2003 Ford Focus: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed May 9, 2009 · Engine · 59,528 miles · NJ

2003 ford focus, early morning squeaking, mid day, vibrating, late afternoon, car starts to shake excessively and as I drive into my driveway a really loud banging noise comes from the front of the car, so loud it scared me, I turned the car off and open the hood of the car and notice that the metal mounts that hold the engine broke in half and a piece was still on the motor. My engine was hanging from the left side, you could see it from the bottom of the vehicle. My insurance company comes out to check the damages and said in his 22 years of viewing vehicles for claims he's never seen anything like this. My mileage is 59,528, I'm still paying for this car, until 2012. This should not have happened to a six year old car with this little mileage. I called ford to check if there was a recall on this situation. I was told no. I went on the internet to search for complaints regarding 2003 ford focus, found many complaints of many things wrong with this vehicle and several regarding the vibrating of the front of the vehicle relating to motor mount problems. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was told that this incident created a problem with the axel as well. This is going to cost me a lot of money. Waiting for an estimate of repairs on 5/9/09.

Filed Jul 1, 2008 · Suspension · 79,370 miles · KY

Driving under normal conditions at 45 MPH I heard a pop followed by a grinding noise from the front passenger side wheel. I immediately pulled over to find my car leaning noticeably to the front passenger side. Car was towed to ford dealership and I was told that both front coil springs as well as the front right tire needed replaced due to coil spring corrosion and resulting failure of the front right coil spring.

Filed Oct 29, 2007 · Electrical · GA

After fueling, my daughter tried to start the car (2003 ford focus wagon), but the key would not turn. We got the car to the dealership where we purchased it, and the key cylinder had to be replaced by a locksmith. The total cost of the repair, plus the towing, cost over $200.00. Meanwhile my daughter's car was stuck at the gas pump, where other customers wanted to fuel, but could not do so. I'm glad my daughter had not run over a nail, like I did the other day, having to pull over to the side of a busy interstate highway, and then have this problem occur. Depending on where this kind of thing happens, this could be a very serious safety concern. Not only with the vehicle, but with the place the vehicle is stranded when it occurs. I have found out that ford has known for quite some time about this problem, but they refuse to recall cars to fix this problem, and continue to use this defective part in their ford focus vehicles. The extended warranty I bought was the most expensive one, and yet it covers everything but the ignition switch, it seems. Unless ford decides to reimburse me, I will never purchase another ford product. This is the fourth ford focus we have purchased. If I don't find satisfaction with this problem, it will certainly be the last. On top of all of that, my focus has had squealing brakes since the day I bought it, and ford has refused to repair this, as well, saying that it's "normal." no way this noise is normal. I'm fed up with ford at the moment.

Filed May 18, 2007 · Suspension · 17,709 miles · WY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. While driving 30 MPH, the contact heard several squeaking noises coming from the front of the vehicle. The dealer inspected the front suspension and found the spring rubbing on the strut cover. The failure affected the front shocks on both sides of the vehicle. The dealer stated that the strut needs to be replaced, but it is not under warranty. The contact had it replaced and paid $550.62. The current and failure mileages were 17,709.

Filed Jul 13, 2006 · Brakes, Electrical · NC

Owner of a ford focus/2003. Ignition switch locked up and had to get my car towed ($45.00) as well as pay for repairs ($183.00). Called ford headquarters and talked with a representative about being reimbursed. I also mentioned the problem I was having with my gauges. Upon starting car, gauges are all out of wack, swinging back and forth and landing on zero. After being on the road for about 15 or 20 minutes they will positioned at the right place. The representative seem to only care to hear about one of the problem (ignition switch) and not the other one. I was put on hold for a while and when rep return she told me to call company that was repairing my focus and they will help me in this matter. I called the company and the guy that eagerly took my money stated that he will do a claim for me and he stated that I will get some of my money but not all of it back. In checking the recalls I see ignition switch lockup is one of them. I only have had my car for a little over a year. My windshield is cracked and insurance says I must pay $250 before they fix it, when turning on air conditioner, driving seem difficult (hard to pull), liftgate water leaks, and upon purchasing my car, brakes were squeaking; I mentioned this to the dealer and he told me not to worry about it that the brakes were new and had to be broken in. Well they are still squeaking after a year in a half. I need all of these things fixed on my car, right now I am a month behind in car payments (good record on making my payments), had to use the money to get the ignition switch repaired.

Filed Apr 12, 2006 · Wheels · 33,000 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55mph a grinding noise was heard coming from the wheels. Upon inspection the dealership determined all four wheels were turned inward because the vehicle was out of alignment. There was wearing present on the tires. The vehicle was exchanged.

Filed Apr 6, 2006 · Brakes, Suspension · 63,645 miles · GA

Dt*: the contact stated after driving for 30 to 45 minutes the rear passenger side hub is hot to the touch. The rear brakes are making a squealing noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where both rear brakes and wheel bearings were replaced. However this did not correct the problem. The dealer and manufacturer have been alerted.

Filed Mar 18, 2006 · Brakes, Transmission · 10,453 miles · CA

My calipers have failed twice on my 2003 ford focus sedan. I bought it new in 2004 as a end of model year and have lots of brake and acceleration issues. My brake light comes on all the time when I am driving. The car won't accelerate and makes a loud revving noise. I have about 27k miles on it and the calipers failed at 10k and the second time at 22k. It was covered under warranty but the ford mechanics said they didn't know why it has happened. So the reason it fails has never been repaired but they replace the calipers. How they have failed to repair the brake lights from coming on was to replace the parking brake (but didn't fix the problems). The brakes make a squealing metallic noise and I was told that was 'normal' by the mechanics. After bringing it to the dealership over 10 times I was told by the mechanic to bring my problem to ford co. When I said the car is not safe and that I want it repaired or for them to buy it back they said I was 'doing' something to make the calipers fail. I was also told that they would not cover it under the warranty!

Filed Oct 16, 2005 · Brakes · 23,000 miles · TX

I purchased this car in sept. 2003, brand new. This spring, with only 23000 miles on it, the car began making an awful grinding noise. I took it to the dealership the next day, and they had to replace the front rotors, at a price tag of near $400. Of course my warranty did not cover it. I am very disappointed in this car, and in ford for selling a car that obviously has a faulty, poorly made braking system. Only 4 months after the initial repair, I have begun having problems with the car again. I will absolutely never purchase another ford again. I am very unimpressed with them.

Filed Sep 27, 2005 · Brakes · MI

I currently have a 2003 ford focus, which in general has been a pretty good car to me, if you take away the worries I've had about stopping! The brakes have squeaked since about 6 months after I got the vehicle (brand new) and when I took it in they said the pads and the rotors were gone. Not surprised since I had grinding and squeaking, but yet amazed that the car was so new with so little miles and the brakes are already having an issue. When the car was finished, it didn't squeak or grind for a couple of days - but then went right back to grinding and squeaking. I talked to another girl with an 03 focus with the same issues. Why can't all of us with the 2003 ford focus get together and complain together? I am still worried everytime I drive it that one day it won't stop or something. This should not be an issue, for I pay for this vehicle every month and it should be serviced correctly. I also encounter many ford engineers in dearborn michigan that say they have heard many reports such as this. Can I ask why nothing has been done about it? They say that the newer models have better break systems... How does that help the 2003 model owners?????? Something should be done about this.

Filed Jul 20, 2005 · Brakes · 18,000 miles · NE

I drive to work at the speed limit and I use the brakes very softly. I was parking at work and my brakes started to really grind. Took the car into the deealership and sure enough the car which had 18,000 miles on it, had to get new brake pads.

Filed Apr 4, 2005 · Brakes · PA

While applying the brakes a loud squeaking noise came from the vehicle. Driver took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that left and right brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced due to corrosion.