2002 Ford Focus SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR INTO THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 103,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,900. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO A FORD DEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED DECORATIVE OVERLAYS TO GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 57,5000 MILES. ON MARCH 13, WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON DRY PAVEMENT THE CONTACT TRIED TO DECELERATE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TWO TO THREE TIMES UNTIL COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, NARROWLY AVOIDING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. ALSO, ON MARCH 19, 2007 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, THE CONTACT MADE A HARD RIGHT HAND TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S REAR END TO SWING TO THE LEFT, WHILE THE FRONT END CONTINUED TO SWING RIGHT TOWARD THE GUARD RAIL. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STRUCK HER HEAD, BUT REQUIRED NO ADDITIONAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57000. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, POOR BRAKING ACTION WAS NOTICED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO ALERT THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PRESENCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE DRIVER SIDE CARPET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED A LEAK FROM THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD A COMMON RESERVOIR. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AFFECTED THE FLUID LEVEL OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB

ALWAYS KEEP MY CAR CHECKED REGULARLY, CHANGED MY BRAKES IN MARCH,BUT MY ABS JUST WENT DOWN; EVEN IF IT IS A DIFFERENT PART, I AM WONDERING IF IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE ABS SO SOON, MY CAR HAS ONLY 46000 MILES. *NM

AT AROUND 35,000 MILES MY FATHER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE ON THE FRONT OF HIS FOCUS. THINKING THAT IT WAS THE SCREECH OF A WARNING INDICATOR HE PARKED THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE COULD HAVE ME LOOK AT IT. BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE SEVERELY GROUND DOWN WITH THE LEFT INSIDE PAD BEING TOTALLY DOWN FLUSH WITH THE METAL. THIS SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL WEAR. BACK BRAKES SHOWED SIGNS OF NORMAL IF NOT LESS THAN NORMAL WEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS FEW MILES ON IT. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS PREMATURELY. WE WILL KEEP THE OLD PARTS FOR THIRTY DAYS IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED. *JB

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE WERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PROBLE WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THAT IT WAS A NORMAL THING. THIS FAILURE MADE IT HARDER TO STOP THE CAR. MANUFACTURER SAID TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD MAKE THIS FAILURE WORSE. ALSO, SAID THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUES. MANUFACTURER SAID DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS. FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. NOW IT HAPPENES EVERYTIME THE CAR IS USED. *AK *NM

SQUEALING - GRINDING SOUND FROM THE FRONT TIRES - FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND CLEANED

SQUEALING - GRINDING SOUND FROM THE FRONT TIRES - FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND CLEANED

FRONT BRAKES WEAR DOWN TO NOTHING WITHIN 15,000 MILES. *AK

1. SPINDLE HOLDING BRAKES WAS STRIPPED. 2. REPORTED BY COVINGTON FORD THIRD AUTO THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED 3. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY SPINDLE FAILED. *JB

ON 2 OCCASIONS I COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP RE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE POWDER ON THE FRONT WHEELS - THESE WERE ON THE FIRST TWO OIL CHANGE VISITS. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL (HUB CAPS WERE DARK CHARCOAL). TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP ON 2/14/04 FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE ROTORS HAD NOT BEEN AFFECTED. CAR HAD ONLY 14,300 MILES, EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE FOR PADS TO BE WORN OUT. REP TOLD ME TO BRING CAR BACK FOR THEM TO CHECK FOR DEFECT IN BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK 5 DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE PADS BAD, BUT THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE IN ROTOR READING SATURDAY AND THAT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THERE WERE SERIOUS COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE LATER RESOLVED, BUT I WOUND UP PAYING MEINEKE FOR PADS ($133.00 INCL LABOR) FOR A LIFETIME GUARANTEE INSTEAD OF FAIRWAY FORD'S PRICE - $145 FOR 12,000 MILE PADS (SAME BRAND INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY) OR $195 FOR FORD PRODUCT. THAT NIGHT (2/19) I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAD HAD PREVIOUS, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF SUCH COMPLAINTS AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME; THAT THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THAT PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AND I SHOULD CONTACT HIM. I WOUND UP INVOLVING MY ATTORNEY AND WRITING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INVESTIGATED AND FOUND IN MY FAVOR. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS FOR FREE. MY CONCERN IS THAT FORD IS OBVIOUSLY USING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT; THAT I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE WEB ABOUT THE FOCUS BRAKE PADS; THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT STILL IN THE DISCOVERY STAGE CONCERNING THE 2000 AND 2001 FOCUS BRAKES; AND THAT I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I APPRECIATE THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOUND UP APOLOGIZING AND REPLACING THE ROTORS FOR FREE, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES OF DRIVING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE FOCUS'S HE HAS SEEN. *LA

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE BRAKES ARE SHOT ON THIS THING AT ONLY 26000 MILES. CONTACTED FORD ON THE THIS, TO NO AVAIL. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AFTER MY CONTACT WITH FORD, AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THAT HAVE A FORD FOCUS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WAY A VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BAD BRAKES AT 26000 MILES. IN SOME CASES AS LOW AS 15000 MILES. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE TO MUCH ABOUT THIS, AT LEAST THATS THE IMPRESSION THAT I GOT WHEN I TALKED WITH THEM. THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU PEOPLE CAN DO ABOUT IT. *AK

YEARLY INSPECTION RESULTED IN A FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROTOR WEAR ON BOTH FRON ROTORS. ALTHOUGH I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER 5 TO 6 THOUSAND MILES. NO FAULTY OR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TYPE OF WEAR. PREVIOUS INSPECTION LAST YEAR AT ANOTHER FORD DEALER SHOWED NO ISSUES. ALSO INFORMED OF THIS TYPE OF WEAR BEING CONSIDERED NORMAL BY THE DEALERS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ORIGINAL ROTORS BEING CHANGED TO INTICE OWNERS TO REPLACE RATHER THAN TURN THE ROTORS WHEN NEEDED. FOUND THAT THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION IN CALIFORNIA OF THE SAME INCIDENT. ALSO LOCATED TWO TECHNICAL BULLITENS FROM FORD SHOWING CONCERN OVER THE ISSUE. CALLED THE FORD CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO DUE TO THE FACTORY WARRENT COVERING ONLY 12K MILES AND I WAS AT 34K MILES. CALLED THE DEALER BACK, TOLD THEM OF MY FINDINGS AND MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN DISCOVERING THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AFTER ALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME BACK TO INFORM ME THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THEY HAD OVERLOOKED THE ISSUE.*AK

1)NORMAL DRIVING PATTERN; 2)BRAKES STARTED TO CRUNCH AT 31,000, THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT FOR BRAKES. 3)TOOK TO FORD DEALER ON 10/15 THEY WANTED $550.00 PLUS TO FIX, MY SALESMAN TOLD ME HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. CALLED FORD CORPORATE, GOT NO HELP WITH SERVICE REP, REQUESTED A CALL FROM SUPERVISOR, STILL HAVEN'T RECIEVED A CALL BACK. TOOK TO MIDAS TO FIX, WAS REPAIRED THIS MORNING.*AK

2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 23,600 MILES REQUIRED ALL NEW PADS AND ROTORS-- DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL...FOR THE FOCUS... AND SUCH WORK IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS AND HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED (ROTORS COULDN'T EVEN BE TURNED!), MECHANIC AT MIDAS STATED THAT REPLACING PADS AND ROTORS ON A VEHICLE BEFORE THE WARRANTY HAS EVEN EXPIRED IS NOT NORMAL, TYPICAL, OR TO BE EXPECTED. BEFORE REPLACING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS CHRONICALLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS.*AK

2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAL. AT 10,777 MILES (10,000-MILE SERVICE), FORD DEALERSHIP SAID FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING BRAKES.*AK

WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

HAVE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 WAGON AND IT NEEDS FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED ROTORS AT 23,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND DESIGN DEFECT. *LA

TODAY IS THE FOURTH TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN TOWED FOR SERVICE FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM: BRAKE SENSOR FAILS AND CAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK - DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM LAST HAD ME STRANDED IN TENNESSEE. I FEEL THIS IS A VEHICLE FAILURE RATHER THAN DEALERSHIP FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED WHERE I WILL BE STRANDED NEXT. I BELIEVE MY CAR MIGHT BE A LEMON. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE FAILS, IS REPAIRED AND FAILS AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT KNOWING WHERE I WILL BE NEXT WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INSURE THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED; AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE EVENT I CANNOT BE GUARANTEED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *JB

MY 2002 FORD FUCUS ZX3 NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AFTER A MERE 22,000 MILES!! THIS SERVICE COST ME $280 AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER FORD'S WARRANTY. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IF A CAR NEEDS NEW ROTORS BEFORE THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WEAR OUT.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 24600 MILES ON THE CAR. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHERE GONE WHEN I TOOK THE AUTO INTO THE SHOP.*AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 14,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM!*AK

AT 19,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS/ROTORS BECAUSE THE PADS WOE OUT AND HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE ROTORS. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, IT'S NOT DRIVEN HARD, AND NOW AT 33,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR PADS, HOPEFULLY THAT'S ALL. THIS CAR IS CRAP AND A RIP OFF. *JB