Ford Motor Company POS 2004 Ford Focus ripoff Dearborn Michigan
Yet another ripoff report against the Ford Motor Company and another about its Focus. I have only had my focus for 2 years comimg up oon the 24th of this months and While I haven't had the same problems of the frequency of problems, as some on this site have reported; I have had my share.
I use my car for work, so it get about 50-75 miles a day put on it. During that first year I had taken a trip to FL, while on the highway going about 70 mph; all electrical went out in the car. It died. I do not know about previous models, but when the car is off the "anti-theft" light above the radio flashes. The radio was the first thing I noticed, then the blinking "anti-theft" light, and looking back up I realized the car was not on anymore. Being it's a standard, I was able to quickly restart the car w/o much incident. It would do this a few more times during that first year. Because it wasn't a continuous problem and happened only occasionaly I never took it in( I know, my mistake).
About the end of the first year the IAC, or Idle Air Control Valve goes out. AFTER ONLY 1 YEAR! This would have been very expensive, but it was covered under warrrenty and I only had to pay the $100 deductible.
Not 3 months later, I had been driving my car and shut it off. When I went to start it again, I could not turn the key. After some time of trying thinking that maybe the steering wheel lock was stuck, I called roadside assistance and had it towed to AUFFENBURG FORD in Belleville, Illinois. There they told me that a pin in the cylinder had broke off. Now I do not think that is quality craftmanship after a little more than a years use.
One week after having the ignition cylinder replaced at a $100 cost to me, the steering wheel came loose. There is no easy way to describe this, except that there was about 3 inches of play before the wheels turned in the direction you wanted them to go
When I took it in, I asked if it may have come loose when they replaced the ignition cylinder. They replied that it was not neccessary for them to remove the steering wheel to complete the repair. I didn't believe them. The car is acutally in my dad's name (I make the payments) and after having the car in the shop twice in a week, he raised cane.
Threatened then with a lawyer for making things go wrong that shouldn't be. I dropped my car off at 9:00 in there morning and was told that I would be called when it was ready for pick-up. I had to call them. My first call was at about 3:00 pm, it was then I was told that they had put some lock-tite on it and was waiting for it to dry/set. I was not called until 6:00 to come pick up my car.
I would like to know what they were doing with my car for nine hours. The service tech said it only takes 4-5 hrs for the lock-tite to dry. We suspect they were fixing everything they messed up when they "fixed" the IAC.
Now this week I go to change my brake pads and find that the part of the chassis to which the caliper is connected is rusted out. The threads for the bolt are actually so rusted that they strip out when you re-insert the bolt. Now it's in the shop again and I have no idea how much its going to cost. Since purchasing this car I have gotten married and we are looking to get a second car. I would like to think that Ford will get better, that they will improve their customer service and cars. But, even though my wife would like an Escape; I cannot see myself investing in another car Fixed Or Repaired Daily.
Timothy
Westmont, Illinois
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Timothy
Westmont,Illinois,
U.S.A.
This particular product has been in use since the 1930s and NASA has used them on every space shuttle per company website
#4Author of original report
Sun, May 07, 2006
Heli Coil
Thank you for your comments. I will check to make sure that the bolts are still doing their job. I think I will check the more regularly now that this type of part is installed. After reading your comments I thought I would research the product itself. When I talked to Andy, of course he said it was safe and that they had been doing it for a long time.
Well he was right. This particular product has been in use since the 1930s and NASA has used them on every space shuttle per company website. Time will tell whether or not they are practical and safe for the application I have used them for. Additionally I have written the company and asked them about their confidence in their product for such an application.
Nuri
Www,District of Columbia,
U.S.A.
Lifesaver??
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, May 06, 2006
I would think twice before doing anything about your braking system. Are you sure that the repair Midas did is going to hold up to 1700 pounds of pressure?
To replace the tierod end, you do not need to take the caliper off.
In most cases you do need to pull the steering wheel out in order to replace ignition lock. If your steering wheel was loose, then you would be able only to slide the steering wheel up and down. Then all of a sudden you mention tierod replacement??? Yes the play in tierod end will couse 3 inch movement...
I have worked on cars that had electrical problems. Brand new cars. Customers would go balistic. Most common reason customers would park cars near trash containers. Rats would end up in engine compartment, warming themselfs, while biting off wires. Thats not covered under any warranty.
What they were doing with your car for 9 hours? Are you the owner of the company? Don't you thing there are other customers inline?
IAC will not shut down the engine while driving. As its name states, idle air control valve...IDLE...you might have problems having the engine idle.
There are 2 bolts holding brake caliper bracket to the knockle ( spindle), the bolts are more than often, seized b/c of the heat. Just applying heat to the bolt before removing it, it will loosen the bolt just fine. Maybe the tech just used airgun and forced it loose, causing the threads to strip. Just this past week I worked on rear brakes ( ford explorer)and ford used Lock-tite to make sure it doesnt get loose from vibrations....Now, can you imagine how frustrated I was? That was unnesseserry. The point is... I could have stripped the threads very easely but I didnt. I knew what im doing.
All of the above is irrelevant, but have someone check your brakes again. Have them make sure the caliper bricket is still tight and the system is safe, for you and people around you.
""Thank Andy at Westmont Midas you're a...well lifesaver."" Lifesaver???...I doubt.
PS"Please take a look in any major news parer, job opportunities section. Only the dealers offer jobs to unqualified people. " No experiance needed, will train... Now guess how they get trained. On your car !
Nuri
Master Tech
MD vehicle safety state inspector
ASE Tech
Timothy
Westmont,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Repairs for less
#4Author of original report
Fri, May 05, 2006
Just last night I posted the above report. Since then I have had my car looked at and here what they are telling me: The spindle itself is an item covered under warrenty, but because it looks like someone cross-theaded, or stripped the thread it makes it a workmanship defect, which the is not covered by the warrenty. After thinking about it a asking some questions, we now believe the shop who replaced a tie rod I had bent this last winter put the brake caliper back on incorrectly. All said Ford wanted $727 to replace the spindle and hub. They said the hub was necessary because the old one would be damaged when they removed the spindle from it. All this for a stripped out connection. I got to thinking how much would Midas charge for the same job. So I called and he asked me why I was going to replace the whole spindle for the one joint. I was like thats what Ford had told me needed to be done. He suggested Heli-coil; I'm sure if thats how you spell it and I have certainly never heard of it, but it worked and the grand total was only $124. A little more than $600 less. I realize that the dealer would have installed a new spindle and hub and that's why it would cost more, but it makes me ask the question, "Why would they sell me something I don't need?" Money would be the answer. Thank Andy at Westmont Midas you're a...well lifesaver.