What sorts of problems has your Focus experienced?

[Feral]

Lets see

Wagon #1
1) Ignition Broke
2) rear passenger wheel fell off (Visit 1)
3) rear passenger wheel fell off a second time
4) Car stalled (went to dealer) ($200 Visit)
5) next day pick up the car, car stalled wouldn't start in the middle of the intersection 2 blocks away from the dealer, car returned ($200 visit)
6) car stalled broke down a third time (returned and flipped out at the $600 estimate and dragging the car off the lot with my van
7) Flaming Hatch harness (taped up temp fix)
8) Car felt like relieving its pressure all over the driveway (pissed for 2 hours till I smelled the fuel)
9) Fuel pump took a dump (recalled)
10) spring broke careening the wagon into a divider wall)
11) Heater fan speed switch shorted caught fire
12) resistor pack burned up
13) radio shorted burning out the FM receiver chip
14) Popped rear passenger speaker
15) third brake light housing melted to bulbs
16) PCV host broke twice
17) sounds like a diesel when running ( people actually ask if it is diesel)
18) Passenger door lock randomly jams and won't unlock/open
19) pillar trim refuses to stay secured ( ford replaced the retainers but didn't help)
20) Stupid front cupholders won't fit any of my mugs OR the coffeeshops cups (I only drink XL LOL)
21) rear wiper so corroded on hinge that it stays off the window 1/4 inch off the glass (removed arm and soaked binding hinge piece in oil overnight did nothing LOL)
22) Old original remote only worked from a distance within 7 feet
23) NEW replacement remote only works from a distance of 10 feet and closer
24) AC used to smell like a dead animal when used, took it in they cleaned and deodorized the air passages, kept getting high off the smell of the deodorizer so I had them reclean and use something else)
25) Center left Vent falls off, eventually pissed me off tearing it and the tube out... went to the scrapyard yanked the first vent thats the same color installed it it clipped in tight and to my demise its off a newer one.. I now have 3 vents with the white raised markers and this one has the tan markers drove me nuts on the way home LOL (used white out to turn the markers white when I got home)

Im gunna end it here I could keep going for at least 20 more LOL


Wagon #2
Just bought the car with a blown motor so I will leave this one as it is with the blown motor.. just from the walk around I bought myself another Nightmare

[Netmon]

I think we should differentiate between serious mechanical-pay-to-fix-it-or-it-no-run-right (or at all) type stuff from the purely COSMETIC crap like a speaker grill popped off.
On a purely COSMETIC level my annoyance is slightly MORE than "moderate". On a MECHANICAL, effects-how-it-drives basis I'm very pleased, even impressed.

It also might be worth seperating 'REAL' defects (Ford's fault) from problems that only showed up after 100k plus miles of beating the b'jeebers out of a 5, 6 or 7 year old car. Personally I am under no illusions that I'm going to be able to get away with wailing on this car the way did my previous car (94 AccordEX-bought-new). But it comes down (did for me) to a question of bang for the buck, or if you will, BEATING for the buck. I would have paid about $5 grand more for similarly loaded CIVIC. (and still not gotten MP3) SO FAR I think I'm easially ahead of that game.

[Netmon]

Originally Posted by Feral

Lets see

Wagon #1
1) Ignition Broke.....
22) Old original remote only worked from a distance within 7 feet
23) NEW replacement remote only works from a distance of 10 feet and closer

Wagon #2
Just bought the car with a blown motor so I will leave this one as it is with the blown motor.. just from the walk around I bought myself another Nightmare

yyyeah... the FOB... (remote). I was and remain, not especially impressed with mine. I get more than 10 feet but not a lot, up to 30 if it's a clear shot, but god help you if there's anything at all blocking it, yep, now 10 ft or less.
BUT worth noting, just for grins I put a new battery in one of my 2 and I've been making a point to compare. The one with the new battery is noticably stronger. No question. If your replacement came with a battery already in it, it could be easially two or more years old off-the-shelf. For the REAL story, (ability) put a new battery in it.

[mikebontoft]

hmm I might have to try a new batter just for the hell of it... I only get about 20 feet maybe on mine...

[RichBish]

hi guys... experiencing a high pitch whining noise wehn driving around, cant seem to figure out what it is... nothing to do with sterio as this still happens when its turned off? sounds kinda like a turbo does when it spools up... (havent got a turbo tho)... any ideas??

thanks

[rayman21186]

All I have had go wrong with my 06 is the fan speed switch decided to only work on 2 and 3, not 1 and 4, and my armrest is broken and looks like a half flaccid, well you know... Oh, and the piece of plastic around the bottom of the auto shifter is cracked and sometimes slides down about a half inch, causing me to not be able to put the car completely in park, and not be able to get my key out. Other than those few, no mechanical defects, and it's a great car.

[FociBoi121]

UPDATE for my 03 zx3 ATX
i've replaced the following
Thermostat and housing $58(housing) + $10(180degree T-Stat)
ATX Solenoid "A" (along with new tranny filter and fluid flush) $38(solenoid)+$20(filter)+$26(tranny fluid)
Valve Cover Gasket $42
all within two weeks unfortunately

but hey i hear these are pretty common so im not complaining

[FociBoi121]

Originally Posted by RichBish

hi guys... experiencing a high pitch whining noise wehn driving around, cant seem to figure out what it is... nothing to do with sterio as this still happens when its turned off? sounds kinda like a turbo does when it spools up... (havent got a turbo tho)... any ideas??

thanks

a bad alternator causing high pitched whines
and yes it could be your stereo if your power and audio wires are crossing causing interference

[TerrorCandy]

I own a 04' Focus ZX3 with a Duratec, 54,456 miles and not a single problem. I've only put a lip on, SVT sideskirts and rear bumper, FS intake, ITG filter, FS front stress bar, 17" SVT euros, SVT spoiler, Magnaflow exhaust, SVT suspension/brake kit soon. All this, and these miles, and more later and not a single issue. I also drive a little fast, and sometimes like to go racey but still, nothing. My brother has an 01' ZX3 also with intake, exhaust, race header, brake kit, and 78,692 miles on a Zetec, nothing wrong either. We're a Ford family and the Focus is awesome. I wish I could fix everyone here's Focus. We do all our work, ourselves and if you all lived in Jersey would be glad to help out those in need. It's a shame to hear some people trade down when their Focus gives them issues. Best of luck to all.

[bluefront]

It's pretty obvious many of these cars have suffered some very expensive problems, more so than the people reporting no problems at all. But there haven't been very many responses to this poll, compared to the FF membership. And it's well known that cars with problems, as well as everything else with problems, are likely to be reported more frequently than cars with no problems.

Then there's the warranty thing.....do people consider it a problem at all if the repair was free? Hard to say.... I'd guess however that a completely trouble-free Focus after five years, is a rare bird.

My Focus is less than three years old, with about 27K on it. I've had five warranty repairs in the six months I've owned it, including the latest....a driver door lock actuator. Compare that to virtually no repairs other than standard maintenance to my previous "95 Sentra, which had 140K on it. So far this Ford doesn't compare favorably to my cheap Sentra.