Problems with 2001 Ford Focus SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Bought new in '01 ford focus. noticed right off brakes would make a grinding noise and squeak. tires were worn real bad on inside on one front size since we bought it. repeated alignments with no improvement. still experience this problem. started experiencing problems with it missing during acceleration. check engine light came on in february 2005 and took it to the dealership. they replaced sensors that had recall,was recall code p0401. engine light stayed on. they said that we were using gas that was dirty and waiting too late to put gas into the car and that was why it was stalling. we paid $272.98 for them to replace this whole section that had to do with the fuel being filtered. car loses power and stutters going around curves with even over a half a tank of gas. stalling to the point we must pull over into the emergency lane afraid of accident! i own car i bought brand new and it jerks and sputters like some piece of crap from jd byrider! everytime we start the car you smell oil burning for15 minutes afterwards. had it checked no leaks or anything could be found. april of 2005 noticed when the car idled at a traffic light the thermostat would show shoot up showing it was running hot! took it in to the dealership and they found anti-freeze leaking. was told the thermostat housing and thermostat had to be replaced. retested it and was told problem solved. our bill was $375.00. this was first brand new car and was taken well care of, it only has around 78,000 miles on the odometer. i was told there was a silent recall on these for the engine problems and they were being fixed for no cost to the owner. we were not notified of a recall and paid for all of this out of pocket .car is paid off now and cannot enjoy having a paid off car with low mileage because we are scared to drive it and bought a new car that was safe to drive around with our kids! time goes on and it is getting worse. sometimes not wanting to start at all! engine still stalls despite all these repairs. *tr

I purchased my 2001 ford focus in october 2001. in april 2003, i had to get the front brakes, pads, shoes and rotors replaced. this is after i had always taken my car in for scheduled maintenance. i was told that none of this was covered. i was out of over $400. the same thing has happened again 13 months later. everything needs to be replaced. the majority of my driving is highway and i can't get an explanation from ford. i purchased a lemon. the switch also broke on my turn signals. it would not automatically turn off. this happen in feb. 2003. again, a year later, the same thing has happened. someone needs to look into this. *mr

Excessive wear on the front brake pads and rotors,only 16,900 miles on car

In dec,of 2003 i had cause to go to ford and complain about the brakes on my car,this was the 4th time i had complained to them. at this time they said the front brakes were worn to 0.i was into ford just 2 months before for the same thing and nothing was said at the time,now they decided that we were going to pay for the whole thing rotors included i was shocked because i was told that the cheap brakes that ford puts on only last for less then 12,000 miles we paid to have them replaced because ford gave us no choice,now we are having problems with the back brakes making a loud squiling noise i am so unhappy that they choose to do nothing.*ak

I have had "brake issues since day one of owning my 2001 ford focus station wagon. from the very beginning there was moaning sounds when i braked. the salesman & service dept told me "it's because they are new", @ around 13,000 miles they began to make more prominant "moans" i was told that it's "normal". at 16,500 miles severe moaning & grinding, then not being able to stop easily, i brought it in to an independant mechanic , since my bumper to bumper warranty does not cover "normal wear & tear items" such as brakes & i was told i would have to pay a diagnostic fee,also not in my warranty, to determine what the issues are,& this mechanic told me that i was metal to metal, i needed new front rotors & pads, $250.also that the focus has brake problems & was not designed well. here it is 3 months later & @19,800 miles my back brakes start squealing & screeching loudly, i bring it in again & the shoes are completely worn down & i needed the rotors machined, it was another $135 (which was i bargain since i called the ford dealer & they wanted @$300 for that work). he told me that his shop does all the fleet work for a neighboring enterprise rental car office & the focus' are constantly in there for brakes. i called ford's customer satisfaction line & reported the issue. i am mailing a letter to ford's dispute resolution board & i am hoping that you will help us focus owners with bad brakes get retribution from ford for this faulty system. thank you

Consumer states vehicle has problem with pads & rotors, dealer notified. please provide further information,

Consumer had a front collision and neither of the air bags deployed. dealer notified. *ak vehicle's engine stalled causing steering and brake failure causing a collision into the side of a mountain. air bag equipment failed to deploy on impact. *mr

Violent shaking of stearing wheel when breaking due to warping of break roters. roters were replaced at 5000, 11,000, 20,000 miles and recently turnrd at 31,00 miles. the rate of failure of the roters is unacceptable and a hazzard.

Front brakes and rotor with premature wear

The firestone firehawk tires, has had terrible road noise for the past 6,000 miles. even though i had the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. last night after the dealership put a new set of tires on from a new car, to prove to me that it was the tires. i am not happy! also, the informed me that i would need new brakes...okay, that is possible. however, they also told me that i would need new rotors. nothing that they could be turned...just that i need new ones. when i still have brake pads. how can that be? are they made of soft metal that they don't last? that ford counts that as a wearing problem, so the cost is on me?

Consumer states that while driving at any speed and no warning the brake pads are rubbing causing extended stopping distance. dealer notified. dealer replace numerous of times before. ts

Car was turning right while leaving wal-mart parking lot onto 4 lane highway when steering and brakes failed. front left wheel had turned sideways in wheel and the brake line was broken. driver was unable to control vehicle and it crossed highway and came to stop on raised concrete median. damage to the under carriage of vehicle was significant. dt

Brakes squeal at least 4 times now. it will be going back for a fifth time next week. the dealer tells me this is normal. i am very embarrassed to drive this car being so noisy. ts