2007 Ford Focus

THERE ARE TWO RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT REALLY CONCERN ME: 1) TRANSMISSION/POWERTAIN LIGHT HAS FLICKERED ON-AND-OFF AND THEN GOES OFF COMPLETELY. INITIALLY I ASSUMED IT WAS A FUSE OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL EPISODES, THE SCARIEST TO DATE ON 2-20-12 THE CAR SEEMED TO "LOSE GEARS," SHUTTERED A LITTLE, AND SUDDENLY FELT IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT ON A SHORT INCLINE. MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER (WITH LEARNER'S PERMIT) WAS AT THE WHEEL. IT WAS FRIGHTENING AS THE CAR FELT IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WITH TRAFFIC STACKED UP BEHIND HER. 2) BRAKES: ON TWO OCASSIONS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (3.5 MONTHS) THE BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED (NORMAL FASHION) COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT FUNCTIONING: THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, AND ONLY AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES, DID THE "BRAKE FUNCTION RETURN." MY MOTHER HAD WARNED ME ABOUT THIS - SHE ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH A FILE FOLDER OF ALL REPAIRS SHE HAD MADE ON THE CAR. TWICE; SHE HAD THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER REPLACED! SHE COMPLAINED TO THE FORD DEALER IN HER HOMETOWN, WHO "BRUSHED IT OFF" AND ASSURED HER THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN - AND AGAIN, MY 15 YEAR OLD WAS AT THE WHEEL. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW FRIGHTENING THIS WAS - IF NHTSA IS AWARE OF MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT A DESIGN FAILURE; WHY HASN'T FORD ISSUED A RECALL TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS? *TR

I WAS PASSING A CAR AND JUST COMPLETED THE PASS (APPROX. SPEED WAS 60 MPH), WHEN THE BACK RIGHT TIRE LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO GO INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED END OVER END ONCE AND BARRELL ROLLED THREE TIMES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I HAD MINOR INJURIES. WITNESSES STOPPED AND TOLD POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, THAT AFTER I HAD PASSED THEM, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE LOCKED UP AND SPUN ME OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS DRIVER SIDE. DURING THE SPIN AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY CONCERNS ARE THE BRAKING SYSTEM, TIRES, AIR BAGS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS CRASH SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM FOR FORD. *TR

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH DESIGN FLAWS IN MY 2007 FORD FOCUS SSE: (1) .BECAUSE OF WHERE THE DOOR LOCK IS LOCATED, JUST ABOVE THE DOOR HANDLES (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) ALL THE DOORS WILL LOCK AT TIMES AND YOU DON'T REALIZE IT WHEN YOU OPEN, GET OUT, THEN CLOSE THE DOOR. MOST OFTEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING WITH THE KEY NOW LOCKED INSIDE. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH THIS LOCK WITH YOUR FINGERS OR HAND WHILE OPENING THE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DESPITE NOW KNOWING WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMPLETE NUISANCE AND DANGEROUS IF CHILDREN WOULD HAPPEN TO BE LEFT IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DOORS LOCKED AND NO SECOND KEY ON HAND. (2). THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE AUTOMOBILE IS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "AUDI EFFECT" WHERE THE CAR ACCELERATES ON OCCASION WHEN BRAKING. THIS I ALSO ASCRIBE TO A DESIGN FLAW: THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE PLACED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND AT A RELATIVE CLOSE HEIGHT TO ONE ANOTHER. AFTER TAKING THE DEFENSIVE POSITION, IN A POTENTIAL BRAKING SITUATION, IF YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE QUICKLY AND HARD, THE CAR ACCELERATES. THIS TAKES YOU COMPLETELY BY SUPRISE AND IT TAKES TIME TO RESPOND. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE SAME WAY FOR 45 YEARS, WITH MANY VEHICLES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. LUCKILY THE CAR SAT MOST OF THE WINTER BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY AND NO ONE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ON SNOW COVERED OR ICY ROADS. I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE END OF APRIL IN A VISIT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT BY SERVICE MANAGER STEVE LOVALVO. I WANT TO BRING BOTH OF THESE DEFECTS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I HAVE LEASED A LEMON THAT HAS PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND PRESENTS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR MANY OTHER DRIVERS ALSO. *TR

NOVEMBER 19TH, ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR, I HIT A PICKUP. REQUESTED DEALER CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, THEY DID A TEST DRIVE SAID BRAKES ARE FINE. NOVEMBER 30TH, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WENT TO STOP NOTICED BRAKES WERE MUSHY, NOT SAME TENSION AS USUAL BUT CAR DID BRAKE. DECEMBER 5TH, MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN TO GET ON FREEWAY, TAPPED BRAKES, BRAKES DID NOT WORK, TAPPED AGAIN THEY WORKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARS METAL GRINDING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. HE STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BUT ARE STILL SQUEAKING. WHEN HE RELEASES THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL, HE HEARS A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING SOUND AS IF IT WILL EXPLODE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING ALL OF THESE FAILURES. THE REPAIRS USUALLY LAST APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURES RECUR. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE HIS VEHICLE WITH A NEW VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,701 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.