2011 Ford Focus Suspension Problems

THE VEHICLE HANDLES HORRIBLY ON WET AND/OR ICY ROADS. WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR SIGN AT EVEN A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE THE TIRES HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TRACTION. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE FOR WET/ICY ROADS I'VE EVER DRIVEN. IT IS ALSO THE FIRST, AND MOST LIKELY THE LAST, FORD I WILL OWN.

SINCE NEW THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE ON SLICK ROADS. THE REAR END ROUTINELY STEPS OUT OR SLIDES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY EVEN WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT THE REAR END HAS A SENSATION OF STEPPING OUT WHEN CORNERING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RE-ALIGNED BY THE DEALER TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE OEM TIRES AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT PIRELLI TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND EVERY WINTER SINCE. AS DESCRIBED ABOVE THE HANDLING ISSUE IS ALSO ON DRY PAVEMENT IN SUMMER, JUST NOT AS DANGEROUS THEN.

FORD FOCUS TIRES 2011 FORD FOCUS PROBLEMS WITH TIRES/SUSPENSION AND WARRANTIES PURCHASED 2011 FORD FOCUS NEW 20 MONTHS AGO (WITH KUMHO TIRES, EVIDENTLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY) AND IT HAS HAD REGULAR DEALER(S) MAINTENANCE. TOOK TO PURCHASING DEALER - (LUTHER) NORTH COUNTRY, COON RAPIDS MN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON NOVEMBER 16, 2012 WITH 35,366 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT TIRES WERE 2/32 SHOWING CORD (SEVERAL 1" BY 3" SPOTS), 2/32, 4-6/32, AND 4-6/32; AND DEALER RECOMMENDED 4 NEW TIRES (TIGER PAW) COSTING $561.95. I ASKED AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PRICE REDUCTION FROM EITHER FORD OR KUMHO WARRANTY. NOTE THAT FORD TIRE WARRANTY GUIDE BOOKLET STATES 30% FOR 24K 36K MILES; KUMHO (WEB) STATES 60K MILEAGE COVERAGE AND 40% FOR 36K. INCIDENTALLY AS A CONSERVATIVELY DRIVING MECHANICAL ENGINEER, BOTH MY NEW SABLE AND RANGER MET/EXCEEDED TIRE MILEAGE COVERAGES. I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH NORTH COUNTRY, BUT HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE WITH FOCUS AND KUMHO TIRE COMPANY; JUST GOT NEW TIRES FROM A LOCAL, WELL-REGARDED, TIRE SHOP; AND THINK FORD/KUMHO SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AT LEAST $180 (30% OF THE NEW TIRES COST). NOTE: I HADN'T IMAGINED 60K MILES TIRES GOING THROUGH THE CORDS AT 36K MILES. WE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A 4500 MILE MAINLY INTERSTATE TRIP. IF IT HAD BEEN MUCH LONGER, A TIRE MIGHT WELL HAVE BLOWN.ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR