2001 Ford Focus: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Dec 21, 2021 · Suspension, Wheels · 190,000 miles · AL · crash

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving her vehicle at approximately 35 MPH, the ball joint snapped on the vehicle's passengers side. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated nor any indication of a failure prior to the ball joint snapping. The contact stated that when the failure happened to her vehicle it caused her to crash into a ditch. The contact stated that no injuries were sustained and the vehicle was towed to the residence where it remains currently. The contact stated that she did contact the dealer as well as the manufacturer who advised her to contact the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Dec 15, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 165,611 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While driving, the vehicle pulled to the right independently and the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm, ball joint assembly, and axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact did not know if the vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 02v289000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,611.

Filed Feb 6, 2015 · Suspension · 118,951 miles · NY

Right front coil spring broke as I was driving to the mechanic to have a ball joint on my left front tire replaced. Heard a clanging noise while driving. I thought it was from the bad ball joint, when mechanic checked he said the coil spring had snapped. Called ford about safety recall which came up when I put my VIN number into their website. I was informed that the warranty period was over and my car was not covered. It cost me 600.00 to have both repairs done by a mechanic. I filed a complaint with ford while on the phone with them and their advice was to save my receipt and if a recall goes into effect for this problem, I will get reimbursed. I have seen hundreds of complaints about this problem, yet ford just ignores the issue as it is still happening. Now today my back window made a noise and the window fell down and won't go back up. I've already had a new battery, alternator, plugs and coil pack replaced because of surging and stalling. I am also getting poor gas mileage. I was told by ford that there are no open recalls on my car yet I have and am having the same problems that many of the recalls in effect are listing. Very poor customer service by ford.

Filed Dec 30, 2012 · Suspension · 75,735 miles · NH · crash

Front right lower balled joint separated and broke the control arm almost separated the wheel from the car. The car has not been repaired.

Filed Apr 29, 2009 · Airbags, Steering · 113,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

My daughter was driving 2001 ford focus se wagon approximately 45mph when she described steering locked up in turn then she heard tires squealing and vehicle jerked hard left causing her to go off the road, hit a rock wall and flipped the car end over end. The air bags did not deploy. She landed upside down but was able to exit vehicle through broken window. She received cuts and bruises and was taken to emergency room for x-rays where they said she had no serious injuries and was released. On scene investigation by police and tow truck operated suggested ball joint failure or other steering/suspension failure. Car was totaled.

Filed Oct 8, 2008 · Body · 60,160 miles · OH

On 10/3/08 I was changing oil on my 2001 ford focus with 60000 miles and noticed rust holes through the front subframe, which holds the motor, lower wheel control arms to the car body. It is a very crucial part that should last the life of the car. I took the car to the dealer and they said the frame was defective and that if I hit a large bump that the frame may break in half and that it was unsafe to drive. The dealer said that the car is out of the warranty period and there was nothing they could do about it. I called ford and they said the same thing. This repair was estimated by the dealer to be around $900.00. The car is being repaired as I write this. I feel that this is a defective part ford has used and they should inspect and replace the part on this model before one does break and someone gets hurt.

Filed Sep 12, 2008 · Brakes, Electrical · 130,473 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing numerous failures. The main failures were the electrical system, brake system, bent tie rod, shaking and vibrating, rear window mechanisms, and flooding after it rains. The leak occurs on the passenger side and the water rises 2 to 3 inches. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer due to the inspection costs. The failure mileage was 130,473.

Filed Aug 28, 2008 · Steering · 93,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While driving approximately 5-10 MPH, the steering wheel pulled to the left without warning. As a result, the vehicle sideswiped a parked vehicle. The mirror was damaged. The police was not called to the scene. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and has not been repaired. An independent mechanic stated that the steering control arm disengaged, which caused the failure. The failure and current mileages were 93,000.

Filed Mar 17, 2008 · Suspension · 60,000 miles · NV · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While driving 2 MPH the vehicle hit a patch of ice, slid into a curb, and caused the suspension front control arm to bend. A new suspension front control arm was installed by the dealer. On march 14, 2008, while making a turn the vehicle made a clunking noise, the steering failed, caused the vehicle to hit the curb and the suspension front control arm was bent again. The failure mileage was 60000 and the current mileage was 87587.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Suspension · FL

Right rear lower control arm/rear trailer arm broke in half, near the rear right wheel, of my ford focus 2001 after driving on sandy road during a rain shower.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Suspension · CA · crash

My daughter slammed on the brakes at 40mph and the vehicle steering wheel jerked to the right and she felt a drop in the left front side of the car, the car started sliding and hit a curb. When the car came to a stop the front left wheel was broke off. A tow truck took it to the ford dealership. They said it needed a control arm; hub assembly; tie rod end; tire & wheel; axle; brake line; brake pads & rotor; trans pan and inner tie rod. They concluded it was in an accident and it was her fault and the cost would be $2,387.77 just for the mechanical only. She purchased the car september of 2002, putting over $8,000.00 down on the day of purchase with a remaining balance of $6,000.00. At the time of the accident she had no insurance. I beleive there was a problem with car to cause it to go out of control, and feel ford needs to address it.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 39,948 miles · TX

I bought my focus used, it had 38,000 miles, on a trip the engine began to act up. It was revving all the way up but would not go above 40 MPH. After calling a tow truck the check engine light came on, the dealership that I took it to had it for over a week and had difficulty locating the problem. It started and drove just fine for them. I had the fuel pump and filter replaced, as well as the fuel system flushed. While it was there they performed recall work on my battery cable routing, and my one of my engine control arm bolts. Everything was fine for a few months, then I had a tire throw tread, the front passenger side. 1 week later it was back to get the other tire replaced because it had a bubble in it, after learning that I got the rest of the tires replaced. A few weeks ago my brakes started squeling, I had the pads checked they were fine, after they kept making noise I insisted that they were changed. After driving about 100 miles I started hearing a spinning thump. That became very loud. Back into the shop, they replaced a brake caliper, and also I had to get yet another fuel filter, it was begining to become restricted, again. The brake problem even though it had been doing it for a while since I did not have a ford dealership do it was not covered under my warranty, and I am sure that something else will go wrong. Yay!