2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TIRES MANUFACTURED BY FALCON, SIZE 205-50-R16, TIRE LINE ZIEX, DOT V43V, AND SERIAL NUMBER 4M9R4509. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SIDE WALLS WERE CRACKED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 19,000. RK

WENT TO LEAVE WORK YESTERDAY AND THE KEY WON'T TURN AT ALL IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. AFTER A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM AND CONSISTENT FAILURE ON FORDS PART...BUT THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES $350-450 TO REPLACE THIS PART, AND THEY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME FAULTY DESIGNED PART THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. DURING ROUTINE TIRE MAINTENANCE THE MECHANIC STATED THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

2002 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN MAY 2011, THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE BOTH THE LEFT AND FRONT SPRING/STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER LEARNED FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISING DEALERS THAT CERTAIN FOCUS VEHICLES INCLUDING HIS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FRONT SPRING FRACTURE FAILURES DUE TO INADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE HE DID NOT TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 AND A 2003 FORD FOCUS THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON`T WORK PROPERTY THE LOCKS WILL SHUT AND OPEN ON THERE OWN AS OF NOW I CAN`T OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THE LOCKS HAVE SHUT IN AN INBETWEEN POSITION.I HAVE TO CRAWL OVER THE CONSOLE TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR.IT WILL NOT LET ME OPEN THE DOOR FORM THE OUTSIDE EITHER THE LOCKS ARE LIKE IN AN INBETWEEN POSITION.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR BOTH OF MY FOCUS FOR A LONG TIME I HAVE CALLED FORD AND THEY SAY THEY DON`T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. MY MECHANIC FRIEND SAYS THEY GET ALOT OF CALLS ABOUT FORD FOCUS LOCK PROBLEM,MY BROTHER HAS A FOCUS AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR 2 MONTHS. THE KEY HAS ALWAYS GAVE ME PROBLEMS WITH NOT WANTING TO TURN. TODAY THOUGH I WENT TO GO TO MY COLLEGE CLASSES AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. I HAVE TRIED TO GET IT TO TURN FOR 2 HOURS. UNTILL I SAID [XXX] IT BEFORE I BREAK THE KEY AND THAT I HAD ALREADY MISSED MY CLASS THAT I COULDN'T MISS BECAUSE OF A TEST. NOW I GET A ZERO. I LIKE FORD VEHICLES BUT IF THEY CANT EVEN FIX A SMALL IGNTION DEFECT FOR THIER CUSTOMERS[XXX] FORD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RIGHTREAR DOOR LOCK IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS WILL NOT B ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IF PASSENGER IS A CHILD ON CAR SIT, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO REMOVE CHILD FROM CAR. WITH DOOR IN LOCKED POSITION, EMERGENCY TEAMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO REMOVE PASSENGER IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

ON MARCH 17, 2011, MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AS I WAS ACCELERATING UPHILL, TURNING RIGHT ON A RAMP TO ENTER A BUSY HIGHWAY. FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT . I RESTARTED THE ENGINE A COUPLE TIMES, BUT IT STALLED OUT AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. IT WAS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL THE CAR BACK DOWNHILL TO A SAFER LOCATION. (LATER I LEARNED THAT AN IDENTICAL SCENARIO IS DESCRIBED IN FORD DEALER LETTER 03N01, IN WHICH FORD AGREES TO REPLACE FUEL DELIVERY MODULES FOR 2000 AND 2001 MODELS, BUT NOT 2002.) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT MORNING, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR STARTED FINE. FORD RAN MANY TESTS, INCLUDING ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL, TOOK IT OUT FOR 3 ' 4 TEST DRIVES AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED $150 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC LABOR. THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS EVERY YEAR NOW FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. SIMILAR, BUT NOT IDENTICAL, STALLS OCCURRED ON MARCH 16, 2009, MARCH 10, 2010 AND MARCH 17, 2010. EACH TIME, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. LOCATIONS WERE DIFFERENT, SO IT WAS ALWAYS A DIFFERENT SHOP. NONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT RIGHT AWAY, AND BY THE TIME THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EACH ONE CHARGED ABOUT $150 LABOR. THOSE 3 INCIDENTS ALSO REQUIRED A NEW 15 AMP FUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE REPEATED UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER IT STALLED. THIS YEAR, I STOPPED TRYING TO RESTART AFTER 4 UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS. THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW THIS YEAR. IN BETWEEN THESE STALLOUTS, USUALLY EXACTLY ONE YEAR APART, THE ENGINE HAS STARTED AND RUN SMOOTHLY, WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS. EACH TIME A STALL HAS HAPPENED, THE CAR HAS WORKED FINE THE NEXT DAY, WITHOUT ANY ADDITION OF FUEL. THIS INDICATES THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT I CAN SEE FOR THESE UNPREDICTABLE FAILURES IS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. *TR

TWO NIGHTS AGO I DROVE MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TO A NEARBY BANK TO USE THE WALK-UP ATM. SINCE IT WAS AFTER BUSINESS HOURS, I PARKED ALONG A CURB, BUT NOT IN A PARKING SPACE. I USED THE ATM AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, MY KEY REFUSED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. IT WAS AS IF ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY KEY WAS THE WRONG KEY FOR THE VEHICLE. SINCE I WAS NOT IN A PARKING SPOT, I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND RAN A HALF MILE TO MY HOME TO RETREIVE MY SPARE KEY. UPON RETURNING, I FOUND THAT IT DID NOT WORK EITHER. NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I WANTED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING SPACE SO I PUT THE CAR (A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) INTO NEUTRAL AND BEGAN PUSHING IT FORWARD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, AND BECAUSE I COULD NOT MOVE THE KEY, I HAD TWO OPTIONS - MOVE THE CAR STRAIGHT FORWARD, OR MOVE THE CAR STRAIGHT BACK. I MOVED THE CAR FORWARD TO A SLIGHTLY BETTER SPOT, BUT COULD NOT MANEUVER IT INTO A TRUE PARKING SPOT. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK SINCE THE CAR WOULD SURELY BE TOWED AT THE START OF BUSINESS HOURS THE NEXT DAY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR ARRIVED HE TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN FORDS, AND SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, OTHERWISE HE WOULD LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO TOW IT (IT WAS A FLATBED TOW TRUCK). I HAD HIM TOW THE CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP INFORMATION ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY FORDS 2000-2003 HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM - SOME PEOPLE EVEN SAID THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE KEY CYLINDER ISSUE, BUT THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $501.56. I SAW NO ALTERNATIVE AND HAD THEM PUT IN A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER AND ISSUE 2 NEW KEYS. THE DEALER KEPT THE OLD PARTS (OLD IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEYS). THE NEW IGNITION CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE (BUT KEEP IN MIND THE OLD ONE APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE AS WELL BEFORE MALFUNCTIONING). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS SEIZED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO OPEN THIS DOOR. THIS RESULTS IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE PASSENGER IS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND APPEARS TO BE PERMANENT. THE ACTUATOR MUST BE REMOVED AND REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL BANGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM WAS FRACTURED AND STRIKING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 04/05/11*LJ UPDATED 04/05/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE PROBLEM, HE NOTICED THE LEFT STRUT SPRING COLLAPSED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS SVT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE BOLT LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE AIR BAG THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE DISENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY, AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND THE BOLT TO BE LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE AND WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR, STRUT MOUNTS AND THE LINKS HAD ALSO FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE COVERED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED, BUT THEY DECLINED TO REPAIR THE OTHER COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/11*LJ UPDATED 2/07/2012 *LN *TR

2002 FOCUS, STALLING OUT AT HIGH SPEED WITH NO WARNING. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT'S LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE A CAR WITHOUT A BATTERY. NOTHING WORKS. HAPPENED 10 TIMES IN A CAR WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES. WE REPLACED FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, COIL, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AND CAR WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. KEEPS STALLING. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE THIS MODEL IS RECALLED. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE AT SOME POINT SINCE THE CAR CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER WHEN THIS PHENOMENOM OCCURS. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 70KON IT. FORD DID CHANGE THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FOR OTHER YEARS BUT SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ON 2002 MODEL. OBVIOUSLY THEY CHANGED IT FOR A REASON. THIS MODEL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND HAVE THE "NEW" FUEL DELIVERY MODULE INSTALLED. *TT

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOZUS ZX3 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE FALL OF 2010. I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION KEY NOT TURNING ONCE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS OCCURRED QUITE FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS) AND I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY FOR AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES EVERY TIME. I DID NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM UNTIL LAST NIGHT. I WAS AT MY FRIEND'S APARTMENT AND AROUND 1:30 AM I DECIDED TO LEAVE. I GOT IN MY CAR, INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN IT AT ALL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAS IN MY FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR, TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK AND THE KEY TO TURN. I ENGAGED THE GEAR RELEASE AND MANUALLY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, I BLEW ON THE IGNITION WITH MY HAND CUPPED OVER IT, AS I THOUGHT THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. I LOCKED AND UNLOCKED THE DOORS, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SAFETY FEATURE. AFTER A HALF HOUR OF EFFORT WITH NO RESULTS I HAD TO CALL MY PARENTS AND ASK THEM TO COME PICK ME UP, BOTH OF THEM HAD TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND MY 62 YEAR OLD FATHER HAD TO GET OUT OF BED, AND COME GET ME AT 2 IN THE MORNING IN THE MIDDLE OF JAN. I WAS TEN MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE, BUT EVERY OTHER TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I'VE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE OR MORE. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT AND CAUSE FOR CONCERN, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY FAMILY AND I HAVE GROWN TO TRUST AND DEPEND ON FORD VEHICLES. MY OLDEST BROTHER'S FIRST CAR WAS A MUSTANG, MY OTHER BROTHER'S FIRST CAR WAS A THUNDERBIRD AND HE NOW DRIVES AND ESCAPE. MY FATHER CURRENTLY DRIVES A RANGER, MY MOTHER'S LAST VEHICLE WAS A WINDSTAR, AND MY FIRST CAR WAS AN EXPLORER. IT SERVED ME WELL AND WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY ANOTHER FORD I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE, BUT THIS LATEST EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME SERIOUSLY SECOND GUESS WHAT I HAD THOUGHT TO BE AN AMERICAN NAME I COULD TRUST. *LN

WHILE DRIVING, THE SPARK PLUGS EJECT FROM THE BLOCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS PROBLEM HAS APPARENTLY BEEN REPORTED TO FORD, BUT THEY CLAIM NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL THEY RECEIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES ALONG WITH THE COIL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND INCONVENIENT AND FORD NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE EVERYONE IS HAVING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

CORROSION OF THE FRONT COIL SPRING, THE SPRING FAILED AT THE POINT OF THE CORROSION, DAMAGE TO THE FENDER RESULTED. PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, CRASH AVERTED. *TR

COMPLETE IGNITION LOCK FAILURE. CAN NOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION TO START THE CAR. *TR

ENGINE STALLS WHEN STARTING THE CAR COLD AND WHEN STOPPED AT A LONG LIGHT. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR LAST 6 YEARS AND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HAVE CHANGED BATTERY AND FUEL FILTER BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND THE KEY SWITCH AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 1/21/11 *CN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER UPDATED 04/18/11

ON NOV 12, 2010 MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED ON NOV 13,2010. PER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THE REASON WHY MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WAS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION PART. LATER THAT NIGHT ON NOV 13, 2010 MY VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN BEGAN TO WORK. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE IF THE WAS ANY RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS PART. THEY TOLD ME NO. AGAIN ON NOV 17, 2010 THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL NOV 20, 2010. TODAY DEC 1, 2010 I WAS LEFT STRANDED DUE TO MY CAR NOT STARTING AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AS WELL AS TOW TRUCK DRIVERS WHO ALL HAVE INFORMED ME THAT RECENTLY MANY FORD FOCUS VEHICLES THEY HAVE EITHER WORKED ON OR TOWED HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. AS OF NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY ALL COSTS OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS FOR A WELL KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT THE FORD COMPANY REFUSES TO PUT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN!!! *TR

TWO CARS COLLIDED. ONE WAS HEADING EAST THE OTHER HEADING NORTH. THE CAR HEADING NORTH'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS NOT HIT HEAD ON, HOWEVER, THE FRONT DOES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED UNNECESSARY INTERNAL DAMAGES AND INJURIES. *TR

I HAVE 2002 FORD FOCUS THE IGNITION OR STARTER IS GIVING ME PROBLEM THE CAR WANT START AT TIMES I GET STRANDED SOMETIMES IT TAKES OVER FIVE MINUTES TO GET STARTED. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2002 FORD FOCUS -- IT'S LOCKED. *TR

MY FORD FOCUS LEFT TIRE FELL OFF BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL BEARING BREAKING. WITH NO WARNING OR NOISE MY TIRE DETACHED DURING DRIVING. MY TIRE WAS FOUND 40 YARDS AWAY WITH THE LUGS NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRUM BRAKE. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WAGON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY WHILE I'M DRIVING, REGARDLESS IF I'M PRESSING ON THE BRAKE OR NOT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL IF THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2000 FORD FOCUS ON A DECKLID WIRE HARNESS, HOWEVER THIS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL THE FORD FOCUS HATCHBACKS/WAGONS AS THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL EVIDENT BEYOND THE 2000 YEAR. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE AUGUST 2010 AND NOW SEPTEMBER 2010 I'VE FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL IN THE YEAR 2000 MODELS. THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON AT ALL TIMES. THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. THE CONTACT WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE TAPE IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE VALVE SEAT HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE PISTON SKIRT TO FRACTURE ALONG WITH THE CONNECTING ROD. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE CAUSED CYLINDER SCORING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000. UPDATED 11/23/10*JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE AND FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO "ENTICE" OUR KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TO TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. FINALLY, TODAY, 07/25/2010, WE HAD TO LEAVE IT WHILE VISITING A FRIEND BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, NO MATTER WHAT WE DID. WE WILL BE TOWING IT AND FIXING THE PROBLEM AND, THROUGH RESEARCH, WE HAVE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD COST $300+ TO DO SO. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. IMMEDIATELY, I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE TECHNICIAN COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM , THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULDN'T COME ON. THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY. WITHIN IN WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS TIME THERE WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. NOW, THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD ME MY FOCUS SE HAD A DROPPED VALVE AND IN THE #4 CYLINDER. INORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO SEE IF THE DROPPING OF THE VALVE HAD CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. BECAUSE THE SCHEDULED REQUIRED MAINTENANCE,I.E OIL CHANGES, ACCORDING TO FORD INSTRUCTIONS FOR MY FORD FOCUS, I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WOULD LAST. AFTER THIS EVENT, I BECAME CURIOUS ABOUT FORD FOCUS' ENGINES. WAS THIS AN ISOLATED MECHANICAL FLAW? OR WAS IT AN ENGINE DEFECT? FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS TYPE ENGINE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE FROM A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE 2.0 LITER EFI SPI TYPE OF ENGINES. FOR YEARS, I THOUGHT THE FORD FOCUS WAS A GREAT PRODUCT TO HAVE BECAUSE OF ITS RELIABILITY, IF YOU COMPLIED WITH SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT I WAS WRONG. THE COST OF REPAIR FOR A WELL-MAINTAIN FOCUS ENGINE $6000.00. THERE IS A PATTERN TO THESE ENGINE FAILURES. SHOULD THE 2002 FOCUS BE RECALLED FOR ENGINE DEFECTS? ALL I KNOW IS THAT QUALITY WELL-MAINTAIN ENGINES SHOULDN'T HAVE DROPPED VALVES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SO, IT MUST BE SOME TYPE OF ENGINES DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIGHTING BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE ALTERNATOR WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE TO BE A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,939.

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAS A PLASTIC GROMMET THAT HOLDS THE BASE OF THE HOOD PROP IN PLACE. THIS IS A ENGINEERING DEFECT, BECAUSE OUR GROMMET BROKE AND THE HOOD FELL ON MY HUSBAND AND I. I ORDERED THE PART FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER AND WAS SURPRISED IT WAS A $5.00 PART THAT I AM SURE WILL BREAK AGAIN OVER TIME. IN FACT ALL NEW FOCUSES HAVE THIS CHEAP $5.00 PART. I HOPE NO CHILD IS EVER NEAR THE HOOD WHEN IT BREAKS. MOST CARS HAVE METAL BASES FOR THE HOOD PROP THAT SWIVEL AND LAST A LIFETIME. I PLEAD WITH SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO GET FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I TRIED. *TR

THE HOOD PROP (HOLDER) BROKE AND FELL AND THE HOOD FELL ON OUR HEADS. *TR

(2002 FORD FOCUS SE) HAS AUTO LOCKING DOORS NOW THESE DOORS SOMETIMES STAY LOCK PRESS ALL BUTTONS AND NOT A THING HAPPENS.NOW SOMETIMES I CAN BE INSIDE THE CAR 5-7 MINUTES PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTONS BUT THE DOORS WONT OPEN. ONE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS TYPE OF DOORS IS ALL POWER OPERATED AND THEY DON'T HAVE MANUAL RELEASE LATCH. PLEASE NOTE IN A EMERGENCY IF THIS HAPPENS NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING TO BREAK THE GLASS. THESE DOOR SHOULD HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE LATCH WHEN THE POWER FAILS. THIS KEEPS ON HAPPENING VERY OFTEN. *TR

THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT WORK AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE ALSO. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND UNABLE TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT DESTINATION. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IT IS UNRELIABLE. I WORK FOR A FIRE AND RESCUE AGENCY WHICH REQUIRES ME TO MAKE QUICK RESPONSE AND WITH THIS DEFECT I CANNOT. IMAGINE IF A FEMALE IS IN A DOMESTIC ISSUE AND NEED TO GET AWAY OR IS OUT SHOPPING LATE AND NEED TO LEAVE THE AREA SHE IS LEFT VULNERABLE AND ALONE WITH NO WAY OF LEAVING. THIS DEFECT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTED PART YOU STILL WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP STARTED TO MELT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MELTING WIRES WERE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. MY SON WAS STRANDED. *TR

2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT WORKS GREAT. PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES IGNITION SWITCH GET STUCK AND WONT TURN. NOW MY HUSBAND IS STUCK IN ANOTHER STATE AND STRANDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD. *TR

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY BURNING ALL THE WIRES AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. *TR

FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 POWER CUT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE I SAT IN VEHICLE WITH AIR CONDITIONING RUNNING; SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION IMMEDIATELY AND PULLED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR IGNITION TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON ALL BY ITSELF. THE CAR BEGAN TO RUMBLE AND SMOKE SPEWED FROM UNDER THE HOOD EVERYWHERE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GRABBED MY TWO DOGS FROM THE BACK SEAT. I RAN INTO THE LAWN CARE BUSINESS AND ANNOUNCED "MY CAR IS ON FIRE -- CALL 911." TWO EMPLOYEES CAME OUT, ONE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER; THE OTHER ASKED ME FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHO JUMPED IN THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO TURN THE CAR IGNITION OFF--THE CAR IGNITION WENT OFF BUT TURNED ON AGAIN EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAD BEEN REMOVED. HE PULLED THE HOOD LATCH SO THE OTHER EMPLOYEE WITH THE EXTINGUISHER COULD USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN THAT PERSON OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES SHOT EVERYWHERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE EXPLODED WITHIN 2 MINUTES HAD THE EMPLOYEES NOT USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SPRAYED THE VEHICLE WITH ADDITIONAL FIRE RETARDANT AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS "TOTALED." *TR

2002 FORD FOCUS SE: THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, HE HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND NOTICED THAT A PLASTIC MECHANISM WITHIN THE DOOR PANEL WAS BROKEN, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS SVT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL HE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE SO THAT IT COULD BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE THROTTLE CABLE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V117000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION. 2002 FORD FOCUS, 83,000 MILES. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR USED ON SATURDAY AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I LIVE NEAR MANY WOODS - I HIT A DEER GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE. *TR

FRONT CROSS MEMBER ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ROTTED THROUGH. FAILED RI STATE INSPECTION. WAS ADVISE BY RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO FORWARDED THIS COMPLAINT TO YOU AND ADVISE ME TO FOLLOW UP ON IT. I HAVE PICTURES & DVD TO SHOW THE SEVERITY OF THE ROT. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS STILL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UPDATED 06/22/10.*JB *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD FOCUS JUST 5 MONTHS AGO (DECEMBER 2009). WHEN TRYING TO START MY CAR AT A RESTAURANT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A FULL HOUR OF TRYING TO FIX IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION WITH A FORD PART THAT I FEAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION COST ME OVER $400, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THE NEW IGNITION WILL FAIL TO THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. I AM LIMITED BY OTHER OPTIONS, AS NON-FORD PARTS AND LOCKSMITH WORK DOES NOT COME WITH THE 12 MONTH-WARRANTY THAT FORD OFFERS. MY BEST OPTION IS TO SELL THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE IT HAPPENS, OR BEFORE MY WARRANTY IS UP-- NEITHER OF WHICH ARE A SOLUTION, BUT PUTTING THE PROBLEM ONTO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS TRAGEDY AND IN FAULTY DESIGN. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE FRIENDS TO HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION, BUT THE EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN ARE NOT WORTH IT. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR