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Ford Focus - Stalling, Sputtering

Ford Focus • Fires • Brakes • Ignition • Stalling, Sputtering • Transmission • Water Leaks • Everything! News • Another Recall: Back Door May Come Open • Ford To Replace Focus Fuel Modules • Feds Probe Focus Fires • Focus Setting Recall Record • Focus Recall (Oct. 2000)

Lakeyshia of Sparta GA (10/14/04):
As you may have heard, there have been a lot of problems with the Ford Focus. My car has been recalled at least five times that I can remember and all of the problems have been fixed. Over the last six months my car has been stalling, losing power, the engine light has been on consistantly, having a sputtering noise, and more importantly there seems to be something wrong with the suspension. There is a loud noise coming from the front right side of the car.

I have two kids and really do not have the extra money for repairs from damage to the car that I did not cause.

Leslynn of San Diego (10/13/04):
I have a 2004 Focus purchased in July and I am now having nothing but problems. In the last 2 weeks my car has been in the shop twice. The first time I took it in I told them that the brakes were grinding and squealing and thaqt the car was making a very loud noise coming from the front end of the car. I was told by the serviceman that the noise was the axle assembly. When I picked up my car on the next day I was told that the brakes had to be sanded due to crystalization on the brakes due to heat and that the rotors had to be reglazed. Now I have had new cars in the past and I have never had to have that much done to my brakes after only 6200 miles.

As for the noise they said that they did not hear anything and that everythng was all ok. Upon picking up my car I found that my power ports were now not working, they were working when I dropped the car off. It is very important that I have my power ports, I have children that have severe asthma and need to do neb treatments from time to time when we are out and the power ports are very essential for us. As soon as I hit the open road I heard the noise again. Just to make sure that it was not my imagination I had other people ride with me and they heard the same noise.

I then took my car back and insisted that the tech go with me on a test drive, where he was able to hear the noise for himself. He stated that he was not sure what was making the noise and that they would need to keep the car and determine what was making the noise however he did say that he suspected that it was the bearings (on a new car give me a break). Now we are on day three with a rental and I have not received my car. Upon last contact they were waiting for parts. In my opinion I see a real problem developing here. I am single mother of four and the main reason for purchasing this car was the price and "reliability".

Linda of Mt. Vernon IL (10/9/04):
I bought my 2000 Ford Focus in August of 2000. There have been so many recalls I can't remember all of them. I have loud squalling breaks, esp. in damp/humid weather. I have had the TPS (throttle positioning sensor) replaced, and now my Focus smells like it is overheating. I have had it with FORD. I use to brag about my Focus -- not anymore.

I just wish someone would make Ford repay everyone for the inferior car that Focus is. I can not afford to pay high repair bills or buy a new car.

Thomas of Knoxville TN (6/23/04):
I took my 2003 Ford Focus in for service seven times now for sputtering and just not running right. They basically did not have a clue and replaced everything. Still runs horrible, leaving me stranded at red lights with the hazards on until the car starts up again.

They stopped giving me a rental car. I had the last one for 26 days. I don't know what to do. The Focus only has 18,500 miles.

Linda of Monessen PA (7/14/03):
My parents bought me a Ford Focus (demo). I got it in nov of 2002. I had in the garage 13 and now it is back in the garage in July for a week. I had the car on Interstate 80. I pulled out and it just died. I let my foot off the gas and it finally stared moving. Trailer trucks buzzing by me made me very nervous. I have high blood pressure to start with.

I contacted the dispute board and it refused to do anything.

Thomas of Fairfax VA (6/26/03):
I bought a 2002 Ford Focus on August 31, 2002. I will be driving down the highway and the car starts to hesitate and jerk around, then I will come to a stop light and the car completely cuts out. Then it takes about five times to start the car while I'm sitting in traffic with my hazards on. This happens on a daily basis.

Also, my tailgate does not shut completely, which takes many tries and I have caused damage to it having to slam it shut. Also my headliner was falling down in the back. The first time I took my vehicle in was on Oct. 28, 2002, when my car had 2000 miles. They only checked the exhaust and found no problem with the car and ordered a replacement weather strip for the tailgate.

Then I took the car in on Nov. 18, 2002 for the hesitation, headliner, stalling and the tailgate. They replaced the weather strip they had ordered and test drove the car and found nothing wrong. Then I brought the car back in for the hesitation, headliner, stalling and the tailgate on November 25, 2002. They replaced a heated oxygen sensor and did diagnostics tests on it and found nothing wrong.

I brought the car back in on March 10, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, headliner and tailgate. They finally fixed the headliner and did the 6,000 mile check up. Then I brought my car in on Mar. 24, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, tailgate and my dome light because from the last visit in the shop, the light was not working. They did a "Quality Care" check on the battery, lights, wiper blades, blinkers, cables, hoses gaskets, brakes, etc. Also they hooked the vehicle to a computer and drove it for 8 miles and said they found nothing wrong.

Then I brought it in on Mar. 27, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, tailgate and there was a scraping nose coming from my rear tire. They found it was the innerfender covers dragging on the wheels from when they took the tires off on the 6,000 mile check up. Then I brought it in on Mar. 31, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling and tailgate. They did another "Quality Care" check on the vehicle and said they found nothing wrong.

Today, June 26, 2003, I dropped the car off for the 8th time for the hesitation, stalling and tailgate, for which I have to go back in the morning and test drive with a technician. I am completely dissatisfied with my Ford Focus and with Koons Sterling Ford and in the manner in which this situation has been handled. Each time I have told them about the hesitation, stalling and tailgate, and they have had total disregard in my problem and proven to be incompetent. They have caused more problems and have caused me nothing but grief.

Elizabeth of Charleston SC (5/30/03):
I leased a Ford Focus in July 2001. This car has suddenly quit running on three occasions. The fuel pump has been replaced three times. The driver module has been replaced twice. The gas tank has been replaced once. I was almost hit on one occasion. I have a 14-year-old son and I am a single mother. I cannot depend on this car. I feel that it is unsafe.

I have 13 more months on this lease. If I had purchased this car, I would sell it. I have asked Palmetto Ford to let me out of this lease - but they refuse. Now, they expect me to make a 4 hour trip to pick up this car, that quit running in another city over the Memorial Day weekend.

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