2002 Ford Focus Complaint Log

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE VEHICLE VEERED TOWARD THE RIGHT. A CLUNKING SOUND CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE FRONT COIL SPRING NEEDED REPLACED.

I HAVE 2002 FORD FOCUS SE THAT CUTS OUT AND STALLS WHILE MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. I TOOK TO THE DEALER 18 MONTHS AGO AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT IS DOING IT 5 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER FOCUS OWNERS ARE SAYING THAT THEIRS CUTS OUT AS WELL. FORD HAS NO TSB THAT I COULD FIND FOR IT BUT IT IS VERY. *NM

ALWAYS KEEP MY CAR CHECKED REGULARLY, CHANGED MY BRAKES IN MARCH,BUT MY ABS JUST WENT DOWN; EVEN IF IT IS A DIFFERENT PART, I AM WONDERING IF IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE ABS SO SOON, MY CAR HAS ONLY 46000 MILES. *NM

EXHAUST GAS RETURN (EGR) LINE FAILED AT EXHAUST MANIFOLD MOUNTING FLANG . THIS FAILURE ALLOWS CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE TO SEEP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE FOCUS. CO POISING CAN CAUSE: 1)DEATH A) THE DRIVER OF THE FORD FOCUS PASSES OUT AND DIES IN A CRASH B) THE DRIVER OF THE FORD FOCUS DIES FROM CO POISING 2)ORGAN FAILURE IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT YOU CAN'T ATTACH A PHOTOMICROGRAPH'S TO THIS COMPLAINT FORM? *JB

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS EXTREMELY ROUGH. OTHER TIMES WHEN THE TIMES COMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT, THERE IS GREAT HESITATION. AT TIMES IT DOESN'T CHANGE UNTIL THE VERY LAST HIGH RPM. THE SHIFTING PATTERNS HAVE BEEN OFF COMPLETELY. HORSE POWER AS WELL AS TORQUE ARE LOST DUE THE FAULTY SHIFTING. *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL PUMP RELAY. *KB ***NAR*** *JB

IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO ANY POSITION. NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, HAD TO BE TOWED. *NM

A YEAR AGO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON BURNED OUT. IN TRYING TO REPLACE IT AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS PLACE. THE SOCKET WAS SO TIGHT IN THE LENS/REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY THAT IT COULD NOT BE REMOVED. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, KAIN FAMILY FORD IN LONDON. I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FITTING FOR THE SOCKET HAD WARPED FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT, APPARENTLY. THE DEALER SEARCHED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND FOUND ONE INSTANCE IN WHICH A PIZZA DRIVER IN A SIMILAR VEHICLE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL THE LIGHT OUT AND WITH A POCKET KNIFE MAKE THE NEW SOCKET FIT IN THE ASSEMBLY, AND CHARGED ME THE HOURLY RATE FOR THE WORK. I SUSPECT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD OF TWO OTHER INSTANCES IN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE IN THIS AREA WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I RECENTLY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP AND FOUNT THE SAME WARPING. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER, BUT WILL. IS THERE A WAY TO SEARCH REPAIR RECORDS FOR THIS VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED? I LEARNED OF THIS SITE FROM CLICK AND CLACK ON NPR'S CARTALK. *NM

THE FRONT RIGHT BEARING AND SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE BEARING WAS FROZEN AND THE SPRING WAS POPPED OUT SO FAR IT ALMOST POPPED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE CAR IS A 2002 FORD FOCUS - NOT THAT OLD TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS CORRODE AND ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I DIDN'T SEE A RECALL ON ANY OF THE PARTS FOR MY CAR OR ANYTHING SUGGESTING SHIELDS SHOULD BE INSTALLED SO THAT IF THE SPRINGS POP AT A HIGH SPEED AT LEAST IT WON'T PUNCTURE THE TIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON THE PARTS OR HAVE THE NHTSA REQUIRE THAT SHIELDS BE INSTALLED. I SPENT $578 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM - REPLACED FRONT RIGHT STRUT, MOUNT AND BEARING, SPRING, AND ALIGNMENT. *NM

PAINT CRACKING UNDERNEATH CLEAR COAT. *JB

I WAS LEAVING WORK LATE ONE NIGHT AND COULD NOT GET MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TO START. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AMOUNT OF TURNING THE WHEEL OR JINGLING THE KEY WORKED. THE CAR RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A KEY IN THE IGNITION AS IT BEGAN TO 'DING' BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. LUCKILY THERE WAS A COMPANY CAR AVAILABLE THAT I COULD TAKE HOME. I COMMUTE OVER 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK. WALKING, BUS AND TAXI ARE NOT AVAILABLE OPTIONS FOR ME. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN WORKING IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AND I NO LONGER FEEL SECURE IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY ON THE INTERNET. IT COULD BE A WORN KEY TIP, THE KEYS ARE MICROCHIPPED FOR ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SO A NEW ONE CAN ONLY BE MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND MUST BE THE SAME NUMBER AS YOUR KEY. IT COULD BE FAULTY TUMBLERS, FORD CREATED THEIR OWN IGNITION TO SAVE MONEY AND THE TUMBLERS MAY NOT FALL CORRECTLY, OR FALL TO FAR IN TO ALLOW THE KEY TO FIT! THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL, A P05 IS IN PROGRESS, AND THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS LISTED. IF MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE MY PURCHASE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $35.00 FOR A NEW MICROCHIPPED KEY, TO $500 FOR DRILLING A NEW IGNITION AND NEW KEYS, A TOW, AND LABOR. AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET HAS BEEN THE MOST HELPFUL WEBSITE SO FAR, BUT I WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE LIST IN ORDER TO GET A RECALL ROLLING AND HAVE FORD PAY FOR THIS CHEAP IGNITION THAT FAILS REPEATEDLY. I WILL REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST ON THIS OBVIOUSLY POORLY ENGINEERED PART. *NM

STALLED, POWER LOSS, ROUGH IDLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AT 45 MPH, THE SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BEND ON IMPACT WITH THE ROAD. THE BENT WHEEL AND ALL SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION DIRECTING THE DEALER TO REPLACE SPRINGS ONLY IF BROKEN. WHEN THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED, REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE OFFERED AT COST.

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD THREE OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR SAY THAT THERE IGNITION SWITCH DID THE SAME THING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, A LOCKSMITH WAS CONTACTED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP A FINAL TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND AN IGNITION SWITCH WAS ORDERED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T START IT OR TAKE THE KEY OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE FORD HAD MADE IT SO DIFFICULT FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO WORK ON IT. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND LEFT A METAL SHAVING MESS IN THE CAR AT MY COST. IS THIS HOW ALL FORD VEHICLES AND DEALERS WERE NOW. I ALSO MISSED WORK DUE TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK

MY FORD FOCUS 2002 IS STARTING TO STALL & HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. I ORIGINALLY HAD BELIEVED IT WAS BAD FUEL BUT IT IS RECURRING & ONCE IT STALLS IT IS DIFFICULT TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP RUNNING WHEN PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED ONCE & LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC, WHO IS PUZZLED AT THIS POINT (FUEL ADDITIVE, OIL CHANGE, FILTERS CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS CLEANED). IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE GAS GAGE IS @ OR BELOW A 1/4 OF A TANK. I HAVE READ THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2001 MODELS & AM INQUIRING IF ANYONE WITH A 2002 IS REPORTING SUCH INCIDENTS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED (FROM A FORD DEALER) WITH 12,000 (I THINK) MILES ON THE SPEEDOMETER & HAVE BEEN FAIRLY HAPPY UNTIL JUST THE LAST 60 DAYS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I RAN VERY LOW ON GAS ONE NIGHT & STOPPED & FILLED UP AT A STATION THAT I NORMALLY DO NOT USE, BUT IT IS A STATION THAT DOES A GREAT DEAL OF BUSINESS IN THE AREA WHERE I WORK. I THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE GOTTEN SOME BAD FUEL OR HAD RUN THE TANK SO LOW THAT "GUNK" FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK HAD GOTTEN INTO THE FUEL. I USED SOME "FUEL ADDITIVE" & I KNOW THAT MY MECHANIC (AFTER TOWING IT) ALSO USED A FUEL ADDITIVE...EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN IT WAS HESITATING/JERKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 1/4 OF A TANK OF PREMIUM FUEL (MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I ONLY PUT IN $10.00 OF GAS IN CASE IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP). MY MECHANIC DOES NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE ONCE HE GOT IT TO RUN & HE HAD IT RUNNING HOT HE HAD NO PROBLEMS...HE FEELS I MAY NEED TO JUST WAIT IT OUT...STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC IS A BIT TOO ADVENTUROUS FOR ME!!! *NM

5/4/06 NOTICED VENT LEAK ON PASSENGER FLOOR. *JB

IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 34,000 MILES FAILED. REQUIRED A TOW AND REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $290. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A QUALITY PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITIONS. THERE ARE LOTS OF FAILURES OF THEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANKS TOM ROLLAND. *JB

TURNED ON MY LIGHT SWITCH TO DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT AND NOTICED MY DASH LIGHTS WERE NON-OPERATIONAL. GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND DID A WALK AROUND AND FOUND THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND POSTINGS REGARDING THIS FAILURE ON OTHER FOCUSES. I'VE PROVIDED A LINK HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/TEAM-TECH/457187-TAILLIGHTS-OUT-PROBLEM-FOUND-SERIOUS-SAFETY-HAZARD.HTML?HIGHLIGHT=DASH+LIGHTS+TAIL I CALLED FORD THEY DID NOT CARE AND WOULD NOT HELP. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA P205/50R16, FRONT LEFT TIRE HAS BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FIRST ONE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CONSTANTLY LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT TURN. WHEN SHE PLACES THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT ALSO FAILS TO TURN. SHE HAS HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. FORD STATED THAT THE IGNITIONS WERE RE-MODIFIED DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF SHE WANTED A NEW ONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING , SURGING, AND THEN LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION (EA02022) THAT WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,380 UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND MY IGNITION LOCKED UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME I COULD NOT START MY CAR I WAS STRANDED FOR AN 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE CAR. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR IT WAS NOT STRAIGHT SO I CAOULD NOT PARK IT STRAIGHT TO WAIT TO GET IT FIXED . I CALLED A REPAIR GUYS AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD IT IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $300.00 I AM A SINGLE PARENT HOW DOES FORD MOTOR COMPANY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY TRUST IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND DO NOT FIX IT AT THERE COST IN STEAD OF OURS. *NM

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAS A IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. THE KEY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND ALSO PAY $400 PLUS TAX TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT IS WIDESPREAD. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. *NM

PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING IS FRACTURED. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP, NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO TURN. *NM

HAVE HAD AN IGNITION FREEZING UP PROBLEM AND RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND NOTICED THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH FORD. I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS. FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A CAR IGNITION FREEZE UP. *JB

AT VEHICLE START UP, MY WIFE HEARD A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SPUTTERING, AND SMELL OF GAS FUMES. MY WIFE TOOK THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN AWAY FOR FEAR OF FIRE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE AND STRIPED THE ENGINE BLOCK. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME WITH THE REPAIRS, SINCE MY VEHICLES WARRANTY JUST EXSPIRED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILE ON IT, AND HAS HAD OTHER MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AT 25,000 MILES. NOW I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT DOESN'T EVEN RUN, I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO BUY A FORD. FORD HAS LOST A CUSTOMER FOREVER. *NM

CAR SPUTTERED, STALLED, AND DIED IN TRAFFIC ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS (ONE MONTH APART), REQUIRING TOWING. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOM AS "FUEL STARVATION", LIKE A BAD FUEL PUMP OR FILTER. BOTH TIMES, IT OCCURRED WITH A WARM ENGINE, 1/4 TANK OF GAS, AND ACCELERATING NORMALLY FROM A STOP. MECHANIC SUBSEQUENTLY DETECTED NO PROBLEMS, EXCEPT BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE. *NM

THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE FORD FOCUS YEARS 2000-2002 FOR SURE MAY BE OTHER YEARS BECOME JAMMED WHICH COULD LEAD TO CRASHES. I AM WORRIED EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, NEITHER THE AIR CONDITIONER NOR THE POWER WINDOWS WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING THE NECESSARY POWER AND BECAME SLOWER. THERE WAS NOT A REGULAR RESPONSE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HARD.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT TEN MPH AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THE RPM'S DROP TO 500. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR SPUTTER INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V482000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

THREE INSTANCES. VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH, GAUGES, LAMPS, ETC) SUDDENLY GO DEAD. ENGINE THEN SURGES AND STALLS. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL. VEHICLE FAILS TO RESTART. 1ST INSTANCE (12/2004): DEALER HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY RECONNECT ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AFTER RECALL SERVICE. ACCIDENT OCCURRED, MINOR INJURIES. 2ND INSTANCE (1/22/2006): DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. VEHICLE RESTARTED. 3. 3RD INSTANCE (2/3/2006): DEALER FOUND FAULTY ALTERNATOR/ALTERNATOR WIRING. *NM

IGNITION DOES NOT TURN ON 2002 FORD FOCUS. I CANNOT TURN THE KEY. I HAVE LOOKED AROUND ON THE INTERNET AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I FIXED IT BY TAPPING THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AS I TURNED THE KEY. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY THEM $400 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THOUGHT FORD SHOULD JUST FIX IT BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR WORTHLESS CARS.*AK

THE IGNITION SOLENOID FAILS ON THIS MODEL. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE AND TALKING TO A FEW LOCKSMITHS IT WOULD SEEM THE IGNITION IS SUBSTANDARD/FAULTY IN MY CAR. HOW EXACTLY DOES A KEYED LOCK FAIL? IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE? *NM

ON 01/10/06 THE IGNITION OF MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2002, 46000 MILES)) LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR, BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE TO A PARKING GARAGE. AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HOT-WIRE THE CAR SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR. FORD DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND WAS ABLE TO FIND SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AS THE LOCKS THAT ARE BEING USED AS A REPLACEMENT ARE OF THE SAME BAD QUALITY AS THE ORIGINALS. *JB

IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS. *JB

VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING, ONCE WHILE A SEMI WAS FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS, I HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW HOURS FOR IT TO START BACK UP AND NOT STALL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE 00-01 MODELS ARE COVERED BY RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP BUT MY 02 MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY IT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE 02 MODEL COULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUEL PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP THE CAR HAD INSTALLED DEPENDS ON WHAT DATE IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A VEHICLE WITHIN THE DATE RANGE OF BEING MANUFACTURED WITH THE OLDER AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AS MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN OCTOBER OF 2001. WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT COVERED IN THIS RECALL WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE PART THAT THE 00-01 MODELS HAVE? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS A CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR LINK WORE OUT, AND THE TIE ROD ENDS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINK AND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD FOCUS IN JANUARY OF 2005. I LOVE MY CAR, HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG LATER. RIGHT NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE PUT SIX USED TIRES ON THE FRONT SINCE I PURCHASED THE FOCUS. IN NOVEMBER I HAD TWO BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON PLUS IN MAY I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE CAR STILL SHAKES VERY BAD. FOUND OUT I NEED MY WHEEL HUB BEARING REPLACE, PLUS I FOUND OUT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE REAR BEARING WHICH I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS TO BE DONE. *JB

ENGINE STALLS REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. OFTEN THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER STALL. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES, NONE OF WHICH HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *NM

I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WONT TURN AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. ON-LINE I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH FOCUSES. I AM GOING TO GET IT FIXED, BUT AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RE-OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR SOMETIME, AND WAS STRANDED. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT MY APARTMENT AND I DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IMMEDIATELY. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP AND IAC VALVE WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH LOCK-UP. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $300. *NM

MY FOOT PAD ON MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME SLIPPERY DUE TO LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID OUT OF MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3. NOW I HAVE STAINS ALL OVER MY CARPETING AND SHOES. MY CLUTCH BEGAN NOT RELEASING DUE TO THIS AS WELL AND THE PLATE BURNED UP. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING. *AK

AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS ON MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT IN TO 2ND GEAR, I MISSED 2ND AND ACCIDENTALLY WENT INTO 4TH BUT REALIZED IT BEFORE LETTING OFF THE CLUTCH, IT THEN GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THAT GEAR. I COULD NOT GET ANYWHERE TO GET IT FIXED SO I WAS FORCED TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF A MAJOR ROAD IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES. *JB