2006 Ford Focus Wipers & Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

HVAC BLEND DOOR STUCK IN VENT POSITION. MOVING, 55 MPH, RURAL 2 LANE HIGHWAY. ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST FROM VENT MODE AND HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND AND THE KNOB MOVED FREELY WITHOUT ADJUSTING THE VENT SELECTION. TOOK THE ASSEMBLY APART LATER AND DETERMINED THE STEEL CABLE GOING TO THE HVAC BLEND DOOR HAD BROKEN FREE FROM THE ADJUSTER KNOB. UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROST VENTS TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. PROBLEM REPAIRED FOR $60 FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY AND HALF AN HOUR OF PERSONAL LABOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW DEFROSTER BECAME INOPERABLE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THE AIR VENT SELECTOR JAMMED WHEN IT SUDDENLY WAS NEEDED FOR DEFROST, THEN THE CABLE BROKE AND THE AIR VENT SETTING FOR DEFROST COULD NOT BE SELECTED, LEADING TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NO FORWARD VISIBILITY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I FOUND MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE, DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL THAT TURNS TO GUM AND STICKS SHUT. THIS CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN LOSS OF DEFROSTING CAPABILITY, AND VISIBILITY CAN BE LOST IN SECONDS. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER FOCUS THAT IS STARTING TO STICK, SO THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, APPROXIMATELY FROM MODEL YEAR 2005 - 2007. *TR

FIRST NOTICED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW DOWN AND BECOME SLUGGISH DURING USE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF CONTINUOUS USE, THE SEIZED UP AND COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THIS WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DURING A HEAVY STORM. INSTANTLY, NO VISIBILITY, HAD TO PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER, TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO FORD SERVICE AND THEY STATED NO PROBLEM FOUND... ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, ALMOST THE SAME SCENARIO, WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE FREEWAY, TOOK BACK INTO FORD DEALER, THEY FOUND OUT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS OVERHEATING AFTER 10 MINUTES AND SHORTING OUT. WIPER MOTOR REMOVED AND REPLACED. $450. INTERESTINGLY, EVERY OTHER 2006 FORD MODELS WHERE RECALLED FOR A WIPER MOTOR ISSUE, EXCEPT THE FOCUS. PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE FOCUS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

WINDSHIELD WILL NOT CLEAR OFF WITH DEFROST ON, EITHER ON COLD OR HOT. IT LOOKS LIKE CLOUDS OR VAPOR CROSSING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DEFROST IS ON AND THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE COATED WITH SOMETHING. TOOK TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE HUMIDITY. *JB