2009 Ford Focus

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, BUT FORD STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 07/30/12 .....UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. BUT, WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. UPDATED 1/15/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE COMPONENT CHANGED. HOWEVER, THE CLOSEST COMPONENT, TO THROTTLE BODY SENSOR IS VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. UPDATED 03/18/13

ON A SATURDAY, MAY 5, 12 I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES. WE CAME ON OUR ST. PICTURE OF A WRENCH CAME ON. CAR STARTED TO PUTT PUTT AND FINALLY MADE IT INTO DRIVEWAY. TURNED OFF ENGINE. LOOKED UP IN MANUAL AND SAID THROTTLE CONTROL TRANSMISSION. CALL DEALER IMMED. THE ONLY DEALER OPENED W/IN MILES AND AAA BOUGHT IT THERE. DEALER CHECKED COMPUTER STUFF,UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NO CODES IN MODULES. PERSON SAID SUSPECT CUSTOMER HIT TCS BUTTON BY ACCIDENT. EMPLOYEE TOLD CUSTOMER EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND I COULD TAKE CAR HOME. I PAID FOR 1/2 HR OF WORK WHEN THERE WAS SUPPOSEDLY AN HR. OF CHECKING DONE. HOWEVER SINCE NOTHING FOUND I WAS ONLY CHARGED 1/2 HR. PICKED CAR DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20+ MILES HOME AND IT WAS FINE. SUNDAY- DROVE APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT. WRENCH CAME ON AND I PULLED INTO PARKING LOT. I TURNED ENGINE OFF WAITED AND TURNED ENGINE ON. I DROVE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A WITNESS WHO WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BOTH TIMES. *TR

I HAVE CHANGED TIRES ON THIS CAR 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT APRIL 5, 2010. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THE LAST TIME I PUT TIRES ON THE CAR THAT THE FOCUS CARS HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I ASKED HOW THEY COULD FIX IT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE REAR CONTROL ARMS AND REPLACE THEM, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ADJUST THE ARMS TO ALIGN THE CAR PROPERLY AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE CAR, THE COST OF REPAIR QUOTED WAS $600.00. AFTER PUTTING $600.00 WORTH OF TIRES ON I COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CONTROL ARMS CHANGED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM MY PLACE OF DEPARTURE, SPEED 45 MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE (AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE "WRENCH" LIGHT, CAME ON. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR NOTHING HAPPENED, MY CAR CONTINUED TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE (NO SHOULDER), BRAKED AND THE CAR JERKED TO A STOP; I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK IN DRIVE, BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED, THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON AND THE CAR RAN NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME ROAD, AT ABOUT THE SAME PLACE (A COUPLE MILES FROM WORK) A MONTH LATER ON JANUARY 18, 2012. THEN IT HAPPENED A 3RD TIME FEBRUARY 13, 2012 ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME. EACH TIME IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY--AFTER DRIVING ONLY A FEW MILES (5-10 MINUTES RUNNING TIME) THERE IS SUDDEN, UNCONTROLLABLE DECELERATION (WHEN I AM TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 40-50 MPH), WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, NO RESPONSE TO PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, I PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC JUST IN TIME WHILE CONTINUING TO DECELERATE (HAD ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN), BRAKE TO COMPLETE THE STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERS TO A HALT, I SHUT THE CAR OFF, RESTART AND THE CAR ACTS PERFECTLY NORMAL AGAIN. *TR

DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY MALFUNCTION. THE KEY TO THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT TURN. FRONT DOORS CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE REAR DOORS CANNOT BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. REAR DOORS ARE UNLOCKED BY PRESSING DOWN ON THE LOCK PEG AND USING THE INSIDE LOCK SWITCH ON THE FRONT DOOR TO FIRST LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK, LET OFF THE LOCK PEG AND TOGGLE THE SWITCH AGAIN. DISCOVERED THIS TRICK AFTER MANY WASTED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE REAR DOOR LATCH WAS REPLACED BUT, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES WITH IT. AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT (36K), I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT, IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $200/DOOR TO FIX. THIS IS CAN BE A SERIOUS MATTER IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. *TR

TOOK MY 2009 FORD FOCUS TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE; TOLD DEALER I HAD LUMPY LEFT REAR TIRE; WAS TOLD I DIDN'T ROTATE MY TIRES; ASKED HOW OFTEN I SHOULD ROTATE; DEALER SAID WHENEVER OIL CHANGED; DEALER COST WAS $25 FOR TIRE ROTATION; I DID IT MYSELF; NEXT DAY PUT CAR UP ON HOIST, ROTATED THE TIRES, AND DROVE; FRONT END SHOOK AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE; WENT BACK TO SHOP AND PUT TIRES BACK AS THEY WERE; VIBRATION WAS MINOR IN LEFT REAR CORNER; AT 12000 MILES TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE; WAS TOLD I NEEDED TIRE ROTATION; TOLD THEM I TRIED @ 6000 MILES AND FRONT OF CAR SHOOK SO HAD TO PUT TIRES BACK WHERE THEY WERE; DEALER SAID TOO MUCH IN CAR AND WAS THROWING ALIGNMENT OFF; THAT NEEDED TO BUY NEW TIRES & WOULD TAKE CARE OF SHAKING IN BACK; SINCE PURCHASE, CAR WAS NEW I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH WHITE KNUCKLES AT A VERY SLOW SPEED IF THE ROAD IS WET OR HAS SNOW ON THE ROAD . AFTER 1/4" OF DRY POWDERY SNOW THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND CAN'T DRIVE OVER 25MPH WITHOUT THE BACK OF THE CAR SWAYING BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE NEVER DROVE ANY CAR IN MY LIFE I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IN ANY AMOUNT OF SNOW OR RAIN. AT 20000 MILES I HAD TO PUT ON 4 NEW TIRES . THE SALESMAN TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE EXCELLENT ON SNOW AND RAIN . I TOOK OFF FOR HOME AND THEY WERE THE SAME. AT 30000 MILES I COMPLAINED AGAIN AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO ROTATE THE TIRES MORE OFTEN BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS CUPPING. AT 40000 I BOUGHT 2 TIRES AND PUT THE FRONT TIRES ON THE REAR AND THREW THE LEFT REAR TIRE AWAY. I TOOK TO DEALER AND INSISTED IT CHECK ALIGNMENT WITH WHATEVER WAS IN THE CAR; TECHNICIAN CHECKED & SAID LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY HITTING CURB WHICH WAS NOT TRUE; TOLD NEEDED TO SPEND $530 TO CORRECT (WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT); COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

MY 2009 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD OBVIOUS SUSPENSION ISSUES SINCE 6000 MILES. REAR TIRES ALWAYS SLIP IN WET CONDITIONS FROM A STOPPED POSITION DURING A NORMAL INITIAL ACCELERATION. FURTHERMORE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN (>) 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE CAR SHAKES. I AM A FAIRLY GOOD DRIVER AND IN COUNTLESS "NORMAL" DRIVING CONDITIONS MY CAR HAS GOTTEN INTO AN "OUT OF CONTROL STATE" LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THE TIRES WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED TIRES, HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND AGAIN IN SHORT ORDER (LESS THAN 6000 MILES DRIVEN) THE ISSUES CAME UP AGAIN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. FIRST OF ALL THE NEED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT YOUR BACK TIRES AND REAR OF VEHICLE SLIDING/SHIFTING SIDE TO SIDE IS ESSENTIAL. FURTHERMORE, A CAR SHOULD NOT VIBRATE AND RATTLE VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OF ONLY 55 MPH. I FEAR THAT IF I CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR IN IT'S CURRENT STATE, I RUN THE RISK OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

PROBLEM FAILURE OF FRONT AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. OUR 2009 FORD FOCUS WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC BY A PT CRUISER TRAVELING APPROX. 35-40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE FOCUS INTO THE AUTO IN FRONT SMASHING THE FOCUS FRONT END. THE FOCUS WAS LIKE AN ACCORDION SMASHED ON BOTH ENDS AND HAD TO BE PUT ON A TOW TRUCK FLATBED AS IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONCERN HERE IS THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FOCUS HAD 44,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. FORD HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE AS MY QUESTIONS ARE MET WITH REQUESTS FOR EXCESSIVE DOCUMENTATION. MY ONLY CONCERN IS WHY DID THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY AND IS THIS UNIQUE TO THE FOCUS WE OWNED OR IS IT A BROADER PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS DESIGN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THREE NEW DOORS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,892.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO RESPONSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STEP ON THE GAS BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND THE THROTTLE WAS ACTING NORMALLY. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT, OVER A YEAR AGO, THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX MORE TIMES WITH THE LAST ONE BEING ON 11/14/11. I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 15 GOING NORTH UP THE HILL FROM BAKER, CA WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TRYING TO DODGE THE OTHER MOTORISTS AND THE BIG RIGS TO EVEN GET TO THE SHOULDER WAS VERY SCARY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. AS OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE STATED THERE IS NO CODE LEFT ON THE COMPUTER AFTER I RESTART THE CAR SO MY MECHANIC WANTS TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAPPENS, BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. I CAN'T BE WITHOUT MY CAR FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME SO I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. *TR