2004 Ford Focus

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS (MANUAL TRANS) LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND PARKED IT STILL REQUIRED THE CALL OF FOUR TOW TRUCKS TO GET IT INTO THE DEALER. BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED IN A SLANTED POSITION WHEN I PARKED THE FIRST FLATBED TRUCK WASN'T ABLE TO LOAD IT. IT REQUIRED A SECOND TRUCK TO TOW IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC. FROM THERE HE REQUIRED IT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, SAME RESULTS WITH TOW COMPANY'S. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $357 ON TOP OF THE TOWING FEE FOR IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS USED THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WILL CURRENTLY NOT LATCH SHUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR LATCHES OF FORD FOCUS WHICH I DID FIND. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD THE LATCHED LUBED 1/4/2006, AT WHICH TIME IT MET RECALL REQUIREMENTS. NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT AND THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE LATCH IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH PHONED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WERE ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THAT BECAUSE THEY LUBED THE LATCHES THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. WHICH I FIND COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY. IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH IS WHY FORD HAS RECALLED THE LATCHES THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AS WELL, HOWEVER ACCORDING TO FORD BEING THAT THE LATCHES HAVE BEEN LUBED IT SHOULD BE FINE. NOW IF THE DOOR THAT WON'T SHUT IS FIXED AND MY DAUGHTERS FALL OUT OF THE OTHER DOOR THAT FORD HAS LUBED BEING THAT IS ALL FORD SAYS THAT IS REQUIRED, WHAT WILL FORD AND NHTSA SAY THEN. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE RECALLS. THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LATCHES THAT THEY ARE TRULY RESPONSIBLE FOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOG WAS PLACED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HATCH. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HATCH WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER LATCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN ALERTED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE WITH THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED THERE WAS 9,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V030000 FOR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE SITUATION.

BRAKE PROBLEM. AT ABOUT 2000 TO 3000 MILES BREAKS STARTS TO SQUEAL AND GRIND. TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE AT DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEM, AS IT GOT WORSE AND WAS NOT NORMAL IN 6,000 MILES. WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM, ROUTINE BREAK IN. THEN AT 12,000 MILES STILL A PROBLEM. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THE SAME THING. NOW WITH NEARLY 18,000 MILES, ROTORS ARE GROOVED VERY BAD. EVIDENCE AND WARNING WAS EVIDENT IN THE EARLIER MILES AS WELL. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP. I FEEL THEY OWE ME A NEW PAIR OF ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO, COMPLAINED OF CLUTCH NOISE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OF A TSB CLAIMING CERTAIN 2004 FOCUS HAVE A TRANSAXLE MISALIGNMENT CAUSING PRE-MATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND NOISE. WIPER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY RC LACY FORD, BETTER SERVICE, BUT THEY WON'T SERVICE ME ANYMORE, SINCE I DID NOT BUY IT THERE, AND RAVENA IS SO CLOSE. I NEED TO CONTACT CROSSROADS ABOUT ALL FUTURE WARRANTY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS. DOORS IN THE REAR ALSO STICK, AND WEAR OF DOOR STRIKER IS EVIDENT. TIRES HAVE ALSO BEEN WORN PRETTY BAD PIRELLI 195/60 R15. BACK PAIR ARE TOTALLY BALD, AND ONLY HAVE HAD LIKE 18,000 MILES, I THINK IT WAS A ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHICH FOR A CAR 17 MONTHS OLD SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I NOTICED WEAR AT AROUND 13,000 MILES. DURING MY SECOND TIRE ROTATION. HAVE HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE. ALSO ISSUES WITH EXTREME CHIPPING AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL. ALSO HAVE HAD A HESITATION PROBLEM AT ABOUT 25 MPH. #RD GEAR USED TO BE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. I GOT NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS MYSELF. THE VIN IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE VIN. MY CAR IS A 2004 ZX5 DURATEC 2.3E 5 SPD. ALMOST ALL OPTIONS INCLUDED. THANK YOU. *NM