The eBearing News
November 28, 2001
Ford Recalling 280,000 Focus Cars
for Potential Rear Wheel Bearing Failure
copyright © 2001 eBearing Inc.
Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan) has initiated an unprecedented second
recall due to a rear wheel bearing problem with its popular Focus.
Just over a year ago, Ford recalled 260,000 of the 2000 model year Focus cars
due to a problem where the left rear wheel hub assemblies on drum brake cars
were not torqued properly and could separate from the vehicle.
• click here to read the October 2000 Focus rear hub assembly recall
The current recall is for 280,000 Focus cars in 21 U.S. states and 6 Canadian
provinces, covering model years 2000 and 2001, regardless of mileage.
Corrosion caused by road salt could affect where the rear wheel seals ride,
potentially damaging the seal. When that happens, the bearings become contaminated
and fail quickly.
The recall, number 01B85, covers models built at Wayne, Michigan from July 19, 1999
through February 20, 2001 and Hermosillo, Mexico from October 1, 1999 through
June 18, 2001.
Cars in these U.S. states are subject to the recall:
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Cars in these Canadian provinces are subject to the recall:
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario,
Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
In its announcement, Ford said:
In high corrosion areas, where salt is used on roadways in the winter, the rear wheel
bearing seal race may experience surface corrosion. If this condition occurs, the wheel
bearing seals may become damaged and allow contamination to enter the wheel bearings.
As a result, the wheel bearings may prematurely wear and cause a noticeable noise.
If not repaired, this condition could progress to the point where the wheel
begins to wobble.
If the condition is allowed to continue, the wheel bearings will fail.
The Focus uses two different rear hub unit setups, depending upon whether they are
drum brakes or disk brakes (with or without ABS).
On cars with rear drum brakes, new wheel bearings and rear seals will be installed.
On cars with rear disk brakes, the dealer will install new spindles, seals and
wheel bearings. ABS-equipped vehicles will get new tone rings.
The 2000 model year Focus has now been recalled 7 times for safety reasons.
Owners will be notified of the current recall by mid-December.
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