2000 Ford Focus SE review from North America

There have been 10-15 recalls in 4+ years.

A month after I bought the car, a small crack started in my windshield began. Ford replaced the windshield under warranty.

Like other reviewers, I had water leakage from the A/C. When Ford fixed the problem (on the third try, but thankfully under my extended warranty), they broke and replaced the windshield (so I'm on windshield #3).

I, too, had problems with the ignition switch sticking when I removed the key. It got so bad that I tried to start my car and the key wouldn't go all the way in! I actually called the police because I was worried someone had tried to steal my car.

I bumped the ultra-wide side mirror on a concrete post at a drive-through window. That loosened it so that I had to have it replaced. Naturally, when they replaced it, they screwed up my window so that it would only go half-way down. They denied it was their fault, but my warranty covered the window problem.

EVERY spring, the air conditioning doesn't blow cold. Having been to FOUR different dealers, the most recent replaced the evaporator (the first one asked me if I knew how to use Max A/C...I can't describe how angry I was at that comment). Naturally, in so doing, they have managed to completely screw up my engine, because they had to seemingly take the car apart to fix it. When I got it back, the dial to change from vent to defrost or floor heat didn't work. They finally fixed that, and the repair is so amateur-hour-like, it's insulting. It still barely works correctly. The biggest problem is the knocking my engine does. I honestly can't believe this car sounds and feels SO BAD at 59,000 miles.

I've replaced the tires as well, and have had similar problems as others with brake dust and what not.

This car was so promising when I got it. Rode great, was very comfortable (I'm a big guy, so the head and leg room was great), had plenty of pep in the engine (I have the bigger/faster of the two options, as I recall). I loved it. Then the problems started. I have had more work done to this car than I expected, and cannot believe I'm seriously thinking about buying a new car and salvaging what I can out of this pile of crap. Very disappointed in the end run with the Focus.