2001 Ford Focus Suspension

WHILE I FIND RUST RECALLS FOR 2001 FOCUS FUSIONS AND WINDSTARS FORD CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR FRAME COLLAPS FROM EXCESSIVE RUST PROBLEMS. WE PULLED OUT OF OUR DRIVE HEADED UP A BLIND HILL AND THE FRONT END TOTALLY COLLAPSED LEAVING US AS AN EASY TARGET. SEVERAL GOOD FOLKS JUMPED INTO ACTION TO HELP US GET THE MESS SAFELY OFF OF THE STATE HIGHWAY BY BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND HELPING US DRAG IT BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. WE ARE IN OUR 70'S AND ONLY DRIVE THE CAR 7-8 THOUSAND MILES A YEAR. IT HAS BEEN BABIED AND MAINTAINED BY THE BOOK IT ENTIRE LIFETIME . CONVERSATIONS WITH FORD HAVE GOTTEN US NO WHERE! WHERE DO WE TURN ?

2001 FORD FOCUS WITH 146K MILES. ADULT DRIVEN ONE OWNER AND WELL CARED SINCE NEW. NOTICED CLUNKING SOUND SO TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES TO THE FORD DEALER. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THEY CAN'T FIX AS ENTIRE SUBFRAME IS ROTTED AND "I WAS ONE POTHOLE FROM THE ENGINE FALLING OUT". IT APPEARS THAT DEALERS USE THIS LINE AS I FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME WORDING. HOW CAN YOU RECALL THE ESCAPE AND WINDSTAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT THE FOCUS? BECAUSE FOCUS OWNERS DON'T HAVE THE SAME MONEY THAT THOSE OTHER HIGHER END CARS HAVE? I WAS DRIVING MY NEW BABY AROUND IN THIS CAR AND THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT THAT ONE MORE POTHOLE OR BOTH OUR LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN ENDED! ALL IT TAKES IS AN INTERNET SEARCH TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE SUBFRAME IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT JUST RUST AWAY IN 14 YEARS! CLEARLY THE DESIGN OR MATERIALS USED WERE AT FAULT FOR THIS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED!

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE A BALL JOINT ON MY LEFT FRONT TIRE REPLACED. HEARD A CLANGING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE BAD BALL JOINT, WHEN MECHANIC CHECKED HE SAID THE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED. CALLED FORD ABOUT SAFETY RECALL WHICH CAME UP WHEN I PUT MY VIN NUMBER INTO THEIR WEBSITE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER AND MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. IT COST ME 600.00 TO HAVE BOTH REPAIRS DONE BY A MECHANIC. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AND THEIR ADVICE WAS TO SAVE MY RECEIPT AND IF A RECALL GOES INTO EFFECT FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WILL GET REIMBURSED. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, YET FORD JUST IGNORES THE ISSUE AS IT IS STILL HAPPENING. NOW TODAY MY BACK WINDOW MADE A NOISE AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND WON'T GO BACK UP. I'VE ALREADY HAD A NEW BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PLUGS AND COIL PACK REPLACED BECAUSE OF SURGING AND STALLING. I AM ALSO GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY CAR YET I HAVE AND AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT MANY OF THE RECALLS IN EFFECT ARE LISTING. VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY FORD. *JS

CHECKED YOUR SITE FOR RECALLS. FOUND FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER:03M02 RE: COIL SPRINGS. PREVIOUSLY CHECKED FOR RECALLS TWO YEAR AGO. THIS NOTICE WAS NOT ON YOUR SITE THEN. AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAVE MADE IT A POINT TO KEEP ABREAST OF ALL RECALLS. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS NOTICE BY FORD. USED THE SAME DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. CALLED FORD TODAY. FORD SAID THE DEALER HAD A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. NEVER INFORMED OF THIS BY THE DEALER (AUTO NATION, BELLEVUE DEALERSHIP). YOUR SITE POSTING OF THE NOTICE SAID IT EXPIRED AFTER 10 YEAR OR 150,000 MILES. FORD SAID I WAS OUT OF LUCK AS "WHAT EVER CAME FIRST, YEARS OR MILEAGE". I SUSPECT THAT FORD NEVER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THIS PROBLEM & I ALSO SUSPECT FORD IS DOING A CYA. *TR

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE BROKEN SPRING PENETRATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPRINGS WERE MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY AND DO NOT RESIST CORROSION. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBELM THROUGH SEVERAL TSBS AND EVEN HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 03M02 WITH AT LEAST 2 SUPPLEMENTS CONCERNING THE ISSUE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY PARTS. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL FORD DEALER (HONDRU) AND THEY TOLD ME THE PROGRAM EXPIRED AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER COVERED. I THEN SPOKE WITH A FORD REPRESENTATIVE THROUGH DIRECT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS THE CASE. THEY CONFIRMED THE CONVERSATION WITH NUMBER CAS4271469-Z6W0F2. THE REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME WAS KENDRA. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO ME AN MY FAMILY. THE COIL SPRING IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION, AND WHEN IT BRAKES THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR IS EXTREMELY COMPROMISED. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, THE BROKEN SPRING DESTROYS THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY, FURTHER REDUCING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR. SINCE IT WAS DOCUMENTED THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND FORD AND NHTSA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS. *TT

FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALLED JOINT SEPARATED AND BROKE THE CONTROL ARM ALMOST SEPARATED THE WHEEL FROM THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5MPH THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE PRIVATE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT SPRING FROM THE STRUTS HAD DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,099.

COIL SPRING ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A METAL OBJECT FROM BROKEN SPRING JAMMED INTO THE FRONT TIRE. THE CAR IS OLD, BUT HAS BEEN KEPT INSIDE A GARAGE AND HAS LOW MILEAGE.

2001 FORD FOCUS SE, VIN [XXX], 62000 MI. - BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD ONLY ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTY NUMBER 03M02 FOR 1999/2003 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFO FROM FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SPRING BREAKS AND RUBS AGAINST TIRE AND CAUSES BLOW OUT. FAULTY SPRINGS. FORD ADMITS DEFECT BUT SAID I WAS PAST WARRANTY DATE AS OF 09/26/2010 THEY WOULD NO LONGER COVER THE PROBLEM - DISGRACEFUL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2001 FORD FOCUS, FRONT STRUT SPRING BROKE IN 2 PLACES. I JUST GOT IN THE CAR AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A RIFLE SHOT WENT OFF....STARTED TO DRIVE OFF AND STOPPED FOR THE 'CLUNKING' SOUND. DROVE TO NEAR BY REPAIR SHOP, SAID THE TROUBLE WAS THE SPRING. CHECKED RECALLS, IN CASE...2000 MODELS HAD RECALL FOR SPRING BREAKAGE, BUT NOT THE 2001 MODELS. HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD AND AM SUBMITTING VEHICLE INFO TOMORROW FOR CONSIDERATION. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. *TR

WHILE MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 65MPH, I SMELLED RUBBER BURNING, LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW AND SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR, I TURNED RADIO DOWN AND HEARD THE LOUD WHINING SOUND AS I TRIED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD WAS A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND I FELT SOMETHING HITTING UNDER MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR, I HAD TROUBLE STEERING THE CAR BUT DID GET IT PULLED OVER, AFTER MY HUSBAND INSPECTED THE CAR BRIEFLY WE NOW KNOW THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE CUT INTO MY TIRE AND OTHER DAMAGES, MY FRONT FENDERS WERE ACTUALLY SITTING ON MY TIRES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED HOME WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR. AFTER LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE HAD ALOT OF THESE PROBLEM AS WELL. MY CAR HAS SEEN THE BACK OF A TOW TRUCK MORE THAN ITS SHARE. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN. *TR

COIL SPRINGS. LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITH OUT REASON. THANKFULLY THE SPRING DID NOT BLOW OFF OF RETAINING AREA. IF IT HAD WHILE I WS DRIVING THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED MY STEERING TO LOCK UP BLOW A TIRE OR WHO ELSE KNOW WHAT. AND THE OUTCOME FROM ANY OF THESE COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE, SLID INTO A CURB, AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM TO BEND. A NEW SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. ON MARCH 14, 2008, WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE, THE STEERING FAILED, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB AND THE SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87587.

SUNDAY MORNING (4/6/2008) I GOT IN MY CAR AND BACKED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL AND GOING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A VERY LOUD METAL ON METAL SOUND. I PUT THE CAR UP ON JACK STANDS AND INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION. I FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE SPRING WAS NOT SEATED ON THE STRUT BASE. AT THIS TIME I DROVE THE CAR TO SEARS AUTO REPAIR IN NOVI, MICHIGAN. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO SEARS THE SPRING MOVED A COUPLE TIMES, MADE SOME NOISE, AND AFFECTED THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. SEARS INSPECTED THE SPRINGS AND FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE SPRING WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED IN A COUPLE PLACES AT THE TOP. I ENDED UP REPLACING BOTH SPRINGS AND IT COST $436.86. ON MONDAY (4/7/2008) I DECIDED TO GO ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS SPRINGS. I FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE. IN FACT FORD ISSUED A TSB (03M02S2) AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SPRINGS TO 150,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS (ONLY IF SERVICED AT A DEALERSHIP). UNFORTUNATELY I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER I REPAIRED THE CAR ON SUNDAY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD OF TSB ON THE SPRINGS. ALSO, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR USED (ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO) FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH SHOULD HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THINGS LIKE THIS (SPRING CORROSION). ON MONDAY (4/7/2008) I DECIDED TO CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (800-392-3673) TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REIMBURSE MY EXPENSES AND DISCUSS THE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT FORD DID NOT VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING SAFETY CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS (NOT COIL SPRINGS) AND TO ME THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. IF THE COIL SPRING WERE TO FRACTURE FURTHER AND CUT MY TIRE WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I CAN IMAGINE THAT WOULD NOT BE A VERY SAFE SITUATION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND FORD NOT ISSUING A RECALL OVER A POOR QUALITY SUSPENSION COMPONENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY. IF NEEDED I HAVE THE OLD PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

NOTICED A CREAKY SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES. REPLACES BOTH FRONT SPRINGS. HAVE NEVER KNOWN COIL SPRINGS TO JUST BREAK ON A CAR. AND JUDGING FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED HERE AND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS YEAR CAR, IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. SHAME ON FORD FOR NOT FOLLOWING UP ON THIS. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. LOUD CRUNCH NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE SPRING REPLACED THIS WEEK, 07/18/07. *TR

STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING AND/OR HITTING BUMPS. BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN WITH THE LEFT SPRING BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS AND HAVE FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE. *JB

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WITHIN 7 DAYS OF EACH OTHER, CAUSING THE CAR TO SAG AND DRIVE ABNORMALLY. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH <55,000 MILES HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE BOTH FROM SPRINGS BROKEN. AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY NEITHER SPRING HAD WORKED LOSE FROM THE PERCH, HOWEVER WITH ADDITIONAL TIME THE SPRINGS WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE AND POTENTIALLY PUNCTURE A TIRE. *TR

I DRIVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS. MY CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, AND AS I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE TO GO TO WORK, I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND MY CAR STRUGGLED TO BACK UP. I LEFT MY CAR PARKED AS I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING (GOING 65 ON THE FREEWAY), AND THE NOISE CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND I STARTED TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW BECAUSE THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE. THIS IS A PROBLEM I KNOW FORD IS WELL AWARE OF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE HAD ANYTHING HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY AS A RESULT OF THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY FORD. REPAIRS ENDED UP COSTING $570 TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND MOUNTS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS T A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE PIVOT JOINT HAD WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. *JB