2001 Ford Focus: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Dec 30, 2010 · Suspension · 62,000 miles · IL

2001 ford focus se, VIN [xxx], 62000 mi. - both front coil springs are broken, many people have had the same problem and ford only issued extended warranty number 03m02 for 1999/2003 model years. I have had the car for almost 2 years and never received any info from ford about the problem. Spring breaks and rubs against tire and causes blow out. Faulty springs. Ford admits defect but said I was past warranty date as of 09/26/2010 they would no longer cover the problem - disgraceful. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 23, 2007 · Tires · SC

Cooper cobra gt radial - model: 87tp195/60r15 m + s problem: (2) tire separations and (1) separation with bubble.

Filed Sep 8, 2005 · Electrical, Lights · 78,000 miles · AZ

Dt: the rear tail lights do not come on when lights are turned on. The dash panel lights also do not come on when headlamps are on. The turn signals work, and rear tail lights do work when brake pressure is applied. The consumer replaced a fuse several times, and it continued to blow out, indicating a short in the electrical system. Between the hatch and the body there is wiring harness, and inspection of that wiring harness discovered that the shielding of the wiring separated or cracked, indicating the wires are stressed. The consumer feels this is a problem indicated on a recall for prior model years. The consumer contacted ford, who said this was not covered under warranty, and was not involved in a recall. The consumer has not taken vehicle to a dealer at this time. There have been no repairs or corrections made other than the electrical tape that was placed on the exposed wires by the consumer.

Filed Oct 18, 2004 · Tires · 35,000 miles · CT

I have a 2001ford focus. My daughter just had a blowout of the front tire while driving over railroad tracks in danbury ct. The tracks do not stick up very much. This is the 3rd blow on this car. The car only has 35000 miles on it. The tires are firestone firehawk gta 02. I have looked on the internet and many other people with the ford focus have this problem. They also claim they are an all season tire and if you look on tirerack.com everybody says they are terrible in the rain and snow. They are the lowest rated tire on the site in their relative catagory. My brother talked to firestone when the first tire blew out and they said they would only prorate the tire. They didn't feel the tire was defective. We ended up getting 2 different brand tires and those are fine. I now will go and purchase 2 more, I will not wait for the 4th tire to blow out! They still have plenty of tread on them so its a shame, but I feel these tires definitely have a manufacturing defect.

Filed Apr 30, 2004 · Tires · 25,000 miles · IA

(1) driving along I-80 in illinois between the iowa border and peru, illinois. (2) rear passenger side tire blew out. It was completely shredded. (3) the tire (firestone firehawk) was replaced.

Filed Mar 5, 2004 · Tires · MS

On feb 28, 2004, driving on I-10 from louisiana to houston, first heard a pop noise, then immediately felt loosing control of wheel, tried to hit breaks to slow down the car, and then my 3 years old ford focus flipped over, and thanks god nobody got injured, and everyone was wearing a seat belt. Checked the car, the tread on the right rear tire(good year) looked ripped off, assume this tire blew or exploded during the drive on highway, which is very serious situation. Insurance is still investigating the case. But more ridiculously the la police gave a ticket for 'can't maintain the car". We got 4 new tires for only about 2 months, everything is in good maintenance, and there was no driving fault or other accident associated with my accident, plus we were the victims of this tire explosion, we almost lost of life during the deadly flip over. The insurance is doing the investigating about tires, we don't have much to complain, but it may take a while to deal with goodyear then. Now for this 170$ ticket, 5 hours drive from my home in mississippi, what we should do to deal with the la police? I feel like they should ticket goodyear instead of innocent victims like us, but 5 hours driving to court is really annoying especially we are still driving a rent car during this moment. Is there anywhere we can discuss this police manner except 5 hours driving to la court? Frustrated car owner lingyun jin sun.

Filed Aug 26, 2003 · Tires · 11,950 miles · GA

Bulge formed in the sidewall of the original firestone firehawk gta 02 tire, size 205/50r16, as provided as original equipment on my 2001 ford focus zx3. The bulge seemed to include the area where the steel belts join with the sidewall, so I had the tire replaced immediately for fear of a tread separation event.

Filed Mar 13, 2003 · Tires · 32,000 miles · PA

Tread separation on firestone firehawk gta p205-50r16 tire. I was told by firestone dealer # 591289 (johnstown, pa) that the tire was "cut" on the sidewall due to abuse. This tread separation is clearly due to a defect as if it were a "re-cap" in my opinion. I also had the tires looked over by an independent tire retailer who concurred with my suspicions.

Filed Dec 5, 2002 · Tires · IL

The driver side rear tire are warped and tread separation please fill in additional information on the tire. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ts

Filed Nov 2, 2002 · Tires · MA

The right rear tire has a bubble on the sidewall. Firestone does not have available size to replace it and sent me home with it that way, which I thought rather careless. Furthermore, I have replace 2 tires, and nassar ford replaced one tire. In the short amount of time I have owned the car, I have had 5 flats. Needless to say I have no confidence driving and firestone has offered no viable solution. Dt

Filed Sep 6, 2002 · Visibility · WA · crash

My daughter was in a fender bender. She was behind someone at an intersection. They were both turning right. The person before her proceeded through the intersection. My daughter looked to her left for vehicles and started through the intersection. The vehicle in front of her stopped and she rear ended it. There was no damage done to the other vehicle and her focus has a small dent in the front fender. The damage came from the fact that the airbags deployed and blew out the windshield. If my daughter had not been wearing glasses, she may have received an eye injury from the shattered glass. The dealer claims that the airbags should deploy at that low of a speed and it is expected to blow out the windshield.

Filed Jun 6, 2002 · Brakes, Tires · CA

I have reported numerous problems to you with this lemon. The dealer was told when the car had 5000 miles, that there was a brake problem. Several experts have noted that there was a faulty caliper causiing the brakes to fail and the tires to continually blow out, resulting in numerous roadside emergencies. The dealer has reused to either repair, or replace the car from the beginning stating they will not lose money and that the same thing has not occurred often enough. The car is inoperable since the defective caliper, the rotors, and the shoes are all severely worn. The repair shops state that the car is too new to get the parts and that only fordd can get the parts. They want me to pay $200 minimum for each item of at least four, saying they will have nothing to do with it. This is what they have been stating since my complaints began. I have reported these facts to you before, numerous times, as well as by telephone. I have gotten no results. I am disabled and have spent the last week home alone without the ability to get my medical care, and other needs. This cannot go on.