2003 Ford Focus Wipers & Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE HEATER VENTS AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IN HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE OFF (PARK) POSITION. WHEN HE TURNED IT OFF, THE WIPERS WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V258000 ONLY INCLUDED THE 2000-2001 MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED HIM WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER AND REFUSED LIABILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 08/04/09.*JB

BACK IN JULY (ISH) OF 07, MY 4 DOOR FORD FOCUS ZX5 PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WINDOW FELL IN THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING. ON AUG 8, 2008 MY DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL IN THE DOOR AS WELL. I HAD MY 2 GIRLS IN THE BACK SEAT THIS TIME. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TOP PULLEY HAD BROKEN OUT OF THE DOOR CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL. I NOW HAVE 2 NON FUNCTIONING WINDOWS WITH THE SAME THING WRONG WITH THEM WITHIN ALMOST A YEAR FROM EACH OTHER. JUST WAITING FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS TO DO THE SAME WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THREE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.

FORD TAURUS 2003, WINDSHIELD WAS HIT WITH A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON MAY 10, 2007, A CHIP WAS VISIBLE AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS BECAME A 12 INCH CRACK. HAD REPLACED AT A COST OF $197.34. *TR

LEAKING OF RAIN WATER ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CHECKED AND NOTHING IS WRONG. THEY REFUSE TO REINSTALL THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE POLLEN FILTER SEALS NOT KEEPING WATER OUT. IT IS CAUSING WATER DAMAGE TO MY CAR, MOLD IS STARTING TO FORM, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS WILL CAUSE! *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LS HAS MALFUNCTIONED & FAILED TO RESPOND TO SWITCH CONTROL. MOTOR FUNCTION SEEMED TO STILL BE INTACT BUT THE WINDOW DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON THE DOOR PANEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE WINDOW BEING STUCK IN A HALF DOWN POSITION BUT COULD BE PULLED BACK UP MANUALLY WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE. 1 WEEK LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW EXHIBITED THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. AFTER CALLING A FEW LOCAL DEALERSHIPS/REPAIR SHOPS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW(S) HAD PROBABLY COME "OFF TRACK" BUT THEY COULD NOT BE CERTAIN WITHOUT INSPECTION. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF $200 JUST TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, THE ESTIMATE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL FEE'S THAT MAY INCUR THEREAFTER. I CONTACTED TRIUMPH AUTO GLASS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MODEL & THAT HE HAS RAN INTO THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN RECENT MONTHS. HE WASN'T ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AS HE HAD RAN ACROSS IT NUMEROUS TIMES. HE STATED THAT BOTH REGULATORS FOR THE WINDOW MOTOR'S HAD FAILED & ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST TO BETWEEN $500-$600.00 ! I WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THAT EXPENDITURE AT THIS TIME & OPTED TO GLUE BOTH BACK WINDOWS SHUT IN THE UP POSITION. SO NOW I HAVE ESSENTIALLY NO REAR WINDOWS (AT LEAST WINDOWS THAT FUNCTION) & THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE CARPET & UPHOLSTERY FROM THE ELEMENTS. NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR OF POSSIBLY HAVING THE CAR BROKEN INTO OR STOLEN. I DID WISH TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE FREQUENT. I HAVE CHECKED YOUR SITE & SEVERAL OTHERS FOR THE FORD FOCUS & WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY RECALLS OR BULLETINS FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM & A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD AND I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, MARK WILLIAMS

NHTSA PREVIOUS REPORT 01V258000 (RECALL ID 01D-258) FOR FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS - 2001/2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, WIPER DOES NOT STOW - AS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED VEHICLES - WILL NHTSA DIRECT FORD TO "RECALL" OR FIX LATER MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? THE VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE - STATED FORD WOULD FIX, FORD DEALER HAS NO REQUIREMENT, AS THIS IS NOT A "RECALLED YEAR". *JB

THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR DO THE EXACT SAME THING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DID THAT HAD A RECALL THEY DON NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THE HOME POSITION. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING DEFECT IN FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD. *TS THE WINDSHIELD HAD COME LOOSE IN THE CENTER ABOUT 12 INCHES. *SC

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW REGULATOR. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST 15. THE POWER WINDOWS ON HIS VEHICLE WAS RISING SIDEWAYS. IF THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. *JB

FAILURE OF INTERMITTENT FUNCTION ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH AN EARLIER (2001) MODEL YEAR AND WAS SUPOSEDLY FIXED BY FORD, BUT I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 FOCUS ZTS 4 DR SEDAN.

REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED FOR NO KNOWN REASON WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH. THE SHATTERED GLASS FLEW FELL THE VEHICLE WHILE CHILD WAS SLEEPING IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVINGAND UPON TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON RIGHT REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. GLASS FILLED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK

AFTER LEAVING MY AUTO, I RETURNED TO FIND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, BUT IN TACT/IN PLACE. THERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT OR ATTEMPTED ENTRY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE WINDOW AND APPEARED IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY WINDOW. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER'S SEVICE SHOP, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS FORD REP OF THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT SINCE THE AUTO WAS SO NEW, HE WOULD TRY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO. UPON INVESTIGATING IF THERE WAS A FORD RECALL OR SIMILAR REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I CAME ACCROSS AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASSION WHERE THE WINDOW JUST SHATTERED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE INDIVIDUAL SAID FORD CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO WELDING IRREGULARITIES AND SUCH. WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD, HE CLAIMED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS REAR DEFROSTER WAS CHANGED AND THEY HAD GIVEN IT A HIGHER AMP TO MAKE IT HOTTER. SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 DGREES OUTSIDE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HOT AND SHATTERED WHEN COOLING QUICKLY - HE DID NOT KNOW AND WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. REGARDLESS, THE AUTO HAD 440 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF THIS WINDOWED SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY CAUSING HARM TO ANY PASSENGERS IN THE BACK - OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE HARM TO ANYONE. THE AUTO IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE REAR WINDOW IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SEDAN ZTS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS FOUND COMPLETELY INTACT WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT OR FORCED ENTRY. FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR STATING THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAVE THEM SUE FORD.*AK

MY WIFE BARBARA PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS. SHE BROUGHT IT HOME ON FRI. OCT.10TH. 2003, SHE PUT ON ABOUT 100 MILES. SHE PARKED IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. ON MONDAY OCT. 13, 2003 WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS CRAZED. WITH A CLOSER INSPECTION I SAW THAT THE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. THE WINDOW WAS INTACT WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. I DID AND THEY ARE REPAIRING IT. WE LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA WITH NO TRAFIC. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WITH THE REAR WINDOW FACING AWAY FROM THE ROAD. THE TEMPERTURE WAS 38 DEG. F.AT NIGHT AND 70 DEG. F DAYTIME. WE LIVE IN ALPINE, AZ ELLEVATION 8050 FT. *LA

AFTER LEAVING MY AUTO, I RETURNED TO FIND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, BUT IN TACT/IN PLACE. THERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT OR ATTEMPTED ENTRY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE WINDOW AND APPEARED IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY WINDOW. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER'S SEVICE SHOP, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS FORD REP OF THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT SINCE THE AUTO WAS SO NEW, HE WOULD TRY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO. UPON INVESTIGATING IF THERE WAS A FORD RECALL OR SIMILAR REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I CAME ACCROSS AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASSION WHERE THE WINDOW JUST SHATTERED AND WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE INDIVIDUAL SAID FORD CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO WELDING IRREGULARITIES AND SUCH. WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD, HE CLAIMED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS REAR DEFROSTER WAS CHANGED AND THEY HAD GIVEN IT A HIGHER AMP TO MAKE IT HOTTER. SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 DGREES OUTSIDE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HOT AND SHATTERED WHEN COOLING QUICKLY - HE DID NOT KNOW AND WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. REGARDLESS, THE AUTO HAD 440 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF THIS WINDOWED SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY CAUSING HARM TO ANY PASSENGERS IN THE BACK - OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE HARM TO ANYONE. THE AUTO IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE SEDAN.