Wondering if anyone is having this much problems. I'll put them in a list starting with the worst.<br><br>1. My automatic transaxle makes a squeaking/grinding noise when it shifts from second gear to third.<br><br>2. May be related to #1. Gas tank is half full (or half empty for those who differ) I have power problems. Not electrical but let's say im going up a slight grade, the car starts to lose power and begins to downshift. The worst i had this happen to me so far was the gas needle read just below 1/4 of a tank left, and it started to lose power, this caused the engine to stall while driving on a slight grade on the FREEWAY. Cars flying by while ur doing 30 in the emergency lane in a car that seems to have the hiccups is not cool. In the end after I had the car towed to my local Ford dealer, they ran diagnostics on it, and said i had run out of gas. Now I fill up at the first signs of power loss which is usually about when 66% of my tank is used, or 8 gallons of the focus's 13 gallon tank.<br><br>3. When making tight right turns, the inside of my left front tire rubs the inner sidewall, no problems with the right side tire as far as rubbing goes but read #4.<br><br>4. 1 of the "Firestone" tires on my car have "blown out" with about 1 inch hole near the sidewall on the outside of the the front right tire. A second tire I have to get replaced (under warranty :)) because a mysterious bump has formed on the sidewall, this time it is the right rear tire.<br><br>5.I had to have the ENTIRE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY replaced (this included pads, calipers, discs) when they made the worst grinding noise i have ever heard (thought the car was dying). According to the dealer my "brake pads were of defective material that was inferior thus caused near total failure, the car's brakes were riding 'metal on metal' and the entire assembly had to be replaced." Lucky for me I had only had the car 11 month's cause Ford only cover brakes for 1 year so that was a warranty fix. But my god my brakes were "near total failure"!!! Get ur's checked cause those thing were stock.<br><br>6. And finnaly after 12,500 miles over 1 years and 2 months my car still only get 18 mi city and 20-22 mi highway. :(<br><br>I have not modified anything on my cars engine, tranny, brakes, electronics, or tires. The only thing I have had changed is Hyper-Blue headlights, a Ford installed car-alarm key-less entry system (which only works if ur within 10 feet of the car), and any Ford recalls. I use Mobil gas octane 87 primarily but Iv'e used every brand i can find to increase my mileage. If anyone has any advice please let me know. I love this car but it has been warranty nightmare for Ford and a nerve rattler for me.

For me I am in Kauai and the ford dealership here said that the rear brake pads need to be replaced due to a recall. Ford has come out with a new pad for the rear. On shifting from second to third. I normally sense a little power loss but not much to notice. I too have the firestone tires and nothing here noticed. My focus is almost at 15,000 miles on it right now. I normally drive about 500 miles a week. I keep putting in 87 octane due to how expensive gas is over here. I am averaging about 31o miles to 330 miles on a full tank.