Problems with 2000 Ford Focus SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2000 ford focus bought new have had brake problums since day one, front brakes wear out prematurly once at 24000 miles now at 48000 miles and now even the front rotors are worn out, it has been the inboard pads that go bad. also the rear brakes squeal very badly and have since new rear brakes have been replaced three times with no cure, my ford dealer has told me all cars do this and nothing can be done to solve the problem, i have since asked other focus drives about this problem and most say thet don't have a brake problem and have heard no othe car of any kind squeeling as mine does it's embaressing to drive and every one looks at us when ever we apply the brakes it's very bad, the car is now out of warrenty but ford will not admit to haveing a problem and has done nothing to solve the problem, i feel that it should be taken care of reguardless because they do have a problem, i feel it is bad rotors-sticking calipers on the front and possibly a bad proporshing valve as for the rear, the valve could be also the problem along with the shoes also, something needs done i am afraid to drive it at times not knowing what will go wrong with the brakes next or when, but this squeel has got to stop!!!*ak

I own a 2000 ford focus. currently i am experiencing several problems. the first is the air conditioning a/c. the a/c works on the #4 setting but doesn't work on #1, #2, or #3. no air comes from the air vents when the fan is set to 1, 2, or 3 whether the a/c is on or not. the second problem is the brakes. i have less than 46,000 miles on the car, and the brakes feel like they are going out. i've never had to replace the brakes on a car before 70,000 miles. the third problem is comprised of the gauges. when i start my car, all the gauges go immediately to the right. after a few moments they return to their proper position, but i'm not sure what is going on. i feel that if i put the car in gear during this period, that i will lose control of the vehicle and it may surge forward. the fourth problem is that i have already had to replace all of the tires on this vehicle. the fifth problem is the transmission/engine. many times, especially in the idle position (at a stop sign, etc.), i feel that the engine is going to stall. it almost feels like the engine is not running on all cylinders. the sixth problem, and probably not the last, is that i've already had to deal with all of the recalls on this vehicle, and yet this car is still unsafe and ford has done nothing to correct this except offer a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty to new ford focus buyers.*ak

When the brakes were applied, they locked up which caused extended stopping distance.*jb

Started experiencing problems with the vehicle after purchase. suddenly in august, all power systems/computer type items began to fail -- power locks, trunk release. then, car began (and still does) to sputter and shake when stopped/idle until it would shutdown. also, the radio/cd player would shut off. checked for tsbs for the vehicle model & year and found at least 15. when i took the car to the dealer (world ford sandy springs) we were told that they are technical service bulletins and that we would have to pay to have the car repaired. only official ford recall notices, not even ntsa recall notices, would be honored. on top of this, we would be expected to pay $90 per complaint batch (the tsb list was batched in to 3 main areas)for diagnostic purposes and if any of the complaints were related to a recall, the $90 would be refunded as applicable. i expressed that if ford issued a tsb and the ntsa issued a recall notice, then i should not have to pay to have the car worked on.

While applying the brakes vehicle had a grinding noise coming from the front of vehicle . *ak

I have a 2000 ford focus zx3. ever since i bought the car, i have had problems. the day i bought it, i noticed transmission problems, two months after that, i had brake problems. since i have had the car i have gotten my brakes done twice. i have had the car about 15 months now. i also had my ignition cylinder replaced, a fuel filter replaced, and now my car dies when i slow down. i have had nothing but problems with this car. *ak

Has been to shop for 26 days in the past 4 months. repeated failure of clutch (manual transmission), failure of brake pads, resulting in minor crash. have had to had ball joints replaced. cruise control was disconnected from accerator/brake. key would not go into ignition and resulted in key ignition switch having to be replaced. numerous recalls and trips to shop since bought brand new in august 2003*ak

Constant squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. i've already replaced the rotors, brakes, brake pads, and drums on several occasions since buying this focus about 3 years ago. also my steering wheel locked on me one day in april of 2002 the key would not fit into the ignition to start the car i have no idea why this would happen from one day to another. i had my vehicle towed to the ford dealership and they didn't know what the problem was caused by. they said that they needed to update the lock cylinder. luckily i purchased the api extended warranty that cover the car for 100,000 miles. so the cost of the work done for this was $427.20. all but $50.00 of which was my deductible was cover by this warranty. the problems didn't stop here. i also have had to get the cd systems that came installed in the car replaced. the was a constant clicking noise with the cd player and 90% of the time the cd's wouldn't even play. i called the dealership and they said that they could replace it for me but that it wouldn't be coverer by the warranty so i would have to pay for it out of my pocket. i ended up having a new system installed but not from the ford dealership, i took it to circuit city. recently this month july 2003, my car has been staling and shutting off at stop signals and stop light also just shut completely off on the freeway thank god no accident occurred. i called the dealership to report this problem also my check engine light would come on and off several times and they said to bring it in and they would check the engine light but that i would have to pay $165. 00 just for them to check the light and it would be more $$$ to repair what ever problem it was. i was fed up by then. *ph

Brake pads and rotors replaced at 27,000 miles on my 2000 focus. the ford dealership i take my car to for service said that replacing the rotors on this car is 'normal'. they said that the rotors are soft and tend to wear-out fast and that is was not covered under the warranty. they said the ford escape had this issue also. i took my car to les schwab for the repair because they provide a 2 year 36,000 mile warranty on the brakes.*ak

Have had nothing but trouble with my focus the brakes wore down while i was on vacation and i was stuck driving for a bit on metal to metal....which ruined my rotor.....then the battery after almost 3yrs. has caused my car to not want to start twice......each time i have had to clean off the built up acid on the battery so that a clean connection can be made.....the paint keeps on chipping, my anteena has become frayed, just recently my car's steering wheel locked up on me and the key wouldn't turn in the ignition......it is in the shop as i write this.....and from what i have heard i am not the first person to have had a problem with the cylinder.......the car seems to be slugish when on the inerstate.......the focus is a dangerous car and ford co. needs to do something about it..... jeremy

I drive a 200o ford focus lx. i have had it stall out several times on me under normal driving conditions. at first i thought it might be me leaving it out of gear or something, but then i read a article in the newspaper stating that ford focus's have a problem with this. i brought my car to the dealership and had them look at it and they found nothing wrong with it. has anyone else had this porblem? i dont remeber where i was the article but i wish that i did... i have found several related articles about ford cars with the same problems, but mine was not listed. i am trying my best to get it fixed but when i take it in, theres no problem so they cant fix it! i will go and do anything in my powers, goto local papers, news stations, ect... if i have to! please help... do you have similar problems? lets talk...

The rotors and brakes have had to be replaced before 35,000. this car is not safe. we took the car in because it was making noise for brake pads. the called and told use the rotors were damaged. this is took soon to have this part replaced. *ak

The front brakes on my 2000 ford focus have made a squeeking and grinding noise intermittently since the second or third day after i drove it off the lot. i took the car to the dealership multiple times and they were unable to resolve the issue. they told me they sanded the break pads and that would reduce the noise and that it was normal. of course, that didn't help. at 22,000 miles i had to pay to replace rotors and pads. the mechanic noted that the rotors and shoes were warped from the heat of applying the breaks and there was still plenty of life in the break pads. he stated that he had seen this before in the focus. i checked your complaints site and saw 48 other complaints about similar problems so i decided to file a complaint. *ak

The dealer replaced the brake rotors and pads twice in one year and once again they need to be replaced. *nlm

Loud rumbling sounds comming from underneath rubbing noise when brakes were applied, the rear brakes, had the drums cut and cleaned and the brakes still are rubbing and it sounds like the brakes will fail soon if they don't fix them i took my car back three times with the same problem,and the insist they fixed it and the same thing is still wrong i hope somebody can help i don't know where to go to get the proper help. i need my car.

My brakes have squeaked and chirped ever since i have owned the car. i had pads and rotors replaced for the first time at 28,000 miles, and am facing having the same work done again at 48,000 miles. my automatic transmission failed at 35,000 miles, and the recalls have kept me at the service department more hours than i can count. *nlm

when trying to apply the anti lock brakes. the brakes will lock up causing the vehicle to have extended stopping distance. dealer notified. *ak

Premature brake wear (4 wheels) rear brakes not functioning as designed, wheel bearings replaced (4 wheels, rear on recall, front under warranty). *ak

Other than the recalls and the brakes squeaking constantly, everything was fine with my 2000 focus up until 1 month after the warranty expired. almost one month to the day, the instrument cluster stopped working. ford would replace it at a cost of at least $500, so i replaced it myself by ordering a part on line for a total of $45. a couple of months later, the ignition cylinder would not allow the key to fit all the way in and as a result the car was not able to start, resulting in a cost of around $300 to replace. i am beginning to see the stalling problem from the faulty fuel pump. now my automatic door locks and trunk release just stopped working and the car is making a very odd grinding noise when you turn. it would be one thing if i was the only one with these problems, but the facts are out there and many, many, many people are all having the exact same problems! i have written to ford main offices and my local ford dealership serveral times on these matters and i have never heard anything back. i honestly am never buying a ford vehicle again.*ak

While driving and without warning the brakes failed resulting in an accident. dealer notified. *ak

When the brakes were applied, the pedal traveled to the floor. *jb

60000 miles on car, 4 sets of tires, 7 recalls, defect in gas tank cover filler, 2 sets of brakes, rear alignment not adjustable (advised by independent shop) and horrible shaking at highway speeds after all this. dealer has been no help with tire problem. never buying a ford again. *jb

When the brakes were applied, there was a grinding and scraping noise. ford replaced the front brake pads and rotors. *jb

While driving the consumer applied the brakes and noticed that stopping distance had increased. the dealer diagnosed that the rear brakes had failed. *nlm

Stalling problem-check engine light-cracked cylinder head at 32655 miles also leaking transmission line, brake dust, broken trunk lock and malfunctioning keyless entry on driver door. *jb

I have nothing but grief with my 2000 focus. 1) most recently i had was traveling at 50 km/h when my front right coil spring dropped out of the front end. i phoned ford repeatedly and even though i discovered a program covering my the coil springs on i was given the run around saying that i was outside the program recall date by a few months even though the car was made at the wayne assembly plant; where other program recalls were coming from. i ended up in a field when the coil spring broke, narrowing missing the car next to me. i was thankful that i had escaped with my life but not to be covered by ford was a slap to the face. i am very upset about the way they handled this situation and i am determined to let everyone know about this situation. my alignment is also out because of the accident but can't afford to fix it right now. 2) four times since i've owned the car, the car has stalled. twice rounding a corner going onto a highway and 2 twice on a straight away highway. it always happened when the gas gauge was below 1/8 of a tank and so i thought it was my fault because i was running out of gas. of course i blamed myself. but four times ? i began to become suspicious when the car began chugging uphill on a recent long distance trip. i barely made it to my destination. when i took into a ford dealership in sudbury ontario the serviceman told me that knows of the problem though most of them came in under warranty. of course the problem at first only presented itself when the tank was near empty and so i always or nearly always made sure to have at least half a tank full of gas when driving. today the problem is present regardless of how much gas is in the car. very convenient for ford seeing as though i am outside the 60,000 km warranty plan. again i do not feel comfortable driving on the highways anymore. i am hoping that ford will hear me out a pay for the repair.

-2000 ford focus lx - bought used on april 14th. both interior and exterior of car in excellent condition, ran extremely well, one owner repo, clean title. -was rear-ended in very low speed, low impact collision, no frame buckling, bending, or damage to

The rear brake cylinder was corroded. *jb

Ignition switch will not turn. i noticed in researching the internet that many others had the same failure. i did not see a recall. this is the latest failure of many: brakes, fuel gauge, bad struts. now at 39000, i am 3000 miles out of warranty. *jb

The brakes have been looked at three time because of noise and it's been serviced several times. it's in service right now and has been there for two weeks. i don't know if they are working on it or if they are repairing other things or what. i haven't had heat throughout the coldest part of the winter. the seat belts don't work and the paint is peeling. the car has locked up not letting me start the engine twice, then just out of the blue it decided to start. i tried to turn in and the car dealer at ford said he wouldn't touch it, didn't want it. we bought it aug. 9 2000-ford credit, simple interest 6.5 --first payment september $456.99 a month they say we owe too much to trade in ???this made no since. now i know what's been going on. my husband has been out to sea usnavy for almost a year and i'm scared to drive it i'm a nervous wreck about this car and i don't know what to do. there has been is so many recalls on this car i don't know if they have fixed them or not

I drive 25000 miles a year to and from work approximtly 115 miles a day and 70% of that is on open interstate hiway. stop and go is less than 20 miles a day. tires completely wore out at 41000 miles. tires started humming at 10 to 15000 miles. i constly complained about front end and tire noise. i put a set of goodyear aquatred tires on at 41476 miles. they also started humming, so the front end was lined up. this did not stop the tires from humming. now car has 80000 miles, tires are scarming go down the road fast or slow. frontend suspension has been making clanking or thud type noise. just recently turing left geting off interstate it felles like the right front is changing geomitry. car turns left vilently - must corect stering. this will happens without notice. this car is extmly dangeras. when driven on ice and snow, it will brake lose when going staright for no reason and start to spin out. brakes wore out at 45000 miles. $400 to fix front brakes only. i have never had to put brakes and tires on a car at less than 50000 miles. more like 65 to 75000 miles.

Nar 04/07/2003 mr. while driving, the rear tire disconnected from the vehicle due to a failed wheel bearing.. the air condition repeatedly leaked water in the vehicle. the brakes were worn which required new rotors. *jb

Consumer received poor service from ford motor company, as well as from following local ford dealers morande ford of berlin, ct and ray seraphin ford of vernon ct, and different opinions from ford employees concerning multiple recalls on a-frame/stereo/windshield wiper motor/rear wheel bearings, electrical system, and sudden acceleration/lurching. *ak

There was a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle when the brakes were applied.*jb

Consumer states brakes wear prematurley wearing out which produces a grinding noiuse. dealer states this is normal for the brakes.*ak

Faulty front braking system. excessive wear and tear leads to premature brake and rotor replacement to insure safe, normal car operation.*jb

There was a noise coming from the rear brakes.*jb

I have had numerous problems w/ my 2000 ford focus. the most severe is the brakes squealing and wearing out prematurely. they had to be replaced in the first year and a half of ownership and never stopped making noise. on a separate occasion the rear wheel bearings leaked fluid all over the brake pads which could have resulted in a deadly accident. i have been given a copy of a letter from ford motor co. from a ford dealership saying the brake noise is normal and can not be fixed and is not indicative of a problem with the brakes. please do something to fix these cars, they are not safe! *jb

When the brake was applied, there was a loud noise, and after the vehicle stopped several times, a hot metal smell appeared. *jb the dealer stated that the vehicle wasn't drivable, due to a potential fire hazard, and diagnosed the problem as stuck calipers. the brake pads and the calipers were replaced, and the rotors were resurfaced. (the hubcap had been slightly melted away from the caliper) scc

The front brake rotors were worn, which caused extended stopping distance.*jb

The front rotors were worn, which caused extended stopping distance.*jb

My 2000 ford focus has unreasonably high wear on the front brakes. we were told by the dealer that we need to replace the entire front brake system @ less than 25,000.00 miles, to the tune of $500.00 all paid by me. when i asked about the warranty i was told the brake wear was due to my driving, but i have since found out there have been multiple complaints about the same problem from other owners of the same car. *jb

Ford focus brake pads and rotor problems since 11,500 miles on vehicle, inspected and told nothing wrong, normal squeeking and grinding. my daughter feels that while driving the car the brakes are grinding and giving under her. we take it in for the 15k service and they tell us the brakes are fine at 15,600 miles inspected and told nothing wrong, normal with change of weather. yesterday my daughter said the brakes were not holding and we took the car in for a wheel bearing recall for the rear brake system and at 18,000 miles, dealership says brake pads and rotors are completely gone! i have talked to the dealer and ford who say they will "cover" this $400 repair. my complaint is that this should have never occurred and could have cost my daughter, my son who rides in the car or me our lives. i feel they are very aware of this problem and chose to overlook their responsibility that could have cost my family our lives. someone needs to make them accountable including the dealership who "inspected" the brakes and chose to lie to us on 2 other occassions. if ford has a problem then the dealerships are only compounding the problem with the possiblity of loss of life.

I have been in the shop about 7 times during the last 3 years due to problems with my new focus. the clutch failed at 6700 miles, along with the brakes, and things got worse from there. the front windshield leaked water into the roof, the fuse on the fan/air conditioning system melted, and the brake pads were replaced numerous times. also, the fabric on the seats caused me to get shocked every time i got out of the car. ford's lack of customer service was painfully obvious as well during these repairs. i ultimately traded in my car for a competitor's car and i'm feeling much better now.

Front brakes grinding. after taking for a brake inspection was told the car needs front rotors and pads and new cylinders on the back as it is leaking brake fluid. ph

The brakes screeched very loud when applied, pads were replaced at 12000 miles, however problem still existed. brake effectiveness was not reduced. dealer advised the screeching noise was normal due to brake pads being semi-metallic.*jb

I started to replace tires as early as 5,000 miles just about 7 times by now. replaced ignition 5/03 for $667.00 the key would go in and wouldn't turn. spring coil driver's side broke while in traffic replaced 4/03 for $158.50. now the transmission is completly gone the car would not back up. please help me, i just don't know what else to do. the customer service at paul clark is so poor that i would not go there anymore.

Bad brakes, leaking transmission x 2 repairs, numerous electrical probs, one "accident", damage repaired at ford expense, bad tire, noise from front rt side, "surge" prob, car seemed to "stick" in a gear. i don't have my file with me but i know there is more.

Consumer states that rear brake cylinder is leaking fluid. the brake pads have large metal deposits in them and the front rotors are worn excessively and not able to be turned because the are under specifications. ts

The brake system is horrible. they make noises all the time. i have replaced the cylinders and the shoes and it still does not sound right. the suspension is bad and needs replacing, but i can not afford it. i am a teacher. cruise control has gone bad, because of a faulty wire.