Alternator/generator/regulator problems of the 2000 Ford Focus

I was driving and my headlights and interior lights started to flicker and the check engine light came on and then the car just quit running after 10 minutes I was able to start the car and get home I have had this car (2000 Ford Focus) for a little over a year the place I purchased it from did not tell me about any problems but I have had problems for the whole time and they have only gotten worse I have put an alternator on it and changed a couple of wires that were melted but it did not help! I am afraid to drive the car now especially with my 2 year old in it with me this car is not safe to drive!!!.

I have a 2000 Ford Focus zx3 and while I am driving down the highway my transmission will rev all the gauges in the car will go up and down and my headlights flash. I have taken it to a Ford dealership they say they fix the problem and as I pull away the same thing happens. So why is it that Ford the people that make my car can't even tell me what's wrong with it. So having taken my car to four different places and the problem keeps happening, nobody seems to know how to fix it, I guess I will have to get another car (it will not be a Ford). This is really great timing with the economy and all. I mean I put a new alternator on, a new battery, I had the ground wires cleaned, a new ignition switch put on. Oh yeah it always smells like something is burning under my hood (like when you blow a candle out). It's pretty bad when you're driving on the highway and basically your car dies,somebody could smash into you causing a pile-up. I am afraid to drive my car who knows what will happen next. I just think if you make a product you should know how to correct the problems so you have a safe vehicle.

Purchased 2000 Ford Focus, VIN 3fafp3132yr227563 from croft Ford on Dec. 19, 2001; mileage was 12,163 (car was still under warranty); have been unable to walk since March of 2002 (mileage on car is now just over 13,000; last 200 plus miles has been put on by Ford dealerships attempting to fix car). Have had this car in to several Ford dealerships; none of which can solve problem of engine surges; dash lights sweeping; transmission bolting; etc. , etc. , etc. This car is not safe to drive; I have notified Ford motor company; the dealerships, etc. , and feel that it should be covered under "manufacturer warranty" . . Instead latest was that Ford dealership wanted $500 to replace alternator and could not guaranty that would fix problem; I already paid $105; plus $110 and the same problems are happening. The car has been at the Ford dealership in woodbridge, va, for over 2 weeks, which leaves my family without a car to transport me. This is not right. I told todd croft of croft Ford that I needed a good, dependable, safe car because this would be the last car I ever purchased. He knew that I did not drive much at all and I feel that he sold the car (with an existing problem) to me thinking that I would never know. My daughter was the one who realized this car had a serious defect and took it to croft Ford to be fixed several months ago; to date, it still is not fixed; is a danger to drive, not only to the person/occupants of the car, but to any vehicles near when the power surges occur and the transmission bolts.

While driving any speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, who repaired the alternator. The car cut off several times while backing our of the driveway. The car continued to stall while driving. The fuel pump was replaced.

Car stalls at low and highway speeds with no warning. Fuel pump has already been replaced under recall program. This happened repeatedly in the past few weeks and prior to the fuel pump replacement. Following pump replacement it stopped for a while, but now is occuring again with increasing frequency.

The vehicle stalled while driving between 30 and 50 mph. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership. The mechanic repaired the fuel pump once, but that did not resolve the problem. The cause was determined by the dealer as a faulty alternator. The consumer has since traded the vehicle.

I purchased a Ford Focus wagon (2000) from rowan Lincoln Mercury in winter haven florida in November 2003. Since that time this "checked out" vehicle has had the following repairs: a new ignition lock (twice), a new battery, new spark plugs & wires, new vacuum hose, and new alternator. Now the transmission is going out on the vehicle. Do I have any recourse against the dealership for selling me an obviously messed up vehicle? my contact with the dealership has been unanswered. The vehicle only had 36,000 miles on it when I purchased it. Everyone that touches the car tells me that there is no good reason for the need of any of the repairs except the spark plugs, wires and battery. Any advice as I am now facing another repair bill in excess of $1,000 for a car that is touted as being one of the most reliable on the road?.

Along with the on going problems I have with my 2000 Ford Focus, I recently stalled while sitting at the light, I came to find that my positive battery cable was so corroded and burt. Causing me to stall. I had taken it to the dealer in August of 2003 they claimed to have inspected and rerouted the battery cable and torqued the pinch bolt. They told me I needed a new battery and offered to do this for me for 190. 00 I declined the offer, never did they mention the cables, I had the battery replaced that same day. Several weeks later my battery light comes on, I take it back to the dealer and they tell me it's my fault and now the alternator will need to be replaced and the frayed positive cable which is burnt completely is not their fault. They tell me that they will not fix the battery cables unless I pay 390. 00 to have the alternator fixed. These issues with my car are as a direct result from this battery cable issue. There are also still many other issues with this car including a leak which they think means the car is actually cracked in half. The service advisor verbally attacks me and gives me the finger and tells me to talk to the hand. The service manager steps in and does nothing to help me. In the meantime I all I wanted was the cables replaced as it is stated in the recall. So I can dump the piece of crap.

Consumer concerned about the amount of recalls on vehicle. The consumer had to replace the cable shifter when the vehicle was only 2 years old. The alternator had to be replaced, the door lock actuators, tires, sun roof control.

On 2 occasions in last week vehicle completely stopped without any warning while driving in heavy rush hour traffic. All electric systems failed. There were no warning lights prior to engine shutting down. First failure, battery replaced; charging system checked but seemed ok. Five days later same thing happened alternator and battery replaced. Afraid to drive the car on highway now, for fear it will shut down without warning at high speed. I was very lucky not to have caused a major accident. Dt.

If all of these things are failing after 2 years how di I know some major component that may cause harm to me or my 2 young children wont go out next. No safetyy defect listed.

Many safety recalls for this car. No safety defect stated.

In April of 2000 the first problem was encountered when the car lost electrical power and went on auxillary power- I was towed to the dealer and the alternator was found to be the cause of the power failure - both alternator and battery were replaced with no further problems to report as of yet. Second problem encountered while idling I noticed the fan was not turning on to cool the engine down- I brought car to dealer in January of 2002 where I was told that there was a problem with the fan relay switch which was replaced to my satisfaction. No further problems have surfaced with cooling system. Thirdly and most troubling is my experience with the automatic transmission. I had noticed the transmission slipping in early 2002 (Jan) and had the dealer look at it- they told me the fluid level was low and added a quart and test drove - immediate afterwards changed gears great - as time went on I noticed it again- I made an appointment with the dealer- before the appointment the car started worsening until complete transmisiion failure occured. The car was towed to dealer wher it was worked on for about 3-5 days - a new transmission was supposed to be installed (4/2002). 2000 miles later and 4 months same problem surfacing again!! I have an appointment in the morning hopefully the problem will be addressed. I believe this problem is a safety concern and an accident waiting to happen- so far I have been lucky enough to escape injury or death. There are over 60 incident reports listed on NHTSA 's web site for transmission failures and I believe someone needs to look into this matter further. I am considering legal options as well as a simple yet effective way of voicing my opinions through never purchasing a Ford again!!!.

We have a 2000 Ford Focus and it has been in and out of the shop for the same problem. The car stalls at times and the lights of the car go off and on as well as the radio and the speedometer go crazy from on side to the other. I can be driving and have the radio off and it will turn on. The car stalled for the first time on oct. 22 2001 and it didn't restart so we took it to Ford and they replaced the fuel pump. The car drove good for a while and then it started all over again. So we took it to Ford on sept. 30 2002 and they told us that it was altenator. So we had it replaced. The car did good for a while and then on July 16 2003 the engine would stall. Ford said that this time it was vacuum leak and they replaced the tube assembly. The car still had the same problem and we took it in on July 18 2003 the engine would stall. Ford said that it was the fuel pump once again. So we had it replaced. The car still had the same problem so we took it back to Ford and they said it was the altenator. We couldn't afford to have it fixed by Ford so we had the altenator fixed with someone else. On sept. 17 2003 we could not start the car and we had to have it towed. Ford said that it was the ignition cylinder and we had it replaced. After all of this the car did ok for a little while but on Jan. 28 2004 the engine begain to stall once again. Ford said that it was the fuel pump once again so we had it replaced. On Feb. 4 2004 the gas would leak when you filled the tank. Ford said it was the pump retaining nut not seated properly. The car still did not act good it started out slow with the car stalling every now and then and then it just would stall and turn off while you are driving. And sometimes the car would not ever start again untill 15 min would pass and then it would start. On Aug. 20 2004 we took it to Ford and they said that the alternator. So we had it replaced for the 3rd time.

Tires wearing out fast, accelerated speed, and engine kill, uneven suspension, indicator gauges and lights haywire. I was told by Ford that I had wrecked the car and had to pay $883. 00 for repairs + $350. 00 for new tires.

On four occasions since purchare vehicle completely stopped with dashboard lights flashing while driving in traffic. Dealer replaced the battery, the alternator. Each time returning the car which once again shut down while driving.

Consumer was on 7th set of tires at 60,000, an alignment with each set. Radio had been replaced twice/ brakes had been completely replaced twice/ wheel bearings had been replaced,and ignition was replaced once after vehicle had been towed. Low and behold, consumer's Focus was sitting in driveway needed to be towed for the same problem again. Car was getting horrible gas mileage, sometimes had brake failure which caused 2 accidents. Also, lugs:nuts had been replaced. The car would sometimes stall for no apparent reason, and was in need of an alternator.

Battery / alternator light came on and stayed on while driving. This occurred three times : first on 4/26/00 at 4332 miles, second on 4/24/01 at 16674 miles and last on 7/5/01 at 20427 miles. Each time the car was repaired by a Ford dealer at no cost under warranty. **** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/01 cut-over to artemis****748178.