This car has been returned to the dealership on three occasions for brake squeal. Sounds like metal to metal. This is a major squeal not just a squeak. Dealerships repeatedly refuse to fix the problem because they say it's a "normal noise". I've driven cars for 20+ years and never has a brake squeal been normal. It's been taken to the dealership at 7,000, 15,000 and 16,500 miles.
2001 Ford Focus brakes complaints
Page 5 of 8: complaints 101 to 130 of 199, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Front brake has a squeaking noise while applying the brakes with a jerk.
The car starting having problems at 7000 miles. Front end jumping. I had a tire go bad and replaced it. Had the tire rotated and the front end lined up. Then, the noise and the car still did not feel right. I took it back to ford and the rim is bent. Replaced that. So far I am out 250.00 for the tire and 298.00 for the rim/. The problem continued, but by 15000 miles the car was jumping, front end problems. Had the tires rotated and the car lined up again. I have the problems still. ( I was told(way I drive, curves,the way I take the corners, ) well, # one I am 43 yrs old and this is not my first car. I have had mustangs before and never rotated the tires or changed my driving habits. ( what ever). At 15000 the brakes started to squeak all the time (wet, cold, moisture, dry). Per the manual this will happened. I was told that it is common with focus. I had a escort for over 4 yrs and they never did what this car has. With the front and back the recall 02s42/01b85 was done finally in march. This recall stated pinch bolt that retains the steering knuckle to the lower ball joint on your vehicle may not have the proper torque. ****** ( this condition exists, your vehicle may experience vibration or noise... This could eventually lead to ball joint separation with a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash,) this is what I was told ford dealership was wrong with the car since august. I feel that the recall came to late and now my tires are destroyed. One tire is worst than the others. Remember that one tire is brand new ( 7000 less miles).... The brake pedal is still making a noise when I release it at the park mode or stop turn around stop at light or whenever. They have adjusted it 3-4 times. And with in mins. Of them adjusting it, it is back to the same thing. This is a on going problem, wasted time and troubles. I do not want everybody to notice when I have my daughter in the car or I get hurt in an accident. This is important your reply help debra.w.
2001 ford focus, w/ only 17,900 miles - brake pads and rotors shot. Ford will not cover under warranty, because they haven't determined this to be a defect. Ford focus break/rotor defect.
I have a ford focus with only 35,000 miles on it. It is used for light driving, but my rotors and pads are completely worn. I've never had a car that has such a bad brake system. Ford should be responsible for putting such poor quality brakes on a car. It is a safety hazard.
We purchased our 2001 ford focus zx3 in october of 2001. During the first year we experienced several problems with the brakes. These problems included the brakes grabbing at very low speeds, squealing and noise issues, and low performance braking. We have taken the vehicle to the dealership of purchase several times for repair. The dealership finds and repairs the problem every time without charge. The reason for this complaint is that on may 13th 2003 the brakes temporarily failed to engage making the vehicle un-safe to drive. I have contacted the dealership's customer relations manager and I am waiting for a resolution. I wanted to relay a message to the federal safety agency now due to the fact that several repairs have been made and something other than a repair should have been done to fix this problem at an earlier time.
When the brakes were applied, the vehicle experienced extended stopping distance.
My ford focus has been having abhorred brake wear. I have put 50,000 mile on it and had to replace the rotors and pads 3 times. I know of cars going 80000 with no problem. There has got to be something wrong I have had no problems of this nature with any other vehicle.
The driver side front tire had blown out. The passenger side tire was found worn on the inside along with an exposed wire. (these two tires were not of the same manufacturer) other problem were as followed: the button on the cassette player had broken, the adjuster button for the side view mirror on the passenger side had popped off, while driving the over drive light flashed and the vehicle jumped in/out of over drive (transmission problem-per mechanic), the battery light came on, there were no fuses in the wires under the passenger seat, trunk lock popped off, A/C button light on the dash came on when the heat was on, the brakes squealed(since purchase), there was a blind spot on the passenger side mirror, and when the headlights were on, the driver was unable to see other vehicle's due to the seats being too high. Mr scc
I purchased a new ford focus in july of 2001. My wife uses the car to drive on the highway to and from work. We have had the car for 18 months and took the car to the laird noller dealership in lawrence for the 30,000 check up with 33,000 miles on the car. After spending $300 for the check up, we were told that the brake pads and rotors need to be replaced. I have spoken with two mechanics and have been told that the rotors should not need to be replaced on a car that is driven primarily on the highway since there is not a lot of stop and go driving. There a dozens of listings on the intert and the federal safety agency website of the same complaint on their ford focus vehicles. I was told by the dealership that ford puts thin rotors on the focus to begin with so they have to be replaced very early. I was also learned from an employee at the dealership that the person that performed the service on our focus has had trouble meeting his quota of upselling repairs on cars that come in for their check up. After picking up the car, the entire dashboard was shaking and the front tires were making noises. When we brought the car in it was fine , after we picked it up it sounded horrible. We called back up to the dealership and were told to drive it for a few days and it should be fine. After waiting the two days, the brake pads began to grind into the rotors and the car did not drive well at all. I have spoken with ford and with the dealership and they have told me that there is nothing they can do for me and that I am responsible for the repairs. Ford knows that there is a problem with the rotars they are using on the focus, but is not willing to do anything about it. I am worried that are not other problems with the car that may make it unsafe. I have two small children and am worried about driving them around in the car. I believe that with the number of complaints I have seen, ford should be told to initiate a recall on the rotars.
The rotors and pads had to be replaced at a low mileage. *jb.....
The rotors had to be replaced at a low mileage.
The engine missed usually mildly, but sometimes violently as to shake vehicle and sometimes stall, also the vehicle experienced a raw gas smell, suspension, brake,transmission and tire problems.*ak. Consumer also noted the rear hatch popped open by itself.
Front breaks squeaked. Brought to dealer. Put in front brakes and pads. Still squeaked. Back to dealer. Told me now I needed rear brake shoes and the drum needs to be sanded. Car is driven normally and only has 14,000 miles on it.
While braking the vehicle experienced extended stopping.
Check engine light illuminated and the emergency brake failed. *dt
Front disc brake pads are worn and must be replaced after 15,000 miles. Ford dealer claims the premature wear is normal and not covered by warranty. The vehicle is driven gently in a combination of city and open road driving, without any unusual braking requirements. We live near some mountains, but this vehicle is almost never driven in the mountains. There have been no unusual events that might have damaged the brakes. Therefore the pad and/or rotor are defective in design or manufacturer. There is no way that total wear of the brakes should occur in only 15,000 miles of normal driving.
Nary 02/28/2003 mr new front brakes replaced at 29 thousand miles.
Malfunction of fuel filter. Was replaced on two different occassions. Malfunction of steering assembly. Was replaced twice on two different occassions. Malfunction of braking system. Was replaced on two different occassions. All within a 16 month period after purchasing the automobile in may of 2001. It is a 2001 ford focus zx3.
Front brakes and rotor with premature wear
While applying the brake the vehicle has a squeaking noise coming from the rear wheel. Please furnish additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ph
Brake pads and rotors wearing at an unusual speed. (model-zx3) scc
The consumer has experienced the following: the brakes has an abnormal noise, pulsation when moderate-hard braking, and grinding, the accelerator cable clip-broken, battery and case, belt assembly and idler seal, transmission/pan gasket leak, temp guage-found burnt resister/connector-goes hot and cools when A/C is on and the fan does not come on, the vehicle stalled at an intersection, the exhaust camshaft seal is leaking, the fuel sender works intermittently/inop, and the rear suspension-rear shocks-seemed weak and hears a noise in the rear end when going over a dip. Scc
Brakes squeal at least 4 times now. It will be going back for a fifth time next week. The dealer tells me this is normal. I am very embarrassed to drive this car being so noisy. Ts
Squeaking brakes. *ak
While getting on the off ramp when I went to stop the brakes *popped* and failed completely. I had to stop the car with the hand brake. Had it serviced by ford and it was a master cylinder failure.
The firestone firehawk tires, has had terrible road noise for the past 6,000 miles. Even though I had the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Last night after the dealership put a new set of tires on from a new car, to prove to me that it was the tires. I am not happy! Also, the informed me that I would need new brakes...okay, that is possible. However, they also told me that I would need new rotors. Nothing that they could be turned...just that I need new ones. When I still have brake pads. How can that be? Are they made of soft metal that they don't last? That ford counts that as a wearing problem, so the cost is on me?
Vehicles' brake pad deteriorated, they were only at 20% stated the mechanic. Please provide more details. Ph
Consumer reported battery failure. On another occasion the brakes failed. *tt
The vehicle brake rotors are wearing and when the brakes are applied a heavy vibration can be felt followed by extended stopping distance. The dealer has been notified.
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