Steering Wheel problems of the 2002 Ford Focus

My 2002 Ford Focus wagon needed brakes because the front end would shake when I applied brakes. Also noticed a whirling noise from the back off car but did not mention that to my mechanic. He took it for a test drive and asked if I noticed the whirling noise too. He said he was concerned and checked that 1st. My right rear tire was frozen and not turning, that's where the noise was coming from. It had to be cut off in order to be replaced. He told me that the wheel could have broke off while driving and could have killed me, I had that repaired, along with front end brakes and replaced warped rotors. Then just 2 days later backed out of my driveway and broke a front right coil spring. A year later replaced the alternator. And last week just had to pay for a rebuilt transmission, because would not shift properly, upon observation the transmission had metal chips in transmission fluid and needed to be replaced. I cant believe no recall on this car!.

I purchased this vehicle new, took delivery 9/28/02. A few months later, I noticed the material covering the steering wheel had developed some rough spots in the surface. I could not remember doing anything that would have scraped or roughened the surface. The material covering the steering wheel has continued to crumble off until now, large chunks are missing off about 6" of it, with the metal of the underlying steering wheel showing in a couple of spots. Another several inches are starting to disinigrate. The wheel does not rub against me while I am driving, but is occurring along the lower 1/3 of the wheel. Today, 7/16/03, I took it into the dealership to be replaced under warranty. They eventually agreed to do so, but not before the service technician tried to intimidate me out of replacing it by insisting that I had damaged it myself. I had to argue with both the technician and the service manager before they agreed to replace the wheel under warranty. This is a safety issue, for had they been successful in intimidating me, or other owners with the same problem, a faulty steering wheel unsafe to hold is what the owner would have been left with. I have filed this complaint for statistical purposes and for public information purposes.

When applying the brakes in a sudden stop. The steering column "locked up" so no evasive action to avoid the car in front could be taken. (the ability to steer the vehicle was lost) dt.

Consumer called completing about a really bad vibration on the steering wheel everytime he apply's the brake pedal he also stated that the vehicle has stall on different occasion while he was driving on the street. Dealer has been contacted and stated that the vehicle had problems with rotors but later nothing was found. Ts.