2001 Ford Focus Suspension

YESTERDAY MORNING AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END OF MY FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I DROVE THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. AFTER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE REP HE TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE A SPRING FAILURE THAT IS COVERED BY A RECALL. I WAS SURPRISED I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AND HE TOLD ME THEY ONLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINS! THIS IS CRAZY! WHAT IF I HAD BEEN GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE SPRING BROKE? THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS YEAR. EARLIER IS WAS A FUEL PUMP THAT FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS TIME AS I WAS DRIVING 70 MILES AN HOUR! THE PART WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AS IT WAS COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A NOISE FROM THE REAR END. THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER OVER THE PAST WEEK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER, WHO NOTED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN 2003 ON A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. THE NETS, 01I017. THIS WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL OR ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY THE SECOND TIME AROUND. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE CRACKED AND THE BEARINGS WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THIS AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FORD DEALER MANAGER, AND FORD MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. *AK

MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 (ZETEC) WAS TRAVELING ON FREEWAY, AND THE REAR END BEGAN TO WOBBLE, FISH TAIL SIDE TO SIDE, SPARK, AND SMOKE. THE REAR PASSENGER BEARING WAS DESTROYED, AND I WAS STRANDED WHILE ON LEAVE FROM MY DUTIES AS A MARINE. I PURCHASED A NEW BEARING AND FITTED IT MYSELF. I RECALL A "RECALL" NOTICE I RECEIVED, AND I REMEMBER TURNING IN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE DEFECT CORRECTED, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS NOTICE. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN, I TALKED TO SAID THAT THEY HAD REPLACED ALL THE REAR BEARINGS IN THE FORD FOCUSES THAT THEY HAD SOLD MANY MONTHS AGO. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND THAT THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT I HAD AND THE NEW ONE THAT FORD HAD ON HAND WERE DISSIMILAR IN THAT THE NEWER ONES HAD A SEALING FLANGE ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE BEARING. I'M TAKING THE VEHICLE ITSELF TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SUPPOSEDLY EXAMINED THE PART BEFORE FOR FURTHER SCRUTINY AND RECONSIDERATION FOR MY BILL. *AK

THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS ISSUE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE BREAKAGE OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PART BREAK ON MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN BUT FORD DECLINES RESPONSIBILITY. *JB

THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS ISSUE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE BREAKAGE OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PART BREAK ON MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN BUT FORD DECLINES RESPONSIBILITY.*JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE BACK HUB BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS A SPLIT SECOND FROM FALLING OFF. ALSO, REAR BEARINGS WENT OUT. HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO NOTED THAT THE BOTH REAR BEARINGS WENT OUT. VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE, COULD LOOK BACK AT WHEEL AND SEE THAT IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. RECALL FOR CORROSIVE ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS. SPOUSE CHECKED WHEEL TO SEE IF IT WAS PROPERLY SECURED, AND DISCOVERED THE HUB WAS TOTALLY RUSTED. *AK

PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION. CAR SHAKES WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEEDS ALONG WITH NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE DRIVING WITH A FLAT TIRE. TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. TOOK IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A DIFFERENT SAFETY RECALL AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DETERIORATED. PART IS BEING REPLACED. *NM

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FOR CLAIM # 10131720 ALONG WITH FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEING REPLACED, THE FRONT AXEL BEARING IT ALSO BEING REPLACED. *NM

THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING OF MY 2001 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON BROKE. *JB

FORD FOCUS 2001 RECALL RECEIVED AFTER REPAIR OF FRONT COIL SPRING. *BF FORD ONLY REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER $150.00 OUT OF THE $470.00 THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE. THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE STRUT AND THE DAMAGE RIM THAT THE COIL SPRING CAUSED. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

BOTH SPRINGS FAILED IN THE CONSUEMR'S 2001 FORD FOCUS. *BF

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

RIGHT PASSENGER COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WENT THROUGH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *MR *SC

THE CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY FORD FOCUS, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING PUSHED ITSELF PAST THE LOWER STOP ABOVE THE STRUT AND RESTED THERE. HAD IT GONE FURTHER, THE FRONT END WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE ILL EFFECTS BUT WITHIN A FEW DAYS I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SHIMMY. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS MY TIRES WERE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT A FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. BOTH FRONT SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE FRONT AND BACK HAD TO BE REALIGNED, AND I HAD TO ROTATE MY WORN TIRES ALL AS A RESULT OF THIS SPRING FAILURE. A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT THIS MODEL AUTO HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE RECALL I FOUND THAT THE MODEL YEAR BEFORE HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT MY MODEL YEAR. SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALL.*AK

I WAS DRIVING IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS WHEN I HEARD A HUGE BANG AND MY FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE NOISE. THE TIRE WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SPRING COIL HAD SNAPPED IN HALF AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO FRONT SPRING COILS WERE REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

MY REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY FAILED AT 8,000 MILES AND WERE REPALCED BY THE DEALER UNDER A RECALL PRGRAM. THE SECOND TIME, WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR THIS COMPLAINT, THEY FAILED AT 43,000 MILES (THIS IS ONLY 35,000 MILES LATER). THE DEALER CHARGED ME TO HAVE THEM REPLACED DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE CONCEDED THAT IT WAS PREMATURE BEARING WEAR. BOTH TIMES I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMEING FROM MY REAR WHEELS.

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3, MY TAIL END STARTED TO SWAY OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME. THEN I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I THEN PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE SITUATION AND NOTICED MY WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED FORD FOCUS RECALLS AND DISCOVERED THERE TO BE ONE ON THIS ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT PAT & DAN'S DELBALSO FORD DEALERSHIP IN KINGSTON, PA. THEY REFERRED ME TO FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER SPEAKING TO FORD, I MADE A RETURN CALL TO DELBALSO FORD AND THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME. THEY MADE ME WAIT ABOUT A WEEK FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND THEY MORNING OF, I MADE A CALL FOR THEM TO GET MY CAR WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. AS A RESULT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET TO COLLEGE WHICH IS ABOUT 20 TO 30 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF THIS AS WELL. I MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE MY PROBLEM RESOLVED BY CONTACTING THE FORD MANUFACTURERS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR RECALL HAD BEEN CANCELLED. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEY WERE JUST BEING "NICE" AND ASSISTING THEIR CUSTOMERS BY PERFORMING THE "WARRANTY PROGRAM" AND THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR RECIEVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHEN OWNERSHIP CHANGES AND ALL WARRANTY INFORMATION IS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS LIABLE FOR ALL RECALL INFORMATION TO BE SENT OUT. I WAS NEVER MAILED NOR BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS WARRANTY PROGRAM SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN WRONGED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT. THE PEOPLE AT FORD MOTOR CO. HAVE BEEN VERY RUDE AND OBNOXIOUS OVER THE FACT THAT THEY ARE "EXEMPT" FROM ASSISTING ME WITH MY PROBLEMS. I FEEL SINCE I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM THAT THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HELP ME. WHEN I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE THAT THEY KNEW OF AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED.*AK

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL. THE FORD FOCUS (2001) FRONT END DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO GET OVER INTO THE NEXT LANE, AS HE ACCELERATED AND TRIED TO GO OVER, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED IN THE FRONT, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER AND HIT A RETAINER WALL, FLIPPING OVER, LANDING, AND FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURY BECAUSE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM/REAR TRAILER ARM BROKE IN HALF, NEAR THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL, OF MY FORD FOCUS 2001 AFTER DRIVING ON SANDY ROAD DURING A RAIN SHOWER.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON ON A NORMAL PAVED ROAD WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF. THE CAR HAS 52000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH TIRES CUPPING, STEERING AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP, THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE TOO SHORT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO TIP IN, WHEN THE TIRES TIPPED IN, IT CAUSED THE INNER EDGE TIRE TO WEAR AND THEN THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *JB *NM