2003 Ford Focus service brakes, hydraulic problems

“MANUFACTURING DEFECT PLACES THE PLASTIC INNER FENDER AGAINST THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE. THE PLASTIC INNER FENDER IS ALLOWED TO RUB A HOLE IN THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE. THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE LEAKED DUE TO WEAR CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC INNER FENDER. LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO A HOLE IN THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE. *TR”

“BRAKE LOCKUP UNDER ABS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ENGAGED IN A BRAKING EVENT SUFFICIENT TO ACTIVATE THE ABS SYSTEM, ALL FOUR BRAKES LOCKUP AND DO NOT RELEASE UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED UNDER WINTER CONDITIONS (SNOW/ICE), IN THE RAIN AND IN THE DRY. THE INCIDENT IN THE RAIN OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP OFF OF AN INTERSTATE. THE CAR BRIEFLY HYDROPLANED ENOUGH FOR THE ABS TO ACTIVATE, AND THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL WITH THE TIRES LOCKED UP. THE CAR SLID OFF OF THE EXIT RAMP AND INTO THE GRASS, WHERE IT FINALLY CAME TO REST. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE INCIDENTS IN THE DRY TOOK PLACE DURING AN AUTO-CROSS ON A CLOSED COURSE AND WERE SUFFICIENT TO SEVERELY FLAT-SPOT THE TIRES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME ABS IS ENGAGED UNDER HARD BRAKING. OCCASIONALLY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DOWN-SHIFT AND "DRIVE THROUGH" THE BRAKES WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE IS NO DASH LIGHT OR ANYTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE REAR-WHEEL TONE RINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE FRONT-WHEEL TONE RINGS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. ALL FOUR SENSORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS CHECKED FOR LOOSENESS. *TR”

“AFTER A TWO-WEEK VACATION, I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TO WORK. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. THE REPAIR SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TOLD ME THAT I HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CONTROLS BOTH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. REPAIR INCLUDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS COINCIDENCE OR NOT, BUT THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MY REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS HAD ALSO "EXPLODED." REPAIR REQUIRED CYLINDER AND DISC REPLACEMENT. OLD PARTS HAVE BEEN RETAINED. *TR”

“ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN FASTER THAN I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THEM. ROTORS ONLY LAST 1-2 MONTHS THEN BEFORE WARPING THEN I RIDE THEM OUT FOR ANOTHER MONTH (NO MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING) THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE RECEIPTS AND MECHANICS PROOF. ITS CRAZY. I HAVE ALSO VERIFIED SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CAR COMPLAINT WEB SITES WITH PEOPLE AND FORD FOCUS' - BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT MONTHLY. I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIRS BUT I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY BRAKES GO OUT COMPLETELY AND RISK THE HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP *TR”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIRTY TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING FAILURES: BRAKES ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES; BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED; THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REWIRED. THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE VALVES; THE REAR DOOR LATCHES WERE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 05V300000. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOT CORRECTED THE NOISES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COOPERATED IN FINDING A SUITABLE RESOLUTION. THE LAST PROBLEM FOUND BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE HEADS. THE ENGINE HEADS WERE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME.”

“OWNER OF A FORD FOCUS/2003. IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED ($45.00) AS WELL AS PAY FOR REPAIRS ($183.00). CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS AND TALKED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED. I ALSO MENTIONED THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH MY GAUGES. UPON STARTING CAR, GAUGES ARE ALL OUT OF WACK, SWINGING BACK AND FORTH AND LANDING ON ZERO. AFTER BEING ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES THEY WILL POSITIONED AT THE RIGHT PLACE. THE REPRESENTATIVE SEEM TO ONLY CARE TO HEAR ABOUT ONE OF THE PROBLEM (IGNITION SWITCH) AND NOT THE OTHER ONE. I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR A WHILE AND WHEN REP RETURN SHE TOLD ME TO CALL COMPANY THAT WAS REPAIRING MY FOCUS AND THEY WILL HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. I CALLED THE COMPANY AND THE GUY THAT EAGERLY TOOK MY MONEY STATED THAT HE WILL DO A CLAIM FOR ME AND HE STATED THAT I WILL GET SOME OF MY MONEY BUT NOT ALL OF IT BACK. IN CHECKING THE RECALLS I SEE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKUP IS ONE OF THEM. I ONLY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED AND INSURANCE SAYS I MUST PAY $250 BEFORE THEY FIX IT, WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER, DRIVING SEEM DIFFICULT (HARD TO PULL), LIFTGATE WATER LEAKS, AND UPON…”