2001 Ford Focus Complaint Log

*THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!* WHEN LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START, THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT COME ON...I WENT INSIDE FOR 10 MIN TO TRY TO ARRANGE A RIDE HOME...WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR I DECIDED TO TRY ONE LAST TIME AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP NO PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HOME (AT ABOUT 8.30PM LOCAL TIME...FULLY DARK OUTSIDE) AT APPROX. 50 MPH THE CAR DIED INCLUDING MOST ACCESSORIES, MOST NOTABLY, THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THIS ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, I WAS BRAKING AND THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES BUT NOT FULL BRAKING POWER. I WAS HEADED STRAIGHT AT A LARGE TREE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO LIFE AGAIN AND I MANAGED TO JUST MISS IT. I LIMPED THE CAR ABOUT A 1/4 (AT 10 MPH) TO MY BROTHERS APARTMENT AND IT DIED 2X AGAIN ON THE WAY. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT WIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION INDUCES THE CAR TO DIE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A WIDE SCALE BASIS AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM AND MANY MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS RISK (AS WAS I UNTIL ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO). I HAVE FOUND NO WAY TO GET THE MATTER CORRECTED VIA THE MANUFACTURER AS THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT PART IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL AND IS NOTED FOR SHORT LIFETIME AND FOR FAILING IN THE SAME MANNER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED 4 TIMES, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY STALLING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECALL NUMBER 03V482000 (FORD RECALL 03N01), FOR THE FUEL FILTER, BUT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP FOR 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V482000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.

2001 FORD FOCUS, 6 YRS OLD, ONLY 38K MILES. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO INSERT KEY MORE THAN HALFWAY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER ($75), WHO REPLACED CYLINDER FOR $350. DEALER REPORTS THEY STILL SEE THIS REPAIR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH ON THE 2000, 2001 MODELS. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS -- CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES LEADED TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS. THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING. STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DARKENED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS OBSERVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT A BARREN CAME OUT OF ONE OF THE PULLEYS HOWEVER THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. TWO DAYS LATER THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR OBSERVED A SECURITY VIDEO WHICH IDENTIFIED THE VEHICLE SMOKING AND A WINDOW HAD FALLEN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG CAUGHT THE CONTACT'S SHIRT ON FIRE (INVESTIGATION #EA02017) CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE DEALER NEVER MADE ANY COMMENTS OR DETERMINATIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 11/09/06. *JB

I OWN A FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2001). I SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH MY CAR. MY IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY OTHER FOCUS OWNER HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS PURCHASING A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER (~$400). FORD NEED TO ADMIT TO A FAULTY PART AND LOW QUALITY OF MATERIALS. PLEASE HELP THIS BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL. THANK YOU. *JB

MY IGNITION LOCKS UP AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW AND EACH TIME I HAVE TO HAVE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED COSTING ME AROUND $400.00 EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES AND NOW I HAVE 85,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THERE IS NO SIGN WHEN AND WHERE IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IT JUST DOES AND THEN IT LEAVES YOU STRANDED AND IN NEED OF A TOW TRUCK, WHICH IS MORE COST TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS LOCKED. UNABLE TO PUT KEY ALL THE WAY INTO IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REMOVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT.

REAR WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY EITHER FROM THE DRIVER'S MECHANISMS NOR THE ONE BY THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THE FIRST WINDOW, ALSO REAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE TIME. SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW, AND NOW THE DRIVER'S WINDOW IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO BREAK, I FEAR THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECT, AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT USING PROPER MATERIAL TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE WORKS PROPERLY. BEING UNABLE TO OPEN AND/OR CLOSE THE WINDOW PRESENTS A HAZARD, THUS THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MANUFACTURER AND FIXED AT THEIR AND NOT OUR EXPENSE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER FORD FOCUS LX 2001 93,980 MILES LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET. INSERT KEY - IGNITION LOCKSUP YOU'RE STRANDED AND HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. COST FOR REPAIR BY FORD DEALERSHIP $489.20. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED NOTICING IGNITION PROBLEM - WE CALLED FORD TO GET A PRICE ON THE PART AS MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO REPLACE HIMSELF. WAS TOLD BY PARTS GAL THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM THIS HIMSELF - IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS - THERE ARE NOW SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE WIRING AND INSULATION IT HAS TO BE DONE BY FORD. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE IGNITION WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CALL TOW TRUCK AND TAKE TO FORD. TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMS US THIS IS COMMON DEFECT WITH ALL 2001-2006 FORD FOCUS AND TEMPOS. BEFORE WE HAD IT TOWED MY HUSBAND THOUGHT MAYBE THE KEY WAS JUST WORN OUT - FORD SAID THE KEY DID LOOK WORN AND THE KEY DID NEED REPLACING BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE SPECIAL BECAUSE KEY CONTAINS A CHIP AND IT TAKES SPECIAL PROGRAMMING - KEY COST $35.00 P/KEY LABOR WOULD COST $50.00 - WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT TOWED IN CASE THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM. (DON'T WANT TO BE THROWING AWAY MONEY) NEXT DAY I CONFRONTED FORD MECHANIC ABOUT THIS BEING A KNOWN CYLINDER DEFECT AND ASKED WHY IT WASN'T A RECALL - MECHANIC SAYS HE AGREES IT SHOULD BE A RECALL - BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A TSB TELLING TECHS HOW TO FIX AND TO MY HORROR FIX IT WITH ANOTHER IDENTICAL FAULTY PART. I ASKED IF THERE WAS SPECIAL PRICING SINCE IT WAS FORD'S FAULT. ANSWER NO. ASKED IF NEW KEYS WERE INCLUDED IN PRICE - ANSWER NO. I ASKED IF PROBLEM COULD REAPPEAR. ANSWER YES. IMAGINE IF MY DAUGHTER OR I WERE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE OR ON A ROAD TRIP - WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED OR THE EXPENSE FOR TOWING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN NOW AND I AM HORRIFIED THAT I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $489.20 FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. WHY IS FORD FIXING THE PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PART -RIP OFF SCAM? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES IGNITION SHUTS DOWN AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ONE TIME AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I TURNED THE AC ON AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW COMPRESSOR WHICH WOULD COST 1000 DOLLARS..I FOUND A GARAGE THAT WOULD DO IT FOR LESS USING A USED ONE...MY PROBLEM WAS THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I TURNED THE AIR OR THE DEFROSTER ON. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT..AND AM STILL AFRAID TODAY WHEN I DRIVE IT FAR..WONDERING IF IT WILL STALL OUT AT HIGH SPEED AGAIN AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY JAMMING AND NOT TURNING AND MY NEWEST PROBLEM IS I STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ALL I GOT WAS A CLICKING SOUND.. *NM

2001 FORD FOCUS-WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE. 5 TIMES THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED, 3 OF THOSE WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE WINDOW EITHER DROPPED OR WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP IF WINDOW WAS OPEN. THE FIRST 3 TIMES IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT COOL THE BACK SEAT WHERE MY NEWBORN WAS SLEEPING. ALL 4 WINDOWS HAVE DONE THIS AT LEAST ONCE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW HAS DONE IT TWICE. FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES AND REFUSED ON THE FIFTH TIME. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD IN DEARBORN, MI HUNG UP ON ME 3 TIMES REFUSING ANY SERVICE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED COMPLETELY, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE KEY WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY IN TO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED, AND NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DRILLED OUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER, AND REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER CITED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE SWITCH , REPLACED SWITCH ONE TIME, THE NEXT TIME I HAD TO HAVE THE KEYS REPROGRAMMED ONE TIME AND NOW MY POS IS SITTING ACROSS TOWN WILL NOT CRANK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. IF I SIT IN THE CAR AND BANG AROUND ON THE KEY WHILE IN THE IGNITION FOR 3 OR 4 HOURS I MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY GET THE CAR TO CRANK. NOW ONCE THE VEHICLE ( I DON'T KNOW WHY I CALL IT A VEHICLE ITS MORE LIKE NIGHTMARE ) DOES GET STARTED UP AND AS LONG AS I LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IT WILL RE-START. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS. *NM

WE OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS. FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE BEEN CHASING A FUEL SYSTEM OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM BUG IN-WHICH THIS CAR FOR SOME REASON STALLS. OUR FORD DEALER HAS BEEN CHECKING THE SPARK, FUEL INJECTOR AND OTHER SYSTEMS LOOKING FOR THE STALLING ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD STALL ONLY WHEN YOU TEEN DRIVERS WERE BEHIND THE WHEEL, ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER AND ALWAYS ON CROWDED HIGHWAYS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. TUESDAY WE GOGGLED FORD FOCUS FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT FORD WON A LAWSUIT NOT TO RECALL 2000-2002 FOCUS FOR STALLING ISSUES RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. WE ARE SHOCKED THAT FORD WOULD PUT THAT MANY DRIVERS AT RISK. THE FOCUS BEING A CHEAP SMALL CAR IS DRIVEN BY MOSTLY YOUNG INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS. MY KIDS HAVE HAD THIS CAR STALL SEVERAL TIMES ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE AROUND MILWAUKEE AND GREEN BAY. OUR LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE BAD PARTS N/C BUT THE POINT IS THAT LIVES WERE PUT AT RISK. IF A FOCUS IS RUN OVER BY A SEMI BECAUSE OF STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHO WOULD KNOW THE REAL ISSUE OR BE ABLE TO RECREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAD TO THE ACCIDENT. THE LITTLE CAR AND DRIVER WOULD BE CRUSHED. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS. KEY ( IGNITION SWITCH) FAILED. KEY WON'T TURN . *NM

WENT OUT TO START CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AND IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY ONLY REPLACE THESE TYPES OF PARTS ONCE UNDER RECALLS? *JB

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZTECH. MY CAR WAS STALLING AT RANDOM IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND FINALLY WOULDNT START AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID MY BATTERY CABLES WERE MELTED, SO THEY REPLACED THEM, REROUTED THEM, ALONG WITH MY CLIPS, ETC. THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY MY CABLES WOULD BE LIKE THAT AND SAID THAT IS PROBABLY WHY MY CAR DOESN'T START ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY COULDN'T BE POSITIVE SO THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE MY STARTER AS WELL. THEY CHARGED ME $998. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME IN PREVIOUS YEARS. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE RECALL SITE AND SEE THAT FORD STARTED A RECALL IN 2003 ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T I RECEIVE RECALL INFORMATION ON MY CAR? I'VE STALLED BEFORE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD MY BATTERY REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS TOO MUCH. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN'S SAFETY TO WORRY ABOUT. WHAT BOTHERS ME IN ADDITION TO THAT IS THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I USED SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS RECALL AND RELATED IT TO MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP GETTING NEW BATTERIES/CABLES AND STARTERS. ALSO, MY KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EITHER, EVEN THOUGH MY DEALER SAID IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AT LEAST $400 TO FIX IT. I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN STUCK AT A STORE TWICE. IT JUST WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. *NM

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP AND I COULDN'T GET THE KEY IN. HAD TO HAVE IT DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED - $300. *JB

WHEN WE PULLED UP AT THE STORE THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE; HOWEVER, WHEN WE TRIED TO LEAVE THE STORE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND WE COULD NOT START THE CAR. WE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS (AS IT SAYS IN THE MANUAL) INCLUDING THE MANUAL OVERRIDE ON THE BASE NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND CHECKING FOR BLOWN FUSES. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME WHERE A LOCKSMITH CAME OUT AND REPLACED THE CYLINDER IN THE IGNITION. HE ALSO HAD TO RECODE THE KEYS SO THAT THEY WOULD WORK IN THE IGNITION. THE WORST PART WAS THAT WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, ETC.) AND WE WERE STUCK OUT IN 98 DEGREE HEAT WITH OUR 2 SMALL CHILDREN!! *NM

VEHICLE STARTS SURGING AND LOSING POWER 2 DAYS LATER, VEHICLE STALLS IN LEFT TURN LANE AND CONTINUES AT EVERY STOP(I HAVE TO DOUBLE PEDDLE TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING). FOUND RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP HOWEVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T FALL UNDER NHTSA: 03V482000. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO HAVE THE PLANT MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN TO BE RE-EVALUATED I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL DESCRIBES. *NM

INSERTED KEY IN IGNITION AND KEY REFUSES TO TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *NM

IGNITION DIDN'T TURN, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN KEY WAS TO BANG AGAINST KEY WITH SCREW DRIVER, PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, SO EVENTUALLY I HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. MANY FORD FOCUS FORUMS STATE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM UPON MANY FOCUS'! *NM

I WAS DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHEN MY WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN THE POURING RAIN. I PULLED OVER AND DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO GET HOME. LUCKILY, FOR ME THE RAIN LET UP ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. IT IS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOUR DRIVING AND WIPERS GO DEAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS THANK YOU. *JB

WATER LEAK INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FOOT WELL. STARTED IN JULY, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, FINAL TIME WAS TOLD IT NEEDS TO GO TO A BODY SHOP, POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE BODY PANEL ISSUES? *JB

PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH - MULTIPLE TIMES - FINALLY HAD LOCKSMITH CHANGE THE IGNITION. *NM

VEHICLE STALLS UNDERWAY DUE TO CLOGGED FUEL FILTER. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER THREE TIME IN THE LAST 10,000 MILES. APPEARS TO BE CLOGGED WITH BLACK MATERIAL. BELIEVE THIS COULD BE RELATED TO EA02022. THIS LAST TIME MY 17 YR OLD WAS THE DRIVER. *NM

DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH FRONT DOOR FAILED AND DO NOT OPEN THE CAR DOORS. FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. *NM

FORD FOCUS 2001 IGNITION SWITCH JAMMED. DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND IT WILL COST $450 FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THIS VERY OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE SHORTING OUT. INTERIOR LAMPS FLASH AND FLICKER. SIDE MIRRORS WORK SPORADICALLY. HEADLAMPS FLASH AND FLICKER ON OCCASION. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. *NM

BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THREE YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING AND IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS A KNOWN FAILURE IN THE 2000-01 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART. THE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE IS USELESS. THE WORN KEYS SEEM TO WORSEN THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A 12-18 MONTH LIFE SPAN ON THE PART AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF YOU WOULD GO TO AUTOMOTIVE TALKNET.COM AND CHOOSE THE TOPIC IGNITION CYLINDER ON THE FORD FOCUS YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH OF A RECALL THIS SHOULD BE AND HOW WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE SPENT. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING AND RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF ANY RECALLS. A VALID VIN, THE ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO STRIKE THE TIP OF THE KEY WHILE IT WAS STILL IN THE IGNITION FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE STARTED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2006, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,834 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND BACKFIRE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/07/08 *BF UPDATED 05/07/08. *JB

THE REAR WIPER IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 STOPPED WORKING. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT 5 WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS GOING INTO THE HATCH LID HAD CRACKED INSULATION AND EXPOSED CONDUCTORS. ONE WIRE WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED. I HAVE USED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO TEMPORARILY RENDER THE SITUATION SAFE UNTIL I CAN MAKE A MORE PERMANENT REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAN MANY OTHER 2001 FOCUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE EXPOSED CONDUCTOR CONSTITUTE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *JB

HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED OPAQUE AND MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS AIR CONDITIONING WAS REPAIRED DUE TO LEAK, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR PARTS. *KB ***NAR*** THE EVAPORATOR AND HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING. *JB

MY 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON DROVE FINE ON SATURDAY NIGHT, BUT ON SUNDAY MORNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD GONE HAYWIRE. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION, NO SOUND CAME FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLICKERED ON AN OFF, I HEARD A CLICKING SOUND, THE "DOOR OPEN" BELL CAME ON, AND I SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY CABLES, AND THE STARTER. THIS SOUNDED A LOT LIKE THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V288000, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *NM

SECOND TIME IGNITION CYLINDER IN 2001 FORD FOCUS HAS LOCKED UP. FIRST LEFT ME STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED IN. TODAY, IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY WILL PAY FOR IT, BUT THEY'D BETTER. HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF POST ABOUT THIS PROBLEM--WHY ISN'T FORD ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM???*JB

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3. MY WIFE AND I WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY MOVE FROM MICHIGAN TO ARIZONA. WE WERE IN NEW MEXICO (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT) WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK/PULSE AT 70 MPH, AND THEN THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL. ALL VITAL SYSTEMS WERE FINE. OIL WAS OKAY. WE HAD A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS. THE ENGINE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. WE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT 35 MPH TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS JACK KEY, IN DEEMING, NEW MEXICO. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC, AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT WE HAD TO STAY IN TOWN OVERNIGHT. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BAZAAR THAT A CAR LESS THAN TEN YEARS OF AGE WOULD LOOSE IT'S FUEL PUMP AND IT HAD JUST OVER 78,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I BEGAN TO DO SOME OF MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 2001. IN JUNE OF 2001, THEY STARTED TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMPS. SO ANY CAR MADE BEFORE JUNE WAS RECALLED, BUT HOWEVER, MINE WAS NOT SINCE THE CAR CAME OFF THE LINE IN AUGUST. SO, NICELY ENOUGH, I'M LEFT WITH A HEFTY BILL...AND IF IT WAS MADE ONLY 2 MONTHS EARLIER, FORD WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE PART FOR FREE. MAYBE FORD DIDN'T WEED OUT ALL OF THEIR ISSUES WITH THE 2001 FUEL PUMP?? *JB

KEY WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER. *JB

YESTERDAY MORNING AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END OF MY FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I DROVE THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. AFTER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE REP HE TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE A SPRING FAILURE THAT IS COVERED BY A RECALL. I WAS SURPRISED I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AND HE TOLD ME THEY ONLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINS! THIS IS CRAZY! WHAT IF I HAD BEEN GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE SPRING BROKE? THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS YEAR. EARLIER IS WAS A FUEL PUMP THAT FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS TIME AS I WAS DRIVING 70 MILES AN HOUR! THE PART WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AS IT WAS COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

IGNITION KEY DIFFICULT TO INSERT THEN IGNITION MECHANISM AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *JB