2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

TL*- ON DECEMBER 18TH OF 2006 WHILE COMING OUT A DRIVE-THRU, CONTACT STATES THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WENT ABOVE NORMAL . THE GAUGE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE TOP OF THE REGISTER. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR HER ENGINE NOT TO OVER HEAT SHE HAD TO DRIVE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE COOLING HAD BURNED OUT AND PART OF THE HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND THERE ARE 24 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IF THE INVOICE FOR REPAIR IS NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE.

IGNITION JAMS, KEY WILL NOT TURN IN LOCK. INTERNET SEARCH TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. READ HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS.HTML FOR MORE DETAIL. I HAD TO POUND ON THE KEY WITH A FLASHLIGHT TO GET IT TO WORK. PROBLEM GETTING WORSE/OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. I HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT KEY, THINKING THE OLD ONE MIGHT BE WEARING OUT, IT ONLY WORKS IN THE DOORS, IT WILL NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. *NM

2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKING UP. IT JUST COST ME $285.00 TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME TO MY HOUSE WHERE MY TOTALLY DISABLED FORD FOCUS SAT. THE LOCKSMITH COMPLETELY REPLACED MY IGNITION AND SHOWED ME THE DIFFERENCE AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORD OEM IGNITION. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BECOME AN EXPERT IN FORD FOCUS' IGNITIONS DUE TO THIS FAULTY PART. THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY TO SO MANY PEOPLE SHOULD JUST GO AWAY. FORD NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN FORD CAR BUYING PUBLIC OR WE SHOULD STOP BUYING FORD'S! *NM

1. THIS HAPPENED UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND WITH NO PRECURSORS OR INDICATORS. 2. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE POP THE ENGINE STALLED, AND WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION AFTER PUSHING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY IT WAS FOUND THE FACTORY FORD PRESSURE PLATE ASSEMBLY EXPLODED AND SHOT SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND RIPPED A HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINES. THE OIL AND COOLANT SPILLED ONTO THE HOT CLUTCH , LUCKILY AT THE SAME TIME, PREVENTING A FIRE AND JUST\ EMITTING STEAM. THE SHRAPNEL FROM THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND PRESSURE PLATE WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE SURROUNDING ROAD. *AK 3. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION SHORTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT THAT FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS ITEM BUT NOT A RECALL. AFTER CONTACTING SVT AND FORD, I WAS NOTIFIED SINCE I HAD 52,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS ITEM AND IT WAS UP TO ME. I REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL WITH AFTERMARKET UNITS AS THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT THEY WERE POST TSB (DIDN'T WANT THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN) THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE TOTAL COST WAS ABOUT $1600.00 I PERFORMED ALL THE LABOR AS I HAVE AN A&P LICENSE AND HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH SKILL. THE OLD BELL HOUSING WAS AVAILABLE. I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES AND A WITNESS, WAS IN ANOTHER CAR. *AK

THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS GONE OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT WINDOWS--BOTH BACK WINDOWS WHICH WERE NEVER LOWERED-- IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN THE BACK LEFT WINDOW JUST FELL AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW ON DEC. 1, 2006. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT SINCE THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ONE REAR WINDOW IN MY DAUGHTER'S 2001 FOCUS, AND I HAVE RECENTLY SEEN TWO DIFFERENT FOCUSES IN MY AREA OF TOWN THAT HAVE THEIR BACK WINDOWS HELD UP BY PACKING TAPE, JUST AS MINE WAS! THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD US IT WOULD COST $500 PLUS TO FIX EACH OF THE TWO WINDOWS, SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE WE HAD TO PAY $221 IN 2005 AND WILL PAY APPROXIMATELY THAT AMOUNT AGAIN WHEN WE TAKE THE CAR IN ON DEC. 20. *NM

I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF WORK AND WENT TO LEAVE. I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE GUY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I CALLED, STATING IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE FOCUSES. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT SAME THING. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT DEFINITELY CAN BE. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN, ESPECIALLY NOT ONE FROM ARCHIE COCHRANE IN BILLINGS, MT. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF MONEY HUNGRY JERKS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WRONG DOINGS OR HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR A CUSTOMER. *JB

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAS A LEAK OF FLUID INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR (DOWN THE CLUTCH ARMATURE TO THE CLUTCH PAD AND TO FLOOR MAT, IF SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE) WHICH HAS A) CAUSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL PAD TO BECOME SLIPPERY AND FALL OFF DUE TO THE FLUID SEEPING BEHIND THE PAD [AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENTS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO RELATIVE YOUTH OF CAR, THEREFORE NECESSITATING SERVICE AT DEALER], B) CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON SPORADICALLY DUE TO A DROP IN BRAKE FLUID (CLUTCH HYDRAULICS SHARE A RESERVOIR WITH BRAKE SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH NO FINDING OF CORRESPONDING BRAKE TROUBLE CAN BE MADE [PROBLEM TEMPORARILY DISAPPEARS WHEN FLUID LEVEL TOPPED OFF] AND C) CAUSES SPORADIC CLUTCH "SOFTENING" AND DECREASED EFFECTIVENESS. ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF BOTH DEALER AND INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NONE CAN FIND A FAULT WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AS INDICATED BY THE ERROR LIGHT AND THEREFORE NONE INDICATE THAT A TROUBLE EXISTS. THE LEAK IS NOT OBVIOUS UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BRAKING POWER (UNLESS LEFT TOO LONG AND BRAKE FLUID LEVELS DROP SIGNIFICANTLY). UNABLE TO LOCATE PRECISE LOCATION OF LEAK (SUSPECT EITHER RESERVOIR OR SOME ASSOCIATED LINE TO CLUTCH HYDRAULICS) OR TO DETERMINE WHY ONLY CLUTCH SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE IMPACTED. 1) NO NOTICEABLE/KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE; UNCERTAIN HOW LONG CONDITION EXISTED PRIOR TO INITIAL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM 2) SEE FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES NOTED ABOVE 3) NO CORRECTION IN PLACE YET AS DEALER SERVICE DOES NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND DID NOT "FIND" PROBLEM AT RECENT 60K SERVICE WORK-UP (INCLUDED TOTAL SYSTEMS CHECK AND FULL BRAKE INSPECTION WITH FLUID TOP OFFS) PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT FIRING MANIFEST APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO WEEKS (SINCE FIRST NOTED IN NOVEMBER 2006) DUE TO FLUID LOSS, PARTICULARLY WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ISSUE IS "RESOLVED" BY ADDING BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR. *JB

CLUTCH PEDAL DISINTEGRATED, INVESTIGATED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT HYDRAULIC FLUID IS LEAKING FROM CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I THINK IT SHOULD NOT HAD WORN OUT PREMATURELY WHEN THE CAR HAVE ONLY 32500 MILES ON IT. *NM

(1) VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 40K MILES EXHIBITED HARD STARTING AND OCCASIONAL STUMBLE FOR 6-8 WEEKS. (2) FAILURE WAS CLOGGED FUEL PUMP AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. (3) CORRECTION WAS REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP WITH UPDATED UNIT. *NM

IN LATE OCTOBER 2006 I TOOK MY 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR VIBRATION/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. FORD WALKER IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA SAID THAT MY ENGINE/TRANS. MOUNT WERE WORKING PROPERLY. FORD KEPT MY CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD THE VERY NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND REGIONAL MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. FORD CHARGED ME $100 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE AND DIDN'T FIXED MY PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THEY REPLACED MY RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT WHICH WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE VERY SAME PIECE FORD WALKER LIED TO ME STATING IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. *JB

THE KEY STOPPED TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, POOR BRAKING ACTION WAS NOTICED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO ALERT THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PRESENCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE DRIVER SIDE CARPET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED A LEAK FROM THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD A COMMON RESERVOIR. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AFFECTED THE FLUID LEVEL OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB

FUEL PUMP QUIT ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS - CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THIS SAME PROBLEM ON YEAR 2000 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT THE 2002. *JB

AFTER THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT WILL NOT TURN DESPITE ANY WIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL, STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, BEGGING, OR PLEADING. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN BEFORE AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT TURN, BUT HAS NEVER LEFT US STRANDED UNTIL NOW. MY HUSBAND IS STRANDED AS I WRITE THIS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK HIM UP FROM A RESTAURANT. WE HAVE NO WAY OF OPERATING THE VEHICLE. WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

MY IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN GIVING MY DAUGHTER PROBLEMS AND NOW STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR FORD FOCUS. *NM

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SUDDENLY DROPS TO ZERO. IT OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESET AND OFTEN DOES THIS REPEATEDLY. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THIS STARTED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND WILL NOT CORRECT. THEY CLAIM THAT I MUST REPLACE THE ENTIRE EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *JB

STARTING HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING MY KEY IN IGNITION FOR 2 DAYS. ON THE THIRD DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS $350.00 DUE SOMETIME TODAY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION.

THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD FOCUS BROKE WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN USING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS. ONCE THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN, IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE PARTS MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS OF THE 2002 FORD FOCUS' BREAK. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE A SMALL CHILD COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THE WINDOW CANNOT ROLL UP, IF IT IS RAINING VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW IS NIL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE FRONT END COLLISIONS AND BOTH TIMES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND 30 MPH ON THE SECOND INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT; THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. AFTER THE SECOND ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME SINCE 9/16/04. HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. *JB

FAULTY IGNITION; HAD TO CALL LOCKSMITH MOBILE AND GET WHOLE CYLINDER REPLACED. JUST LIKE MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES I'VE READ UP ON, KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE REPLACEMENT, I FOUND THE KEY WAS INCREASINGLY HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN AND START THE CAR; IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTRA LITTLE TUG TO START. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED. WITHIN THE FIRST 2-3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. IN 2005 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. PRESENTLY THE LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR ISN'T WORKING; THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. THE REAR FRONT WINDOW IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON. THE CD PLAYER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2006 ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF FACTORY DRY ROT. I REGULARLY SERVICE AND MAINTAIN THE CAR, AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT MADE WITH QUALITY PARTS AND THAT IT IS NOT SAFE. ALTHOUGH I DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEEDS, IT DOES NOT GET THE MILEAGE STATED ON THE STICKER. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS HAD IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PROBLEMS. SINCE 08/2006 WHEN HE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT CONSISTENTLY TURN OVER. HE STATED THAT FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER THE IGNITION, AND HE HAS BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND WAS ADVISED TO TAP ON THE KEY WHILE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT FOUND ON A WEBSITE CALLED AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET, AND A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS WERE LISTED. THE WEBSITE STATED THAT VARIOUS LOCKSMITHS DESCRIBED THE FAILURE AS THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT COULD GET THE KEY OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO GET THE IGNITION TO START. THE CONTACT DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND HE WILL HAVE A CASE NUMBER AVAILABLE FOR THE HARD COPY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73000.*AK

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY LOCK UP AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS. *JB

BOTH REAR WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING, GETTING STUCK ALL THE WAY DOWN, LEADING TO AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SMALL CHILDREN OR ANIMALS. REAR DRIVER WINDOW FAILED IN MAY 2006 AND WAS REPAIRED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED AUGUST 17, 2006. *NM

WATER LEAKS INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD EVERYTIME IT RAINS. *NM

THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 60,000 MILES LOCKED UP WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN. WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A FAST TRIP INTO THE POST OFFICE LEAD TO A SIX HOUR EVENT OF TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED, CALLING FORD, AND AAA., TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE IT WAS DURING A THUNDERSTORM. AFTER SIX HOURS MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION WAS WORKED ON FOR A COSTLY PRICE. *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN. I CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, BUT THIS TIME I COULDN'T AND I AM TOWING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. *NM

BOTH REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE WINDOWS WERE NEVER ABUSED / MIS-USED IN ANY WAY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW, YET I HAD TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF REPLACING THE REGULATORS. FORD WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE BUT DECLINED TO OFFER ANY. *JB UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON HAS HAD INNUMERABLE PROBLEMS. FIRSTLY..MELTING BATTERY CABLES DUE TO POOR AND FAULTY WIRING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION OF THE BATTERY HAD I NOT HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED ALONG WITH PURCHASE OF TWO NEW BATTERIES THANKS TO THE MELTING BATTERY CABLES CAUSING A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. IT SUBSEQUENTLY KILLED THE ALTERNATOR WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO SUBSEQUENTLY KILLED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE SOLENOID SWITCH WHICH CAUSED OVERHEATING AND DYING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AND WAS CAUSING DRIVING PROBLEMS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR. NOW MORE RECENTLY, IT HAD TO HAVE A FAULTY TIE ROD PLACED WHICH NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. AND AS OF LAST FRIDAY, ITS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN THIS TIME FOR ENGINE STALLING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHICH NEARLY CAUSED YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR AND MINE SUDDENLY BEGAN VIBRATING SO BAD AND THEN LOST POWER AND I HAD TO STRUGGLE MY WAY TO THE MEDIAN. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND FORD REFUSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE PAID OUT NEARLY 2000.00 ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS WHICH WERE SIMILAR TO ISSUES ALREADY RECALLED AND YES I AM MAD. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND COMPLAINED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, DESTROYING THE FRONT CONTROL PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE INDICATED THE RECOMMENDED PSI AS 34 AND IT HAS BEEN KEPT TO THAT STANDARD. THE TIRE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR OLD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO VIBRATION. THERE WAS ALSO NO MORE THAN 15000 MILES ON THE TIRE.

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING ON OCCASION. ALSO, THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. *JB

THE FIRST WEEK OF ME PURCHASING MY CAR AT GARNET FORD IN CHADDSFORD, PA, I NOTICED I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. THIS HAS ONLY CONTINUED TO HAPPEN MORE. ALSO, MY CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. THE CAR WILL START RIDING ROUGH AND SHAKING INDICATING THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION ON MANY OCCASIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT IT. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT STARTED DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF ME OWNING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME THIS WAY AND GARNET FORD IS SAYING THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY IAC AND THROTTLE BODY STICKING BUT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE AGE RELATED PROBLEMS AND I ADVISED THEM THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR. I'M VERY UPSET WITH GARNET FORD FOR GIVING ME A CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND I EXPECT THEM TO LOOK INTO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT ON THEIR DIME NOT MINE. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, I WILL SEEK OTHER WAYS AT GETTING THEIR ATTENTION. *JB

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING ON OCCASION. ALSO, THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. *JB

IN 2006, I HAD PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD FOCUS SE. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, MY RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP USING THE POWER BUTTON. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, THE LEFT REAR POWER WINDOW ALSO STOPPED WORKING AND STAYED DOWN. THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE PROPPED UP WITH TAPE AND DOOR STOPPER WEDGED IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOWS TO STAY UP. WHEN FINALLY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC SAID BOTH POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $400 EACH. *TR

1. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON BACK FROM A CAMPING TRIP AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY 2. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A "CRACK"/"BANG" FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, DRIVERS SIDE, THE CAR CONTINUED WITHOUT JOLTING/SWERVING (I.E. NO AFFECT TO THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE), HOWEVER, AFTER ANOTHER FEW MILES THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS MAKING A HIGH PITCHED SOUND, PLUS CRACKING, PLUS SOME JOLTING AS THE BEARING REALIGNED ITSELF AT TIMES. I STOPPED THE CAR AND THE HEAT FROM THE WHEEL WAS INCREDIBLE, ONE COULD HAVE FRIED AN EGG ON IT (THIS WHEEL WAS MUCH HOTTER THAN THE OTHERS). UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED ON A STRETCH OF ROAD WHERE THERE ARE NO TOWNS, NO CELL PHONE SIGNAL, ETC, I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A TOWN, MAX OF 40 MPH ON A 60 MPH STRETCH OF ROAD, I HAD A BABY IN THE CAR AND WAS SCARRED THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO HER. IN THE TOWN, I LEFT THE CAR, HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO DRIVE ME HOME. I MUST SAY IT WAS THE MOST UNPLEASANT FEELING IN THE WORLD. IN ADDITION, THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, WHERE ALL CAR SHOPS ARE CLOSED! 3. REPAIR SHOPS OPEN TOMORROW, THE REPAIR IS YET TO TAKE PLACE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY DETERMINED A CONNECTOR IN THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY CONNECTOR CABLE TO THE MOTOR WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND A NEW CONNECTOR WAS INSTALLED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF RECALL #02V288000, PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES WHICH DESCRIBED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 8/31/2006 - *NM

2002 ZTS HAD PROBLEMS WHERE IGNITION GOT STUCK COULD NOT REMOVE OR START THE CAR HAD TO HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED IT COST ME IN EXCESS OF $300.00 EVIDENTLY THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT FORD IS NOT DEALING WITH. *TR

2002 FORD FOCUS SEDAN MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 80,000 MILES. WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE ACTS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL, VEHICLE HESITATES, JERKS AND SPUTTERS. THIS LITERALLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JOLT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AND SHAKES THE PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SCARY EVENT, ESPECIALLY AT 70+ MPH SPEED OR WHEN IN TRAFFIC. HIGHLY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO SIMPLE SHUT OFF WHILE ON INTERSTATE 95 WHICH COULD BE DEADLY. THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND MAINTAINED HAS RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES. THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED WITH IGNITION/STEERING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-EXAMINED WHILE AGAIN IN THE SHOP AND DRIVEN AGAIN BY THE SERVICE TEAM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A USEFUL DIAGNOSIS OF THE ENGINE HESITATION PROBLEMS. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT NO ONE CAN APPROPRIATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED, BUT OPERATED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS OF ANY KIND, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD A FAILURE.

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 80,000 MILES STALLS WHEN GOING HIGH SPEEDS, AND IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, TO DATE. THE LAST TIME I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY, WITH OVER 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, VEHICLE LOST POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND STOP IN "V" WHERE ROAD SPLIT, CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AT RECOMMENDATION OF FORD, DETERMINED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE FIRST PERSON WE TALKED TO AT FORD SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT ONCE WE TOOK IT IN AND PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC, THE SECOND PERSON WE CALLED AT FORD AFTER TAKING IT IN SAID IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE PART. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO LOSE STEERING AND POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB

IGNITION LOCK WAS JAMMED ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE SO FAR. IT COST ME CLOSE TO $400 CANADIAN. I ONLY HAVE 40,000 MILES ON IT . THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A FREQUENT EVENT. FORD IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY YET. *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION PROBLEM. KEY WILL NOT TURN. MY DAUGHTER, 17 YEARS OLD WAS STUCK IN PARKING LOT, LATE IN THE EVENING! THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH ON A MAJOR ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH AN INTERSECTION HOWEVER IT EVENTUALLY COMPLETELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE COMPLETELY DARKENED. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BY THE CONTACT AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN HOME. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AGAIN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CABLE WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE CABLE WIRE MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM AND WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THE ALTERNATOR MAY BE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHEN TURNING ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3, IT TENDS TO HAVE A VERY ROUGH IDLE, SPUTTERING AND STALLING. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK CABLES, PCV VALVE AND MY IGNITION COIL. BUT EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT MY CAR STILL SPUTTERS, STALLS AND HAS A ROUGH IDLE....I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT OUT OF MY HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AUTO ZONE AND HAD IT HOOKED UP TO THE CODE READER AND THE ATTENDANT SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE... THIS IS MY LAST STRAW.. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP. THE KEY FIT IN THE KEY SLOT BUT KEY AND STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE INVOICES FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH ARE AVAILABLE.

DRIVING MY 2002 ZX5 FORD FOCUS AROUND PITTSBURGH, WITH LESS THAN A 1/4 TANK THE ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING. THEN THE CAR STALLED. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE ABOUT A 1/4 MILE WHEN IT STARTED STUTTERING AND SHAKING PRETTY BAD AGAIN. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. I WAITED A LITTLE BEFORE TURNING IT BACK ON. IT DID THE SAME THING TWICE MORE; ONCE IT STALLED WHEN I WAS DOING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY TRAFFIC INTERSECTION AND THE OTHER WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED AVENUE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE 2-HOUR TRIP BACK HOME WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER AND ALSO PERFORM A FUEL FLUSH. THE TOTAL COST IS ROUGHLY $600.00. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A HISTORY OF FAILURES WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE ON 2000-2001 FOCUS. FORD HAS CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED IN 2002. MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRED THIS PAST JANUARY AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT SINCE MY CAR IS 2002 THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 03N01 DOES NOT APPLY IN MY CASE, THUS I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I DISAGREE AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE COST SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. MY CAR SHOWS ALL THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ON THE 03N01 DOCUMENT, WHICH IS A QUALITY ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RESOLVED AND CLEARLY HAS NOT. IT IS UNSAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT CAN STALL WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING THE DRIVER STUCK IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB