Battery problems of the 2004 Ford Focus

2004 Ford Focus. Consumer states transmission gave out with a mileage under 20,000. Consumer requests reimbursement. In July 2009, the vehicle needed a new battery. About a week after the new battery was installed, periodically the cluster lights would make a sound and the lights would blink on and off. It would happen twice in a matter of seconds, but did not happen everyday. The consumer followed instruction on what to do. The situation was a little better, but the cluster blinking, etc still occurred periodically. A week later, as the consumer backed out of her driveway, there were sounds coming from the vehicle and they seemed to get worse. The consumer had the vehicle towed to a transmission shop. Upon inspection, the transmission plate which was located under the engine showed transmission fluid an d excessive amounts of metal fillings. The mechanic showed the consumer the damaged parts where the teeth in the gears were not working properly which caused the metal fillings in the transmission plate.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked. He has not contacted the dealer or manufacturer. The fire department arrived at the scene and are currently filing a report. The fire was caused by the electrical system of the driver side battery. The vehicle is no longer able to be driven. The contact researched other vehicles like his and noticed a pattern of fire related failures. The current and failure mileages were 32,000.

Contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. While driving on the highway the car shut down without warning. No particular speed or circumstance. This incident happened several times on interstate. While going 70 to 75 mph. The car shut down, no battery, no lights, and it was very hard to steer. It happened at stop sign or at speeds of 35 to 45 mph . After putting vehicle in park then in neutral or park it will start back up. Vehicle was taken back to dealership 3 times in the last 3 weeks. Mechanic recalibrated the automatic transmission control module (pcm) ,and was told it would be okay. Took it off the dealership and within 10 miles incident started happening again. Flight recorder was installed on October 6, 2005 was told to push a button every time the vehicle shut off, but the problem was that there was electricity going to anything to make the flight recorder show the problem.

Car was purchased new in 4-04 at 4800 miles brakes groved, dealer said no problem; rotors cut & new pad at 10,000 and at 12000 grinding is back, also a flopping rubbing noise in front right which I think is because the rotor were cut too far and now there is too much play between pads and rotor, also electrical problems, lights, dash icons, door locks go on and off even without a key. Gem module & battery replaced but instrument cluster does not work and is on national backorder. No speedometer, no odometer, gas gauge etc. While driving, door locks lock and unlock at will, dash occassionaly flashed on for 15 seconds and then goes out again. Agency thinks it's the instrument cluster but because they can't get one to replace it, we can't be sure. The computer was kicking out codes for equipment that isn't even on the vehicle. Dealer says never saw this problem before.