2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. IT WAS PUSHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WHERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

ENGINE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE (AND VICE VERSA). TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM I MAINTAINED HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED, AND THE KEY/STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE PHYSICALLY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL REPLACED THE REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AS WELL AS THE HUB AND DRUM OF THE SUSPENSION. *NM THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC CALLED FORD BEFOREHE DID WORK ON VEHICLE. IT WAS A METAL TO METAL SOUND. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DEADLY. HOWEVER, CONTACT WAS IN RIGHT SLOW LANE AN DWAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. *AK

AT AROUND 35,000 MILES MY FATHER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE ON THE FRONT OF HIS FOCUS. THINKING THAT IT WAS THE SCREECH OF A WARNING INDICATOR HE PARKED THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE COULD HAVE ME LOOK AT IT. BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE SEVERELY GROUND DOWN WITH THE LEFT INSIDE PAD BEING TOTALLY DOWN FLUSH WITH THE METAL. THIS SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL WEAR. BACK BRAKES SHOWED SIGNS OF NORMAL IF NOT LESS THAN NORMAL WEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS FEW MILES ON IT. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS PREMATURELY. WE WILL KEEP THE OLD PARTS FOR THIRTY DAYS IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED. *JB

THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS AT A PREMATURE MILEAGE. I ONLY NOTICED IT AT AROUND THE 42K MARK BUT IT HAS HAPPENED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT LONGER. THE LEAK GOES THROUGH THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVERS SIDE CABIN. IT GETS ALL OVER THE CARPET AND CAN CAUSE FUTURE DAMAGE TO MY CARPET AND POSSIBLY FLOOR. THE FLUID IS VERY CORROSIVE AND SINCE ITS ON THE SAME SYSTEM AS THE BRAKES IT ALSO AFFECTS MY BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS OUT THERE. *NM

AFTER 2 COMPLAINTS TO DEALER ABOUT REAR BRAKE VIBRATION/NOISE, THEY FOUND NOTING WRONG. ON OUR TRIP GOING DOWN INTERSTATE 40 AT 70 MPH THE BACK WHEEL COMES OFF MY CAR. THE WHEEL AND HUB ARE BROKEN,CUTS THE BRAKE LINE AND I LOSE MY BRAKE FLUID. NO BRAKES AND TRYING TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE DITCH. IF THERE WOULD OF BEEN A CAR ON THE SIDE OF ME. I AM POSITIVE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURY/DEATH. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD PAID 0. SAID I HIT SOMETHING IN ROAD. NOW AT THE REPAIR SHOP AGAIN. THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE REAR ARE FROZEN . I HAVE TO BUY NEW DRUMS FOR BOTH SIDE AGAIN. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WILL REV WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS ON MORNING STARTS AND IN COLD TEMPERATURES. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNS OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTS THE VEHICLE. THIS PROCEDURE REMEDIES THE PROBLEM. HE PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS LOCKED IGNITION --TUMBLERS WERE OUT OF SYNCH? FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER WON'T AUTHORIZED TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE. PAID $293 FOR REPAIR. SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES, THE RADIO, AND WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE BRAKES SQUEAK EVERYTIME I APPLY THEM. THE RADIO ONLY WORKS FOR ONE MINUTE AND THEN IT FADES OUT, ALL YOU CAN HEAR IS STATIC. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE PROBLEMS IS THE LEAK. IT HAS RAINED REALLY HARD THREE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH, AND ALL THOSE TIMES I HAVE FOUND THE CARPET IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SOAKING WET. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I BOUGHT IT, BUT THEY SAY THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 90 DAY WARRANTY. I HAVE REASERCHED ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURERS OF THE CAR. *NM

OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS STALLS, HESITATES AROUND 1/4 OF A TANK. SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO FUEL DELIVERY MODULE COMPLAINT OF PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER MANUALLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER 10 TO 20 SECONDS IT WOULD GO BACK INTO DRIVE. AT TIMES WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THIS COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK (11/23/05) RECALL CAMPAIGN#03V482000. *SC

MY NIECE'S 2002 FORD FOCUS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. FORD SAYS 'SENSOR' INDICATES AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE WAS NONE, AND CHARGED $95 FOR THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ANALYZE THIS FURTHER, AND REMAINING AIRBAGS NO LONGER FUNCTION. WE BELIEVE THAT AIRBAG SENSORS/SYSTEMS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NM

1. MOST RAIN OR SNOW (WET CONDITION) DRIVING CAUSES PARTIAL OR COMPLETE FAILURES OF HORNS 2. IF CAR IS DRIVE IN WET OR SNOW CONDITIONS, THE HORNS FAIL. THIS IS A PARTIAL FAILURE WHERE HORN ARE BARELY AUDIBLE, OR IN HEAVY WET AND COLD ( FREEZING CONDITIONS) HORNS FAIL COMPLETELY. IN ALL CASES TO DATE, OVER TIME,( USUALLY WEEKS ) HORN RETURNS TO NORMAL FUNCTION DURING DRY/AND WARM UP PERIODS. DO DATE NO CONSEQUENCES. (3) FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED HORNS 2 TIMES (THERE IS A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN) HOWEVER, HAS NOT CHANGED THE CONDITION, IT CONTINUES. OLD PART KEPT BY DEALER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT LOCKED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THE CYLINDER LOCK REPLACED IN THE IGNITION. THIS DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS SPECIFIC PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN OUR 2002 FOCUS SEDAN. THE KEY WILL NOT EVEN TURN IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND THE RENTAL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL! *NM

CAR IS STALLING AND DYING WHEN STOPPED. WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY. HAVE REPLACE BOTH SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES EVEN THOUGH ONLY HAVE 36K MILES ON THE CAR. ONLY THING DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOW IS THE FUEL IS TOO LEAN. I AM ASSUMING THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER SINCE FORD WILL NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS EARLIER MODELS. *JB

DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOUND THE THERMAL FUSE IN THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIR BAG BLEW OUT, THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CONSUMER HITTING A DEER ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE DEER HIT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WAS A WHITE SMOKE THAT CAME FROM THE DRIVER'S AREA, AROUND THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ,AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO ONE INJURED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN OVER THE PHONE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHAT THE SMOKE WAS THAT CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS.*AK

FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 OVER 65,000 MILES RECENT OFL CHANGE APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ENGINE CUTTING OFF AFTER TURNING OVER WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE ALMOST EVERY DAY. ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS BUT MOST NOTABLY DURING OR AFTER A TURN - WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING - ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOTION - THIS HAPPENS AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 3-4 DAYS. CONSTANT NOISE FROM THE REAR LEFT TIRE ASSEMBLY. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED ABOUT 1 AND HALF YEARS AGO. RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED 4 MONTHS AGO ALONG WITH CRACKED THERMAL HOUSING THAT HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK - OVER $900 REPAIR W/LABOR. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I AM AWARE OF- OTHER THAN LOSS OF DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WHILE IT WAS PARKED 2 YEARS AGO. OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN W/THE SHIFTING. UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK - W/O USING THE SHIFT RELEASE. REPLACED SHIFTER AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE CAR IN AT THIS TIME - WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST APPROX. $80 ALONE JUST TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. ORIGINAL OWNER. TAKING CAR TO DEALER THIS WEEKEND. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WERE DAILY USE. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR IT TO BEGIN LEAKING, DRIPPING ON THE CARPET AND EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE RUBBER PAD ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS, BUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH UTILIZES THE SAME FLUID RESERVOIR AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM, SO THE BRAKES COULD BE AFFECTED BY A LEAKING CLUTCH. ON MY VEHICLE, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER MYSELF. WHEN I WAS UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED A DRIP FROM THE DRAIN HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING- THE SLAVE CYLINDER IS LEAKING, TOO. THESE ARE NOT "CONSUMABLE" PARTS OF A CAR. THE SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH INDICATES THAT EITHER THEY ARE WOEFULLY UNDER-ENGINEERED, OR THE SEALS THEY USED ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BRAKE FLUID. BECAUSE OF THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF BRAKE FLUID, HAVING IT DRIP INTO THE CARPET AND PADDING OF THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR IS A BIT OF A CONCERN. ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A MAJOR SHORTCOMING THAT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

FAILING CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT HAS A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT TERM. THIS PART HAS FAILED PRIOR TO THE TUNE UP MILEAGE. IT FAILED LESS THAN 2K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY WILL DROP TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING IN ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS (HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED). THE ODOMETER WILL NOT MOVE WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER IS AT ZERO AND OFTEN WILL BLANK OUT. AN OBVIOUS SOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE RADIO IS ALSO NOTED WHEN THIS ALL OCCURS. BROUGHT IT INTO TEAM FORD TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. *NM

R.E. FORD FOCUS 2002 FUEL PUMP FAILURE [XXX] I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE IDLING WAITING TO PICK MY WIFE UP FROM WORK AT AROUND 5PM CST. AS SHE APPROACHED I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE SO SHE COULD DRIVE. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE LOVED OUR FOCUS BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELIABLE. WHEN SHE STARTED UP THE ENGINE, IT STARTED TO SHAKE. THE SHAKING BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER. SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A MINUTE AND THEN RESTARTED. THE SHAKING CONTINUED AT A LESSER INTENSITY SO SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ABOUT 25 FEET LATER, IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY OFFICE BUILDING ACCESS ROAD, THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. WE HAD A 1/4 OF A TANK. WE CHECK THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND TRIED THE FUEL PUMP RESET SWITCH. THINKING THAT THE FUEL TANK INDICATOR MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE CAR MIGHT BE OUT OF FUEL, MY WIFE HAD A CO-WORKER DRIVER HER TO A LOCAL GAS STATION TO GET GAS. ADDING GAS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE FUEL TANK INDICATOR SHOWED THE ADDED FUEL. WHEN NONE OF THE QUICK FIXES WORKED, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO APPLE VALLEY FORD IN APPLE VALLEY MINNESOTA FOR SERVICING. THEY IDENTIFIED THE FUEL PUMP AS THE CAUSE AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE 2000/2001 FOCUS "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY AROUND $600 TO REPAIR THE CAR. I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THE COST BUT MORE SO ABOUT THE DANGEROUS AND UNTENABLE SITUATION THIS DEFECT PUTS MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY LOVED ONES. HOW COULD THE 2002 NOT BE INCLUDED? AFTER RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE, I AM ANGRY THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT CONSIDER IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO FORD OR TO THE NHTSA. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE ENGINE HAD STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF RECENT COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY OTHER 2002 FOCUS CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR FUEL PUMPS MULTIPLE TIMES. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I PURCHASED NEW AN 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH A SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS WORN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES UNEVENLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD. ONE SET HAD ACTUALLY WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT BEYOND THE RUBBER CAUSING ITS FAILURE AT 18,000 MILES. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE ALIGNMENT SHOP, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS WELL WITHIN FORDS SPECIFICATIONS. AFTER CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR SPECIAL VEHICLE TEAM THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I AM LUCKY THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHIN THE LAST 30,000 MILES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FEEL THIS SAFETY OVERSIGHT IS DUE TO FORD AND ITS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THEIR SUSPENSION PARAMETERS TO WORK PROPERLY ON OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS. REPLACED ONE FACTORY WHEEL, INSTALLED SUSPENSION CAMBER ADJUSTMENT PARTS, FOUR NEW TIRES AND HAD VEHICLE RE ALIGNED OUT OF FORDS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES AT ANY TIME THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN IN HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE. IF THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CONTACT STATES HE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE SERVICE DEALER EXTRACTED AND REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE FORD FOCUS AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID NO, BUT HE SHOULD CALL NHTSA AND FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK

BATTERY CABLE FAILURE IDENTICAL TO THOSE RECALLED IN 2000-2001 FORD FOCUS (02V288000) IN A VEHICLE MANUFACTURED VERY EARLY IN 2002 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE INITIALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO MISS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO LURCH SEVERELY WITH A LOUD 'BANG'. DEALER (BERGE FORD, MESA, AZ, 8/05/2005) HAD VEHICLE 3 DAYS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. VEHICLE BECAME INCAPACITATED 8/24/2005, CABLE WAS REPLACED AT DEALER (HOLMES-TUTTLE FORD, TUCSON, AZ, $500 BATTERY CABLE!), BUT NOT RETURNED TO US. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . HORN FAILED THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THAT ON 8-18-05, WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR, IT WAS SLOW TO START THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SHE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS BAD, BUT IT WAS GOOD AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HER THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED THE BATTERY ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS BURNED OUT. THEY WOULD NOT LET HER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. SHE HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT CITED RECALL 02V288000; REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ BATTERY CABLES. *AK

RE: EA02022 FUEL PUMP IS FAILING. CAR STALLS AT IDLE. *JB

MAYBE ONE YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS THERE WAS A REALLY BAD STORM ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED IN WATER ALMOST LIKE A PUDDLE. THEN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES. AFTER TAKING OUT THE FLOOR MAT AN ACTUAL PUDDLE OF WATER GATHERS ON MY FLOOR BOARD WHEN IT STORMS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME IT STORMS BUT IT'S HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS ONLY GOING ON FOUR YEARS OLD (AND I KEEP IT CLEAN ALL THE TIME AS I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN NOR AM I MARRIED AND THEREFORE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT) BUT IT SMELLS LIKE IT'S REALLY OLD WITH A STRONG MILDEW ODOR. THIS IS VERY UPSETING, I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORD INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE WHICH I'VE ALREADY MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP TO TELL THEM ABOUT MY FLOOR BOARD ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FORD FOCUS 2001 BUT NOT A 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY WAS NOT FIXED ON THE 2002'S BECAUSE MINE IS STILL LEAKING.

THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN, HAD IT REPLACED IN JAN. OF 04. AN NOW IT WON'T TURN AGAIN. AUG OF 05. THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM

BROKEN WINDOW REGULATORS TWO OF THEM WITH IN 1 MONTH OF EACH OTHER. PLASTIC PART IS DEFECTIVE AND CRACKS MAKING THE WINDOW DROP DOWN. PIECE CAN NOT BE REPLACED AND THE WHOLE REGULATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

45,000 MILE CAR HAS LEAKING CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. CLUTCH PEDAL IS WET AND SLIPPERY WITH BRAKE FLUID. I'VE HAD TO ADD BRAKE DUE TO THE LEAK. I'M AFRAID THAT MY BRAKES WILL GO OUT OR THAT MY FOOT WILL SLIP OFF OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I STILL HAVN'T HAD IT FIXED YET BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL LIKELY FAIL ALSO. IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO FOR AN ESTIMATE. *NM

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL CRACKING OPEN IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM IN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IF IT IS EVER ACTIVATED. THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. *JB

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION CYLINDER

I WAS IN A FRONT-END COLLISION TRAVELLING ABOUT 25 - 30 MILES PER HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

2002 FORD FOCUS SEDAN - THE KEY WILL GO INTO THE IGNITION , BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND MY STEERING WHEELL IS LOCKED, HAVE TO HAVE IT TOW TO THE DEALER

DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN, CONSUMER STATES THAT YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE, THIS OCCURS DURING ANY WEATHER, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE ALREADY BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV. 2004, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SOMETIMES OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START, WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PART IS BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. *NM *JB

I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 4 YEARS. JUST RECENTY THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. I CAN PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT WON'T TURN. AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FOCII, BUT FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO FINDING OUT THIS WEEK THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND ALTERNATOR ARE BOTH ALSO DEFECTIVE, BUT NOT COVERED.

COMPLAINT REGARDING 2002 FORD FOCUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT HASN'T RECEIVED A REPLY YET. *NM

DT: CONSUMER SAID THAT OVER THE COURSE OF TIME VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER WAS EXITING FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE FAILED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS WORKING OR ANY KIND OF POWER. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN LAST SUNDAY GOING INTO SAN FRANSISCO. CONSUMER STATED THAT RADIO WILL WORK SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHER TIMES. ALSO, SOMETIMES SHE COULD NOT LOCK DOORS. AL BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER JUST ONE YEAR DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BATTERY WAS A THREE YEAR BATTERY. IN ADDITION, ONE TIME THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. CONSUMER S BELIEVED THAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE ELECTRICAL.*AK

TIE ROD BOLT FRACTURED CAUSED THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN A 2002 FORD FOCUS AS DESCRIBED IN ODI EA02-023.

THE DAY WAS VERY HOT, 90+ DEGREES. I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING ON WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO A DENTIST APPOINTMENT. I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THEN SHUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER ANOTHER 5 MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR, WITH AIR CONDITONING ON AND WAITED FOR MY HUSBAND TO RETURN. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 25 MINTUES WHILE PARKED. MY HUSBAND RETURNED AND WE PROCEDED TO GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO GET SOME DINNER. IT WAS 4:30 PM AT THIS TIME. ON OUR WAY, THE CAR STARTED TO 'JERK' FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION AT ALL. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE JUST DIED. I TRIED TO START IT SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. WE WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WE DROVE ON, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FOR ABOUT 6 MORE MILES WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD, BUT NOT BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. MY HUSBAND CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WE WERE TOLD IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FUEL PUMP MIGHT NEED REPLACING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, NOT THE ONE WE HAD CALLED, AND WERE TOLD THEY WOULD GET TO IT THAT NIGHT YET. THEY CALLED US AT 8:30 PM AND HAD NOT GOTTEN AROUND TO DOING THE DIAGNOSTICS AS YET. THEY CALLED BACK WITHIN 30 MINUTES AND TOLD US THAT THE FUEL PUMP WILL PROBABLY NEED REPLACING, BUT THEY WILL CALL US AS SOON AS THEY KNEW FOR SURE. AT 11:30 PM, THEY CALLED TO SAY THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS HAD SHOWN NOTHING AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN AND WERE SHOCKED THAT SUCH A THING COULD EVEN HAPPEN TO SUCH A NEW CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WE PICKED THE CAR UP THIS MORNING AND ARE PRAYING TO GOD THAT WE CAN GET HOME THIS EVENING WITHOUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN.

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE WERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PROBLE WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THAT IT WAS A NORMAL THING. THIS FAILURE MADE IT HARDER TO STOP THE CAR. MANUFACTURER SAID TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD MAKE THIS FAILURE WORSE. ALSO, SAID THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUES. MANUFACTURER SAID DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS. FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. NOW IT HAPPENES EVERYTIME THE CAR IS USED. *AK *NM

DT:THE TIRES ON THE CONSUMER'S 2002 FORD FOCUS 2002 WERE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF WEAR AFTER ONLY 17000 MILES. THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 5000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. AFTER ABOUT 12000 MILES THE SAME WEAR PATTERN REAPPEARED. THESE TIRE WERE RATED AS 60000 MILE TIRES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY ON IT'S THIRD SET OF TIRES. ONE OF THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN #.03-13-5 ON FORD'S COMPUTER THAT COVERED ALL MODELS OF FORD FOCUS 2000-2004 THAT EXPERIENCED INNER TIRE WEAR. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS OF THIS MODEL WERE ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY CREATING ADVERSE CAMBER TO THE REAR TIRES. THE REMEDY WAS A RESTRUCTURED CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM KIT. THE NEWLY RESTRUCTURED CONTROL ARM :UPPER ARM KIT WOULD ONLY BE SENT TO THOSE WHO WERE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY,3 YEAR, 36,000 MILES. CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CONSUMER CANNOT GET THE CAR TO TURN ON. THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. THE CAR HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. *AK

I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND HAVING TROUBLES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN THE FUEL TANK NEARS OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A TANK OF FUEL. REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER TRYING TO REMOVE POSSIBLE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXCISTS. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT FORD HAS IDENTIFIED YEARS 2000-2001 FOCUS'S WITH THE SAME DEFECT IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY OUR COLLEGE AGED DAUGHTER, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CONDITION. I TELEPHONED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY HAVE INDICATED AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ACT IN CORRECTING THIS DEFECT. I FURTHER IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A CURRENT EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 03N01 FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 YEAR MODELS. FURTHER IN A ODI RESUME, INVESTIGATION #EA02-022 INDICATES THAT 2002 YEAR VEHICLES ARE ALSO BEING AFFECTED.

EXACTLY SAME COMPLAINTS AS COMPLAINT # 10056383, ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. RADIO CUTS OUT, HEADLIGHTS START FLICKERING AND SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER GOES GRAZY AND SEEMS TO RESET ITSELF. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. NO FAULT CODES WERE REGISTERED, AND SINCE THE ISSUES HAPPEN INFREQUENTLY AND SHORTLY NO ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS WERE POSSIBLE. AS SOON AS I PICK UP THE CAR IT STALLS ON ME. STILL TRYING TO WORK THRU THE DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH I'M GETTING DESPERATE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY2002 HAS ALREADY THE UPGRADED FUEL PUMP, ACCORDING TO SOME FOCUS FORUMS THEN THE PROBLEM COULD BE EGR RELATED. DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE COMPONENTS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IS CAUSING THIS SAFETY AND POSSIBLY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE...

FOCUS 2002 STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AROUND 40,000 MILES. HAD A MAJOR TUNE UP 2 X'S IN 6 MONTHS. CHANGED ALL THE PLUGS, WIRES, OIL & FLUIDS, STILL HANDLED ROUGH LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE TIMED. FOCUS'S HAVE NO TIMING BELT. I TOOK IT IN & WAS TOLD THE PLUG WIRE RAN OVER THE BLOCK WAS THE CAUSING THE ROUGH IDL, DUE TO THE CABLE MELTING ON THE BLOCK. I REPLACED THE CABLE & AGAIN THE IDLE WAS STILL ROUGH, BUT NOW STARTED TO SURGE & MISS ALSO. DRIVING @ VARIOUS SPEEDS, CONDITIONS & ROADS & STILL IT WOULD SURGE & MISS FIRE & THEN DRIVE ON. TOOK IT IN & TOLD WITH NO LIGHT SHOWING & UNLESS IT COULD REPEAT THE SURGE/MISS NOTHING IT COULD BE DONE. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE BATTER DIED ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN. CHECKED THE BATTERY & FULL OF CORRIOSION. BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY & CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TOLD NOTHING WRONG AGAIN. AFTER A YEAR OF SURGING/MISSING (AT LEAST 1 A WEEK) THE CAR DIED AGAIN & WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY TESTED & WAS TOLD IT IS THE ALTERATOR, BOUGHT A NEW ONE. WE THEN DID AN OIL CHANGE. WE TOOK IT IN & ASK THEM AGIAN ABOUT THE SURGING & MISS & ASKED IF IT COULD BE CHECKED WHEN THEY DID THE OIL. WAS ADVISED THAT IT COULD BE THE FUEL INJECTORS BUT WITH OUT THE CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT ON THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE. TWO DAYS LATER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP, FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, AT THAT POINT EXITED THE FREEWAY, ALMOST GOT TO THE EXIT & THE WHOLE CAR STALLED OUT, WALK HOME ABOUT 4-5 MILES. BACK OVER TO JUMPED IT, IT STARTED UP WITH A NEW CLACKETY CLACK IN THE MOTOR, DID NOT DRIVE AT ALL, I TOWED IT BACK TO THE MECHANICS WHO DID THE OIL & TESTED IT. I WAS TOLD ON FRIDAY 5/27 THAT THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE A VUALVE OR A ENGINE TAP. PLEASE HELP

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT STATE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSE.

THE HOUSING ON THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT MELTED WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE LIGHT BULB OVERHEATING. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FAIL. CONSUMER INFORMED OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO STOP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK