My car when first bought always moaned and groaned upon braking. I bought my car 9/14/2003. The next year in 5/22/04 the rotors and pads had to be replaced with only 3,500 miles on it. The dealer did pay for after a run around. I had to wait a week before being able to take my car in and was told by the service advisor to not drive my car. Here I am in december noise is back and rotors are all bumpy again with only 8,100 miles on it. The dealership is working on taking care of it but I am going to file a dispute with ford motor company .
2003 Ford Focus brakes complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 62 of 62, newest first, as owners wrote them.
18,000 miles on a 2003 ford focus and the brake pads and rotors are ruined, the dealer told me I can expect this with a focus or a escape because of center mounted rotors. The car was inspected by the dealer 2500 miles ago. State police can't help me due the time that has passed since inspection.
The temperature had become colder and the accelerator would not depress without force. The problem would occur whenever the vehicle sat overnight or for several hours. The consumer would depress the accelerator until it would move downwards. The vehicle would lunge forward. It would take 4-5 depressions until the accelerator would move downward. Other problems were the brakes squealing and the vehicle suffered from not starting at times, either the panel lights would engage or the starter would grind. *ak
I have a 2003 ford focus zx5. Bought it brand new in 1/2004. Rear brakes have been squealing for 2 months now. I've taken it to a ford dealer and a brake shop and both have said the brakes are fine. Now there is a definite spongy feel in the pedal and a loud creaking noise from the back, and finally yesterday when I depressed the pedal to stop, the brakes did not work at all for about 5 seconds. I nearly struck a pedestrian crossing in front of me.
Back at about 18000, I took my car to the dealer to have the brakes checked. They were squeaking and had excessive dust on rims. At times I would get a grinding noise. They said "all was fine." I took my car back again with the same issues, at about 20000 miles and was told that I needed new brakes and since the rotors were "so thin" they needed to be replaced also. I asked about the service bulliten that is out on this issue and was told that "ford" was not going to replace them. I am mad beyond belief that there is a "bulliten" on this issue and they refuse to fix it. This new of car should not have gone threw the brakes this quick. That is exactley what I was told on my independent evaluation. Now I am stuck paying for this even though ford is well aware of this problem.
I purchased a 2003 focus from a dealer who had used it for a demonstration vehicle. The car was obtained on or about march of 2004 with about 5,600 miles. At the time the brakes seemed fine. Two weeks ago I heard a noise at 16,800 miles. When I pulled the wheels to inspect the brakes, I found the inner disc pads down to metal and the outer pads with about 1/8 - 1/4" remaining. The rotors are scored on both sides. How is this possible? I had the same problems with my taurus. Anyone else having these kind of problems? I am starting to think that there is a definite problem with ford's front disc brakes, or that the read drums are hopelessly under powered.
Ford focus 2003 rotors wear out incredibly fast.. Took my car in for a 30,000 inspection and had to have new rotors and breaks I was told that many focus's are coming in at 30,000 that need new rotors. Why??? Unless they are defective in the first place.
2003 ford focus brakes are wearing uneven, rubbing, and squeeking. The front rotors have groves beyond allowable limits while 40% of pads remain. Looks as if the front pads are eating the rotors. When taken to ford they say its normal wear, what a lie.. This could cause a terrible accident, im surprised ford hasnt learned their lesson from past experience. Since for has refused to take action on their faulty brakes, there are a lot of folks that really wish you guys would step forward and make them before people get killed.
Every since I bought the car the brakes have squeaked. When I took it in for the first service, I informed the mechanic of my concern about the squeaking brakes and the overwhelming amountof brake dust on my wheels and rims. After that check up I was told my brakes were fine and I pleaded with the mechanic to be sure and again and again he told me everything was fine. This past saturday, august 28 2004, just over 16,000 miles, I took my car in for service and again complained of the brake dust and sqeaking sound and now grinding sound I here. I have been informed that I need new front brakes metal to metal pads and the front rotors must be replaced!!!! This is craziness and I am outraged!!!
While applying the brakes, the pedal went to the floor. The driver heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front. The mechanic informed the consumer that the brake pads and rotor needed to be replaced. The consumer told the mechanic that this problem has occurred more than once and the problem still has not been resolved. Please fill in additional information.
2003 ford focus - front brakes caused overheating of rotors and severe wear of pads - at 20,000 miles.
While coming out of the driveway and coming to a stop consumer depressed the brakes and heard a grinding sound. Vehicle did not stop, and it side swiped a sign post near a school zone. The police did not investigate the incident nor were there any injuries. Vehicle experienced some dents , and the loss of the exterior driver's side mirror.
Brake pads and rotors wear out prematurely. When the brake pedal is depressed it makes a metal to metal noise. Dealership replaced the brake pads and rotors 3 times.
. The federal safety agency. On october 31 of 2003, I purchased ford focus se, brand new.. For five month I own this vehicle, I was in the shop for all kind different problems 9 times. It was: constant very strong vibration while driving at any speed, constant grounding noise comes from engine site and transformed to an ultrasound noise at hire speed, the squealing has intensified and sounds horrible! Transmission locked up while I drove on the highway at 70 MPH, had to use tow track.( dealer sad they cannot duplicate the problem ) ,but transmission still locks and jerking constantly, squeal noise from breaks, (dealer replaced front pads and resurface drum, but refused to repair rear breaks and noise and pulsation is still there., dealer found defective rims, defective tires, throttle problems, brakes problems. Problems with my car intensified. I got my cruse control accelerated by it self in the middle of a highway, transmission locks up and jerking intermittently, brakes squealing and pulsate the ford dealer sales and service people said that I should not return for service and waist any bodys time, he said that what I hear and fill in my ford focus is normal . Ford warranty is not worth a paper it is written on. So, ford wont fix my car and I cannot do it other wise. As a result of strong vibration and squealing noise I am loosing balance, have severe headache, all body eking, I have pain in booth of my arms, and I have difficulty to walk and my right leg become num. I have to use walking cane and knee and ankle support. I scared to even drive it anymore. I am pleading to you, to help .me to get a full refund from ford motor company for its defective product, plus a compensation for all expenses incurred as a result of this ordeal.
On saturday morning I bought the car - a brand new 2003 ford focus se wagon. On sunday morning, I was traveling about 50mph when I applied the brake due to the traffic conditions of the moment. Instantly, the back end of the car swerved to the right in a jack-knife manner. The car spun around and threw itself onto the shoulder of the road. The front end wound up pointed in the direction of the oncoming traffic. Fortunately the car landed in a sandy spot with no damage to the vehicle or to me. It was as if I had hit black ice, except that driving conditions that day were perfect - 50 degrees, sunny and dry with good road surface. In my opinion, this incident may be the result of poor design: that is the rear end of the focus se wagon is too light to hold the road when the brakes are applied at highway speeds, or the brakes failed, causing the car to spin. In any event, this was a near death experience for me. I think that this car is a death trap for me and a hazard for everyone else near it on the road.
When applying brakes at any speed a squeaking sound was heard. Dealer replaced front pads, then on second occurrence, front rotors were replaced. This did not resolve the problem.
When brakes get wet, they make a whistling sound; this problem occurred before when turning; the rotors have been cut and the brake pads replaced; the car has less than 4,000 miles on it.
While applying brakes brake pedal exceeded to the floor and vehicle continued to roll. Consumer stated she had to put vehicle into the park position to stop it.
The brakes are squeeking and making thumping noises at only 6000 miles.
While driving brakes failed, causing vehicle to crash.
Brake failure;I was driving in heavy stop and go traffic in seattle, wa. I was keeping about two car lengths behind other cars. That strategy proved to be a mistake because a large one ton dodge van scooted into the gap ahead of me. We were going about ten or twelve miles per hour when the large van suddenly stopped. I hit the brake pedal very hard and held it to the stop (floor?) and my ford focus continued to move forward about twelve feet without any feel of slowing or stopping. The large dodge van ahead stopped me.
While traveling on the highway and without prior warning consumer applied brake and the pedal went all the way down to the floor. Please fill in additional information.
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