SIDE (LIKE FORD HAS ADDMITTED), THEN LOGICALLY, THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. FORD WOULD NOT MAKE TWO DIFFERENT BEARINGS, AS IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO PRODUCE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS. THEY MAKE ONE, AND ONE ONLY FOR THE REAR WHEELS OF ALL FOCUS MODELS.
I am thinking about a class action law suit over this...I have already contacted NHTSA, who is performing an investigation, but haven't heard anything.
There is another major design flaw (besides the 10 other mandatory recalls on this year/model alone). The front brakes wore out after only 18k miles. Now I know 18k sounds like many miles, but 90-95% of these were long distance highway miles (without braking). IF YOU LOOK AT ANY FORD FOCUS ON THE ROAD, YOU WILL SEE AN ABNORMALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS. This is due to the excess weight in the engine compartment, and poorly distributed weight throughout the vehicle. The rear drum brakes are not doing the necessary work to relieve the front disk brakes. Therefore, the front brakes are wearing out EXTREMELY FAST. The idiot Ford Service Manager got into a major argument with me in front of at least twenty people, yelling and screaming that I knew nothing about brakes, and that he was the "certified brake expert". He then began to tell me I couldn't comprehend the "physics of brakes". Little did he know, I AM A GEOPHYSICIST:D .
I know it's immature, but I only have one message for Ford (besides the fact I will never buy another Ford, and I'm going to sue them for anything I can get)........
:flipa:
Regards,
The
I Hate the Focus
guy
lianacrane
07-27-2003, 03:25 AM
what can i say about my ford focus.... I HATE THAT CAR!!!!
my car has been back the dealership 15 times, in under two years. I tried to use the lemon law but in the state that i live in the car has to be taken back for the SAME problem. Ford got me there. My car dosent just have the same problem. It manages to have several. My brake kit failed ( the cam pin broke) this caused my brakes to fail and ruined my rotors. the rims on my car bent severly. the gas milege fluctuates drasticly. my fuel pump has needed to be replaced. there has been debris in the bottom of the gas tank. to top it all off the model of my car is infamous for bursting into flames unexpectedly. but this is not a problem. that is what ford says.
The dealership that i bought my car at is absolutly no help what-so-ever. every time that i bring the car in for repairs they kind of look the other way and pretend not to notice me. that dosent work...I have a very big mouth. but they always tried to make me look like i was crazy and that there was nothing wrong with my car. is there anything that i can do about this. i have had several schedualed meeting with a ford represenitive but he has bailed on every one of them. what can i do?
[email protected]
my car has been back the dealership 15 times, in under two years. I tried to use the lemon law but in the state that i live in the car has to be taken back for the SAME problem. Ford got me there. My car dosent just have the same problem. It manages to have several. My brake kit failed ( the cam pin broke) this caused my brakes to fail and ruined my rotors. the rims on my car bent severly. the gas milege fluctuates drasticly. my fuel pump has needed to be replaced. there has been debris in the bottom of the gas tank. to top it all off the model of my car is infamous for bursting into flames unexpectedly. but this is not a problem. that is what ford says.
The dealership that i bought my car at is absolutly no help what-so-ever. every time that i bring the car in for repairs they kind of look the other way and pretend not to notice me. that dosent work...I have a very big mouth. but they always tried to make me look like i was crazy and that there was nothing wrong with my car. is there anything that i can do about this. i have had several schedualed meeting with a ford represenitive but he has bailed on every one of them. what can i do?
[email protected]
freakray
07-28-2003, 08:44 AM
Originally posted by lianacrane
what can i say about my ford focus.... I HATE THAT CAR!!!!
my car has been back the dealership 15 times, in under two years. I tried to use the lemon law but in the state that i live in the car has to be taken back for the SAME problem. Ford got me there. My car dosent just have the same problem. It manages to have several. My brake kit failed ( the cam pin broke) this caused my brakes to fail and ruined my rotors. the rims on my car bent severly. the gas milege fluctuates drasticly. my fuel pump has needed to be replaced. there has been debris in the bottom of the gas tank. to top it all off the model of my car is infamous for bursting into flames unexpectedly. but this is not a problem. that is what ford says.
The dealership that i bought my car at is absolutly no help what-so-ever. every time that i bring the car in for repairs they kind of look the other way and pretend not to notice me. that dosent work...I have a very big mouth. but they always tried to make me look like i was crazy and that there was nothing wrong with my car. is there anything that i can do about this. i have had several schedualed meeting with a ford represenitive but he has bailed on every one of them. what can i do?
[email protected]
Sell your Ford......in one of those rare times when everything is running 100% take it and trade it in on something else.....I did it with my Focus and have absolutely NO regret!
what can i say about my ford focus.... I HATE THAT CAR!!!!
my car has been back the dealership 15 times, in under two years. I tried to use the lemon law but in the state that i live in the car has to be taken back for the SAME problem. Ford got me there. My car dosent just have the same problem. It manages to have several. My brake kit failed ( the cam pin broke) this caused my brakes to fail and ruined my rotors. the rims on my car bent severly. the gas milege fluctuates drasticly. my fuel pump has needed to be replaced. there has been debris in the bottom of the gas tank. to top it all off the model of my car is infamous for bursting into flames unexpectedly. but this is not a problem. that is what ford says.
The dealership that i bought my car at is absolutly no help what-so-ever. every time that i bring the car in for repairs they kind of look the other way and pretend not to notice me. that dosent work...I have a very big mouth. but they always tried to make me look like i was crazy and that there was nothing wrong with my car. is there anything that i can do about this. i have had several schedualed meeting with a ford represenitive but he has bailed on every one of them. what can i do?
[email protected]
Sell your Ford......in one of those rare times when everything is running 100% take it and trade it in on something else.....I did it with my Focus and have absolutely NO regret!
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