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Ford Focus Recalls and TSBs
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Member Posts: 1,339
in Ford
Go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov and you can search their Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) and recall databases by year, make and model - and even refine your search by system (such as "brakes" or "A/C"). You will find quite a few duplicate entries under the TSB section, but you also might uncover evidence of a bulletin that you can bring to the attention of your service advisor.
Currently, the recall database contains six recalls affecting the 2000 Focus - keep in mind that some (like the rear wiring harness recall) do not apply to the hatchback.
Currently, the recall database contains six recalls affecting the 2000 Focus - keep in mind that some (like the rear wiring harness recall) do not apply to the hatchback.
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Also, I think that most of the recalls have been voluntary on Fords part. Nothing forced by the nhtsa.
It is now in the shop again for an unspecified period of time. I am beginning to regret buying a Ford from my usual Chrysler.
Considering what the tow truck driver told you, I think it is something that should be reported on the nhtsa site. The instructions are there to tell you how to do it. I havn't had the problem, (yet).
Pat
Gary
I have not had the problem yet but my brother has. In his case, the garage kept the car a couple of days. His key wouldn't go back into the ignition once he had removed it. They had to drill the old one out. The tow driver said he'd seen 3 just that month (January).
Charlie
i do blame ford for the bad dealership because they sold them the faulty products and set-up the poor delivery system of needed parts.
the dealer is also at the mercy of the factory,which is ford. so yes,by all
means the blame begins with ford. i can tell you that ford rushed the
launching of the focus and escape. you can bet they are still apologizing
to the dealers. there is a good reason why the new t-bird has taken so
long to come to market,also the new explorer. they dont want to repeat the same mistakes. unfortunately, for a lot of us we werent part of the
rethinking process.you live,you learn, sometimes.
In the most states 20-30 days out of service (not necessarily all at the same time) will qualify your car as a lemon. Or two or more visits to the dealer for the same defect.
Check out your state lemon law.
http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_Lemon.html
later, but he went to dealership right away: there was something wrong with the fuel pump and they had to replace it. you might have the same thing. like i said, there was a recall later. it was all day repair.
Out of all the recalls the foci zx3 has had none of them have been all day affairs. I waited and had my z back within the hour. Only time it was kept overnight was while dealer was waiting for wheelbearing and spindle. And then I had z back next afternoon. Plus they gave me a loaner. And they have offered me a loaner each time I have been in for the recalls.
Pat
They want to keep our business because I bought the car from the dealership that my trucking company leases all of our trucks from. I don't know if they are sucking up because of this or not. Anyway, thanks for listening. I hope no one else has this problem.
for these issues. if you have these issues with your vehicle , ask your dealer to remedy them.as usual,i have a parts wait.
I haven't had any problems with my ignition switch yet, but I know of someone who was left stranded because of that. It's like he knows his Ford hotline phone number by heart now
We'll all be watching this forum for updates.
Charlie
Charlie
simplistic type parts that are an integral part of a more complex assembly. one word for that......cheap!
Anyhow, after 7 separate trips to 3 different dealers, for about a total of 10 or so days in the shop, the problem is licked -- for now, at least. I've written and called Ford, contacted the NHTSA, and finally got someone in the state attorney general's consumer protection section to intervene for me under our state lemon law. They sent a demand letter to Ford to fix the problem, but not unsurprisingly, told me that the problem was not significant enough to warrant demanding a new car (though everyone admits that not being able to get out of your car in a split second is a safety problem, and in my state, it's also a basis for flunking the state vehicle inspection).
I guess the only silver lining out of this was that the dealer I bought my car from (and the one who did the final fixes) had treated me well and always came through with a nice loner. Meanwhile, I also had the FOUR recall notice problems fixed, and on top of that, had three trips to the body shop: two to fix a vicious "keying" scratch, and a third to fix a minor dent (not my fault). What a year!!!
For what it's worth, my car now looks brand-spanking new, thanks to the last body shop fix, and I still find myself admiring that new-edge design. Handling and performance have been fine, too. Other than the above, no complaints.
Has anyone else had the door latch problem?
Here's a link to some photos of the cars:
http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/Focus_WRC/Focus_WRC_1.html
Something happened as the tranny is broken now, at least I cannot get it over 40 and the light came on. Nursed it back home but needs to go into the shop in the morning. Looked under the car and saw a belt or loop hanging down...
Last October I bought a new 2001 Focus sedan. Shortly after the purchase I began smelling burning oil or rubber, the odor especially noticeable in stop and go traffic, or after climbing a hill and stopping.
I took the car, (a beautiful Infra-Red LX) to the dealership with that complaint. After a brief inspection the mechanic found that the "right inner axle seal" had been leaking. After waiting for about 24 hours I was called and told that a new seal had been received and that I could bring the car in for the repair. I did. A week later I brought the car back to the dealership with the same complaint of a strong burning odor. I was told by the mechanic that the replaced seal was defective so he would have to replace it. About 5 days later the dealership received the new seal and while installing it found that the oil pan gasket was leaking, so had to order a new gasket.
About a week later they replaced that gasket. I noticed shortly after taking the car off the dealerships lot that the smell was still very obvious. I decided to give the car a week to burn off any residue... after that week ended I returned the car to the dealership, again with the same complaint. This time the mechanic found that the "main seal" between the engine and transmission was leaking. After about a week a replacement seal was delivered to the dealership. This time they had to keep the car overnight, giving me a loaner car to drive.
To make this already long story shorter, I returned the car again with that same old complaint. Doing some research the dealership was able to locate SOMEWHERE that there had been a recent "campaign" put out on this model of the Focus recommending the installation of some kind of filter into the A/C heating ventilation system of the car as the intake (apparently) draws air from the engine compartment.
While waiting for this filter to be delivered to the dealership I was driving the car in heavy stop and go traffic in Seattle. While stopped at an intersection I noticed a gray smoke coming from the engine compartment of my car. The first time I'd seen smoke. I mentioned this to the dealership when I delivered the car to them for the installation of the filter.
They installed the filter and steam cleaned the engine. I notice the smell, still, though it's not as obvious. If the smell continues into the coming week I will once again return the car to the dealership with that same old complaint hoping that they'll FINALLY find a solution.
Anyone else out there having this problem? The burning eyes, coughing and nausea is getting to me!
Sorry for the rambling,
Bob
the problem: The car would abruptly lose power (and begin to decel) while accelerating around sweeping high speed curves, usually while trying to merge with freeway traffic. It only happened while there was less than half a tank of gas in the car.
The dealership said that it was a recent TSB and the problem reoccurred because my original fuel pump was replaced with the exact same flawed model. So everything seems to be working great, the slight general loss in power is gone, but now I am getting a few mpg more to average about 32 in mixed driving not a bad side effect though I am curious as to the cause. So I guess I have to wait another 30K to be confident this has fixed the problem.
Also I was starting to hate my car when the fuel pump problem reappeared, but this new dealership changed that. They have hours until midnight Monday through Saturday and are open Sunday. They offer a free shuttle service or a free loaner (all taurus SES's). They also noticed, on a previous visit, that my car was due for an upcoming recall and took care of it while it was in for an oil change. My car even when it is in the shop won't take time out of my life, though hopefully this is the second and last unscheduled visit.
http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/Recalls/ford_focus_recall.html
I drove to Florida from NY with my Dodge Avenger to look for job opportunities and the Avenger died. So, I bought a Ford Escape, only to lose my job up north and make paying for the Escape impossible. So, lucky enough, the dealership allowed me to trade out into a Ford Focus.
Its a great looking car. Only 14,000 miles, still has mftr warranty left, and it seems to drive well.
But, I didn't know anything about the recalls associated with them.
So my concerns are...
-How many recalls were made for the 2001 Focus?
-How can I find out if any recalls were serviced on my vehicle?
-And, can I have the car serviced for the recalls even though I don't have in my possession any recall notices?
Thank you!
Since you bought this vehicle from a dealer, I would think that they would have taken care of any current recalls before selling it. After checking the NHTSA site, ask the dealership if they did the recall service. Any future recall notices should be sent to your current home address.
Derek
If this helps anything, it has a little over 17,500 miles on it, mostly highway. On the freeway I cruise anywhere between 75 and 80.
The prospect of having my fuel pump go at 'ANY TIME' was too much for my nerves.
That's why I traded in for a new Hyundai Elantra GT. The best move I ever made, I love the car.
On the receipt it states:
"Customer says that there is a burning odor in the car, also sees soot under hood on the hood separator. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 14846 applies for burning odor from oil seepage at cylinder head exhaust manifold bolts. Performed above repair, OK now."
See ya 'round,
Bob
Relatively common problem. There is at least one TSB issued for that trouble.
That's not to say my car has been "trouble-free":
1. The left headlight and right fog light had to be replaced due to excessive condensation, all under warranty.
2. The horn quit working, for reasons unknown, but was replaced under warranty.
3. The engine serpentine belt squeals loudly, but all the dealer seems to want to do is squirt it with belt dressing, even after I've complained and asked for a new belt to be installed. Typical Ford service?
4. The rear brakes squeal loudly, and are getting so loud that it's embarrassing to drive. The car has only 33000 miles on it. The brakes can't already be bad. Can they?
5. There are numerous squeaks and rattles inside the car.
Am I the only one with the brake squeal, belt squeal and horn failure problems?
P.S. Your vibration sounds like a classic balancing problem or possibly a bent wheel.