Subject: 
2001 Focus


Mon, 9 Jan 2006 12:16:22 -0500
Date:    





This is my first and last Ford.  The first thing that happened was a recall
on the fuel pump for a surging problem.  The new fuel pump did not fix the
surging problem.  Then I paid to have a valve replaced and was told THAT
would solve the surging problem.  It did not and the dealership can't seem
to feel it surging even though it does on a regular basis.  I was told this
was a common problem and not covered by any recall other than the fuel pump.
Then the AC quit cooling - not good in a FL car in the middle of the summer.
Evaporator coil under the dash was leaking.  Again I was told this was a
common problem but not covered by any recall - COST $1200.  Then I get in
the car on Saturday morning and the key won't turn.  I called the dealership
and was told this was a common problem.  I had the vehicle towed to the
dealership and just received a call regarding the cost of replacing the
ignition switch - COST $356!!!  Again, no recall on a COMMON problem.  When
the tow truck driver came to pick up the car, without prior knowledge of
what was wrong, he asked me "What's wrong?  Won't the key turn?"  I asked
him how many of these he had picked up for this problem and he said it was
too many to count.  This car has less than 40,000 miles on it.  I am
sometimes required to travel from the west coast of Florida to the east
coast for my job.  I travel about 2 hours on roads where there are no
dealerships within 200 miles.  What would I have done if the key thing had
happened then.  As a single woman I no longer feel I can trust my car to get
me where I need to go safely.  In reading some of the other complaints
listed here I guess I am lucky it didn't burn up.  I have smelled an
electrical burn smell in the past and am now concerned that the car is going
to burn up.  I guess the old adage "Fix Or Repair Daily"  still exists.  I
HATE this car.  I am getting rid of it asap.  This is the straw that broke
the camel's back.

Bev C