2000 Ford Focus SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, A GROWLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THEN BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE DRUM. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE DRUM CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE GREASE IGNITING. THE CONTACT USED WATER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS, THE CAR DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN BRAKING. MOST OF THE TIME THIS OCCURS WHEN EXITING FROM A HIGHWAY BUT LATELY HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON SIDE STREETS. ABNORMALLY HARD BRAKE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND ONCE I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE TO RETURN TO SLOW IDLE. DEALER CLAIMED TO BE UNABLE TO FIND OR REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARRANT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED; SMOKE ERUPTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION THE RIM WAS BLACK AND THERE WERE METAL PIECES ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN VERY SLOWLY 25 MILES TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL HUB DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BRAKES LOCKING UP.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKE SHOE BROKE AND SEVERED THE BRAKE LINE. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKE LINES, SHOES, AND CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

MY CAR WAS KEPT UP TO DATE ON MAINTENANCE AND RECALLS. APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS BEFORE MY ACCIDENT, MY HUSBAND EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT DELAY IN BRAKE RESPONSE ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. HE CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND LOOKED FOR LEAKS. EVERYTHING SEEMED GOOD. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. ON THE DAY OF MY ACCIDENT, I DROVE TO WORK AND MOST OF THE WAY HOME. I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY DESTINATION WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT I HAD KNOWLEDGE OF A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES, WITH NO INDICATOR OR WARNING LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED TO ALERT ME OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, I CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE, INJURING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS SE IS TOTALED. *JB

DT: THE BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT IS A DUMP TRUCK STOPPING. WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. HE CHANGED THE BRAKE SHOES TWICE AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY TO REPLACE THE LINING AND MAGNETS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED, BUT IT IS NOT EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT COVERED. CONSUMER HAS CALLED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND HAS A REFERENCE NUMBER, 6397393. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS SE WHEEL LOCKED UP.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR DEALERSHIPS WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER $350 FOR A NEW CYLINDER. CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TT *NM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. DRIVER TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES BUT IT DID NOT HELP. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD THE OWNER THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK

FOR THE EVENTS OF THE FINAL FAILURE; I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT THAT I DID NOT SEE AT FIRST. THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP MY VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING SOMEONE I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING UP. I HAD AT LEAST TWO AND A HALF CAR LENGHTS BETWEEN ME AND THE INTERSECTION. I BELIEVE AS A RESULT IN THE BRAKES LOCKING UP I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND T-BONED ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALLED. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES LOCKING UP AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SERVICE PEOPLE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX. *AK

1.) BRAKE LIGHT FLICKERED, BUT BRAKES WORKED, ON 40 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. 2.) BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY (PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR) AS I STOPPED CAR IN MY GARAGE. INSPECTION REVEALED FRONT DRIVER BRAKE LINE CUT OPEN BY INNER PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER-I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES. LOST ALL FLUID IN UPPER RESOVOIR. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. 3.)BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED, PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER WAS TRIMMED AWAY FROM BRAKE LINE.*AK

FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE, ONCE THE VEHICLE HITS 10, 000 MILES THE BRAKES BECOME DEFECTIVE, THE ROTORS AND THE PADS WORE OUT TO THE METAL. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSISTENT AND COSTLY BRAKE PROBLEMS ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS - VIN [XXX]. RECENTLY, ON FEB 26, 2004, BOB BAKER FORD, SAN DIEGO SERVICED/REPLACED MY FRONT ROTORS & PADS - COSTING $483. MY REAR BRAKES WERE PREVIOUSLY SERVICED DUE TO LOUD SQUEAL (DEGLAZED, DR SANDED) ON MARCH 21, 2003; OCTOBER 25, 2002; AND AUGUST 23, 2002. ARE ROTORS NORMALLY REPLACED AT 18625 MILES? I EMAILED FORD MOTOR COMPANY [XXX] ON 2/26/04, AND THEY PHONED ME THE NEXT DAY. FORD MOTOR STATED MY PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S EXCESSIVE USE OF THE BRAKES, AND THEY WOULD FORWARD MY COMPLAINT TO THEIR ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.*AK UPDATED 07/27/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AFTER GETTING THE STATE INSPECTION ON THE CAR DONE, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT THE CAR HAD FAILED DUE TO THE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDING REPLACED. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND WOULD COST US 695 TO REPLACE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 36000 MILES, THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL. *LA

FRONT BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT AT 25,000 MILE SERVICE, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *JB

WHILE BRAKING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER LIFTED FOOT, THEN TOUCHED THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AFTER BEING ABLE TO STOP CONSUMER GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND TRAVELED ON A MAIN STREET, AND VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUT COULD NOT STOP, VEHICLE KEPT GOING AND WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, RESULTING IN A BROAD SIDE COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM INSURANCE SAYING THAT THERE WAS RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE POWER FAILURE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO CHECK VEHICLE BUT THEY REFUSED. *LA

REAR BRAKES HAD AN EXTREME NOISE COMING FROM THEM. UPON EXAMINATION I FOUND IT TO BE A LOOSING OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING NUTS, CAUSING THE DRUM TO RUB THE BRAKE PADS. *AK I TIGHTENED THE NUTS AS UNTIL I REPLACE THE BRAKES.

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT. *AK

BRAKE PADS ON 2000 FORD FOCUS. *PH (NAR) THE CONSUMER ALSO REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR $446.44 IN ORIGINAL REPAIR, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF HOW THE PROBLEM COULD BE REMEDIED TO AVOID EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE COST. *CB

HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST THAT COATS ON THE WHEELS,ESPECIALLY THE FRONT WHEELS,I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR.IN ORDER FOR THIS CAR TO LOOK DECENT I HAVE TO GET ON THE GROUND ON MY HANDS AND KNEES USING A SOLVENT AND WATER ALONG WITH A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE AND A BRUSH AND SPONGE AND LITERALLY CLEAN THESE WHEELS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.A SIMPLE DRIVE THROUGH A CAR WASH WILL NOT CLEAN THIS BRAKE DUST ADEQUATELY.I HAVE CALLED FORD THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS COMPLAINING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND OF COURSE THEY DENY IT!THE LAST CALL I MADE A CONSUMER REP FROM FORD READ FROM A BULLETIN THAT THEY PUT OUT INSTRUCTING OWNERS AS TO HOW TO CLEAN OFF THE BRAKE DUST.IF THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT WHY ARE THEY PUTTING IT IN BLACK AND WHITE TO BE READ? I AM DISGUSTED WITH THEIR ATTITUDE AND WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT FEEL FRUSTRATED THAT THEY WILL ONLY "LAUGH"AT ME.ANY ADVICE?I WILL GLADLY TAKE PART IN ANY CLASS ACTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF???

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *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

THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*JB

BRAKES/ROTORS/PAD HAVE WORN AND/OR MALFUNCTIONED MORE THAN THREE TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, DEALER REPAIRED, BUT ONLY AFTER PRESSING THE POINT. HAD TO REPLACE THE ABOVE TWICE ALREADY. ONE TIME BRAKES FAILED AS MY WIFE DROVE MY CHILDREN AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BRAKE PROBLEMS HAPPENING YET AGAIN. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALLED ISSUE? I AM OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS. *LA