2003 Ford Focus: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 12, 2018 · Body, Steering · 109,000 miles · PA

I was leaving a parking lot doing no more than 5 MPH when the car made a sudden jerking motion. Had the car towed to a garage. The damages were severe rust, sub frame rotted, right front axle broken, right front control arm broken, sway bar bent. The tow driver said the wheels could have fallen off my car and I could have been seriously injured or killed because of the thing that went wrong. I put myself and my family in danger with this death trap. Supposedly this car was inspected february 2018. With everything that went wrong with it and the damages, I dont see how it could have been. I believe there to be fraud involved and believe this matter should be investigated further for putting lives in danger. I paid $3,000 for this car in the middle of feb. 2018. It is now august and it had incurred $3,000 in damages. I sold the car for salvage at $125

Filed Jun 22, 2007 · Steering · MI

I purchased my 2003 ford focus zx3 just over a year ago and have recently had trouble with the steering wheel locking up. After jerking the wheel around a bit I've always been able to get it to start until today. But today when I went to get in my car and go to work no amount of jerking or twisting would get my key to turn and my car to start. Before calling for a tow I decided to check for info on like and what do I find? That this problem has been going on in the zx3 since 2000! And nothing is being done about it! So now I'm going to have to drop over $300 on a fix for my car and from what I read I'll probably have to do the same thing again next year. Why is the being allowed to go on? If ford cares so little about the people that drive their cars that they can't find a long term fix to a well documented problem than you can be sure that this will be the last ford I purchase.

Filed Oct 22, 2006 · Electrical · 86,000 miles · MO

I have had ignition problems with my 2003 ford focus. First incident in july, 2006 and am now experiencing another. I have a small child and do not want to be stranded somewhere just because I can't get the key to turn in the ignition. I am now also dealing with (today) a solenoid malfunction in my transmission (3rd gear). This is the 2nd time this has happened to me as well. The car jerks like crazy and wouldn't go over 30 MPH. Thank goodness I was close to a side street to exit the highway. This is getting ridiculous that these issues are not being recalled. The ignition is a huge issue with enough people....

Filed Sep 20, 2005 · Acceleration · 46,500 miles · FL

Dt: the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated when he depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle lurched forward about two feet. He had to press hard on the brakes to keep the vehicle from lurching forward. This did happen every time the contact drove the vehicle. The contact has contacted the service dealer, and they stated that it could be something within the computer, but they were not sure what was wrong with the vehicle. They instructed the contact not to drive the vehicle. The contact has not contacted the manufacturer, but was going to call after he filed a complaint with the federal safety agency.

Filed Aug 26, 2005 · Acceleration, Transmission · 3,000 miles · TX

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. While approaching a stop sign driver began to slow down, applied the brakes, and vehicle suddenly surged forward. Driver had both feet on the brakes. Driver has to turn off the engine to get the vehicle to slow down to a stop. *ak the vehicle also jerked went the consumer reached speeds of 55 MPH and higher.

Filed Jul 13, 2004 · Suspension · 10,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

1) prior to incident, car had been returned to dealer with clunking noise complaint, sounding like from left front. Dealer referenced tsb 03-20-02, replaced sway bar end links (twice), tightened loose strut mount body bolts. Owner still heard popping noise. 2) day of failure, driver had just exited curve to left and driving in straight section. Car lurched to left, across centerline. Driver (over)corrected, veering off road to right, striking tree with left rear. Driver side front wheel askew due to broken lower control arm and broken sway bar link, which resulted in disconnected cv shaft. Damage patterns indicate failure preceeded off-road excursion. 3) car probable total loss.

Filed Apr 29, 2004 · Acceleration, Brakes · 1 miles · FL · 1 injury

. 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.

Filed Apr 1, 2004 · Suspension, Transmission · 3,000 miles · MA · crash

While driving the vehicle suddenly began to jerk. As a resulted the consumer lost control of the van and hit a tree. The van was totaled. *nm