2000 Ford Focus SE from North America - Comments

Well, first of all one day I was out driving and stopped by my house for a minute and when I returned to my car it would not start. The engine would not even turn over (for about 5 hours). We had it towed to the dealership (under warranty) and the dealership called the next day saying that it magically just started up for them without any trace of the problem we described.

In the course of a few tire changes or rotations (about a 3 month period) 6 or so of the bolts holding the tires on sheared off (clean and smooth) in the lug nuts while being loosened. I bought and replaced 8 of them just in case those last 2 felt like following in their buddies' footsteps.

I also had to get the rotors shaved due to heat warping about 3 months ago. The warping constantly caused my tires to go out of balance.

The "lifetime" front brake pads had to be replaced after about 30,000 miles.

Had the front axle replaced due to loud engine noise that sounded like it was coming from the transmission which ford was nice enough to change for me before realizing it was NOT a transmission problem, they should have just left the new transmission in there for compensation. The noise is gone, but now I can hear about 20 other troubling noises coming from the front of the car.

I love my focus, really I do, in theory anyway. It was affordable for a young couple's first new car. I just expect any new car I buy to run well for more than 2 years! It really was not worth the money I paid for it.

I really think this car should not have been put on the market until they had all of these kinks worked out. I shouldn't have to be paying for their mistakes.

I forgot the last part, at about 40,000 miles the gas sensor started malfunctioning. It now says empty and the check fuel light comes on right after I fill it to full. After about 30 miles it balances somewhere between 1/4 and 3/4 and goes up or down depending on its mood, occasionally dropping all the way to E and popping on the fuel light just for the heck of it.

Sorry about your problems, but I couldn't help, but notice something that I felt you should be aware of. Warped rotors are often caused by overtightened lug nuts. This would also account for the premature wear of the pads. When you tell about lug bolts shearing off inside the lug nuts it certainly seems these 3 problems could be solved by you buying a torque wrench and hand tightening the wheels yourself to insure the they are to factory spec. The high school dropouts who mount tires for a living use air wrenches and are generally inclined to severely over tighten the lugs. It matters not where you take the car because dealers, tire shops and independents all routinely do this disservice. I hand torque every lug every time and I have regardless of what car I own. I also haven't had a warped rotor since I began doing this 20 years ago.

My ford focus 1.6 se is making extremly loud noises from the engine. It's a knocking noise that gets louder as you accelerate. Help me someone please.

Oh boy, loud knocking noises coming from engines are not good signs. Have you routinely checked (every 2 weeks) and changed (every 3,000 miles or 6 months) the oil? Have you raced this car? People usually can't describe noises from cars correctly, but if you truly have a deep, dull, metallic thudding knock that you can feel right through to the gas pedal, it really sounds like your engine has spun a bearing and is about to throw a rod. Sadly, if you never check or change the oil, this will have been your own fault. If it's not truly a knock (yes, there are important differences between all these sounds), and is more of a tick or tap, it could be valves out of adjustment, or it could even be an exhaust leak perhaps where the exhaust manifold gasket might have blown out or is leaking. I would suggest taking it to a mechanic, since it sounds as though you're in over your head.

I have a 2000 Focus SE wagon w/sohc engine, at 102,000 miles a valve seat dropped in the number 3 cyl. damaging the head and cylinder. Have had power door lock actuator problems as well as defective power windows. This car lacks power on the uphill,and when the A/C is on. Wouldn't recommend this car to my worst enemy!