2000 Ford Focus suspension problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARMS AND CRADLES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,604.”

“VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP ON A FOUR LANE CITY STREET. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET BEYOND STOP THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND BEGAN SWERVING INTO ONCOMING LANES. BREAKS AND STEERING WERE INEFFECTUAL. BECAUSE OF SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE STOPPED WITHING TWENTY TO FORTY FEET. INITIAL INSPECTION ON SITE INDICATED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM AND DRIVE SHAFT. INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT RUST HAD WEAKENED SUSPENSION ARM CAUSING IT TO BREAK APPROXIMATELY 5.5 INCHES INWARD FROM THE BALL-JOINT ATTACHMENT POINT. BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SPEED AND LIGHT TRAFFIC THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE WHILE BEING FIFTEEN YEARS OLD HAS ONLY SEVENTY-SIX THOUSAND MILE AND IS GARAGE KEPT.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUSPENSION DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.”

“GOT MY DAUGHTER HER FIRST USED CAR FROM A DEALER, WHICH I SHOULD HAD GONE WITH HER TO CHECK IT OUT FIRST SINCE AN 18 YEAR OLD WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT KNOW ANYTHING MUCH OF A CAR BESIDES DRIVING IT. YOU WOULD THINK BUYING FROM A USED DEALER IS SAFER THAN BUYING OUT IN THE STREET. SO WHEN WE TOOK IT OUT OF THE LOT NOTICED ENGINE TREMBLE AND SUSPENSION NOISE, (TOO BAD NO LEMON LAW ON USED DEALER SELLING THIS TYPE OF CARS). AFTER DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE PRODUCED A CATALYTIC CONVERT MALFUNCTION CODE. ALSO AFTER INSPECTION THE FOCUS NEEDS ALL FOUR SUSPENSION STRUTS. A MONTH LATER THAT OTHER SUSPENSION NOISE RESULTING ALMOST IN A ACCIDENT FROM A BACK WHEEL SHAKING WHICH CAME FROM A BACK WHEEL BEARING WHICH HUB NUT WAS JUST ABOUT OFF, WHICH WOULD HAD CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. I DID A SEARCH AND THIS ARE ALL COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A BACK WHEEL ISSUE. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT AFTER A WHILE OF THE RECALL BEING ISSUED IT IS VOIDED OR ONLY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS ARE CONSIDERED EFFECTED ????. THE LATEST ENCOUNTER IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING AND THE KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK IT. THE WORST PART IS THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD HAVE…”

“THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR AN INSPECTION BECAUSE THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER REAR OF THE CAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME AND RIGHT REAR SWAY BAR HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF. THE AMOUNT OF RUST BY THE TECHNICIAN HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE EXORBITANT IN COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT OF MILES IT WAS DRIVEN. THE TECH SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR WAS SUBMERGED, BUT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF IT BEING SO. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT, FOR THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE, FROM FORD FOCUSES FROM 2000 TO 2005. *TR”