2001 Ford Focus SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AT AROUND 36,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THAT MY FORD FOCUS NEEDS NEW ROTORS WITH THE BRAKE JOB. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEAR OF ROTORS NEEDING TO BE CHANGED AT THIS LOW MILAGE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE NEW ROTORS. *AK

2001 FORD FOCUS 34500MILES; AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY DROPS OUT OF GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPPEDS AND UNDER LOAD . ALSO BRAKES AND ROTOR SHOT AT 345OO MILES. FORD CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. CANNOT BELIEVE IT.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE ROTORS PROBLEM. REAR BRAKES ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE BRAKING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 8000 MILES. FRONT ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ONCE AT 12000 MILES, AND 34000 MILES. NEEDS TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY CERTIFIED PREOWNED FORD FOCUS ZX3 FOR 10 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE RUN IT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I STARTED HAVING A A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK, THINKING THAT IT MAY BE A HARD SPOT IN THE BRAK PAD. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT, WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY, AND THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED NEW PADS AND ROTORS, SERVICE CHARGE :$10. I CHECKED THEM MYSELF AND NOTICED THAT THE PADS WERE STILL AT 50%. I REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS. THE NOISE IS STILL PERSISTENT, BUT THE NOISE, ACCORDING TO FORD IS NORMAL. I WISH THERE WOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION BROUGHT FORWARD AND A RECALL FOR ALL FORD FOCUS TRIM LEVELS TO SERVICE BRAKE ISSUES, SUCH AS PREMATURE WEAR (STATES ON ORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM).*AK

CAR HAS MANY ISSUES IN REGARDS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP ON MORE THAN 10 OCCASIONS. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. FINALLY I WAS TOLD MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS BAD. IT APPERENTLY WAS REPLACED, WHEN I DROVE THE CAR AFTER THIS REPAIR MY BRAKES 'WENT TO THE FLOOR' I ALSMOST RAMMED INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE BRAKES ARE COMPLETLEY MESSED UP AND A SAFETY DANGER. I WAS TOLD BY BRIAN THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT TITUS-WILL FORD THAT MY BRAKES ARE SAFE, HOWEVER HE WOULD NOT BACK IT IN WRITING. THIS SHOP REFUSED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE ACCORDING TO THEM NOTHING IS WRONG. SO BEWARE IN TACOMA, I HAVE UNSAFE BRAKES. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD AND THEY ARE USELESS ALSO. *AK

2001 FORD FOCUS SERIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT A NEW 2001 FORD FOCUS SE IN MAY 2001. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE. FORD REPLACED "CRACKED BRAKE SHOES" ON THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ITS NOW OCTOBER 2003, MY AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. ALSO MY CAR WAS AGAIN MAKING LITTLE SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN BRAKING. SO, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT AT 22,000 MILES MY CAR BRAKES WERE TOTALLY SHOT, THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I NEEDED ALL NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE ANYWHERE. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES ALL WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOME BRAKES ARE TOTALLY FAILING ON CARS! WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM FOR ONE WITH LINKS TO SEVERAL OTHERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FAST! THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME!*AK

ON 11-12-2001 I PURCHASED A NEW FORD FOCUS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. ON 5-13-03, THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CAR HAD ONLY 18411 MILES ON IT AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, THEY SAID THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I COMPLAINED THAT NO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEMS SHOULD FAIL THAT EARLY AT THAT LOW MILEAGE BUT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY, INSTEAD CHARGING ME $469.57. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MISUSED AND WAS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS BY MATURE DRIVERS. THIS YEAR/MODEL FORD FOCUS WAS MANUFACTURED POORLY AND I HAVE READ OF NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN FORD BUILT THE CAR AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. *LA

AT ANY SPEED WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, CAUSE OF FAILURE UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK

PREMATURE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR REPLACEMENTS ON FRONT OF FORD FOCUS SEDAN. BRAKES REPLACED AT 21,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS ON ANY CAR THIS EARLY. FORD OWNERS OF FOCUS HAVE LISTED THIS PROBLEM HUNDREDS OF TIMES. YET I KNOW OF NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. SOME HAVE HAD IT IN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *JB

THE VEHICLE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A HEAVY VIBRATION CAN BE FELT FOLLOWED BY EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAVE PUT 17,100 MILES ON IT SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN MAY, 2001. AT THE LAST SERVICE, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 2002, THE FORD MECHANIC AT PRICE FORD IN MILLINGTON, TN. STATED THAT MY FRONT BRAKES & ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON. THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THIS AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR CAN OCCUR ON A CAR WITH ONLY 17,100 MILES! I HAVE OWNED 9 AUTOMOBILES IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BRAKES WEARING OUT IN UNDER 20,000 MILES! THIS MUST BE A DEFECT, OR ENGINEERING MISTAKE WITH FORD'S BRAKES! I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE MECHANIC WAS HIGH OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THE BRAKES CAN BE WORN OUT, BUT I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED 3 TIMES SINCE THEN DUE SPECIFICALLY TO THE BRAKES HAVING NO AFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE CAR. I'M LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF $400 TO GET NEW ROTORS AND PADS AND LABOR TO INSTALL THE NEW PARTS. THIS IS CRAZY! YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS TO SEE WHY ME AND MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES!

THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF FRONT AND BACK BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE NOISY AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS PREMATURE. *JG *JB *NLM

CAR IS A 2001 FOCUS WITH 21,000 MILES. UPON BRAKING, STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES. WAS TOLD THAT CAR NEEDED NEW ROTORS AS THESE WERE WARPED. NO RESOLUTION THROUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. NO CAR SHOULD REQUIRE BRAKES AND ROTORS AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES OF DRIVING. CAR ACTUALLY STARTED DOING THIS AT ABOUT 19,000 MILES AND HAS STAEDILY WORSENED. *AK

FRONT WHEEL ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20,598 MILES. BRAKES WERE SQUEALING FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE (NEW CAR), BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD "LOOSEN UP" AND BE OKAY --- THEY NEVER DID STOP SQUEALING..WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALL, WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FROM THE FACTORY WHERE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AT 18000 MILES AND FAILED AT 23,300 MILES. AT 23,300 MILES THE ROTORS WERE BELOW THE MINIMUM THICKNESS REQUIREMENT. THE BRAKE PADS, HOWEVER, SHOWED ONLY MINIMAL WEAR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO AWARD WARRANTY TO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *LA

BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 35 MPH, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DOWN SHIFT TO FIRST GEAR TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, AND COME TO A STOP. *AK

2001 FORD FOCUS, W/ ONLY 17,900 MILES - BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SHOT. FORD WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DETERMINED THIS TO BE A DEFECT. FORD FOCUS BREAK/ROTOR DEFECT. *JB

I HAVE 22,000 MILES ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS, I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THAT'S RIDICULOUS FOR SUCH LOW MILES. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD. THE LAWSUIT IS FOR EXACTLY MY PROBLEM. *NLM

THIS CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE SQUEAL. SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL. THIS IS A MAJOR SQUEAL NOT JUST A SQUEAK. DEALERSHIPS REPEATEDLY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S A "NORMAL NOISE". I'VE DRIVEN CARS FOR 20+ YEARS AND NEVER HAS A BRAKE SQUEAL BEEN NORMAL. IT'S BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 7,000, 15,000 AND 16,500 MILES. *NLM

FRONT BRAKE HAS A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH A JERK. *AK

FRONT BREAKS SQUEAKED. BROUGHT TO DEALER. PUT IN FRONT BRAKES AND PADS. STILL SQUEAKED. BACK TO DEALER. TOLD ME NOW I NEEDED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND THE DRUM NEEDS TO BE SANDED. CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IN OCTOBER OF 2001. DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDED THE BRAKES GRABBING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, SQUEALING AND NOISE ISSUES, AND LOW PERFORMANCE BRAKING. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP FINDS AND REPAIRS THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME WITHOUT CHARGE. THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT ON MAY 13TH 2003 THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILED TO ENGAGE MAKING THE VEHICLE UN-SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AND I AM WAITING FOR A RESOLUTION. I WANTED TO RELAY A MESSAGE TO THE NHTSA NOW DUE TO THE FACT THAT SEVERAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND SOMETHING OTHER THAN A REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT AN EARLIER TIME. *JB

PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER 17TH 2002. I DRIVE USUALLY HIGHWAY TO WORK ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. MY BRAKES SQUEALED FREQUENTLY. CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT 19700 MILES AT THE INSPECTIONS. THEY STARTED TO SQUEAL NOISELY AGAIN 31500 MILES. THERE IS ALWAYS DUST IN THE FRONT WHEELS. PROBABLY NEXT YEAR, I NEED TO REPLACE THEM AROUND 38-39 THOUSAND FOR THE SECOND TIME.*AK