2002 Ford Focus Visibility & Wipers Problems

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.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN I24. THE SOUND OF THE WINDOW SLAMMING DOWN SCARED ME SO BAD I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD AT 70MPH WITH 3 KIDS IN THE CAR. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING MY 3 YEAR OLD SON TO THE BABYSITTER. THE SOUND WAS SO LOUD I SWERVED ALMOST HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I GOT BOTH WINDOWS FIXED FOR ABOUT 350.00. A WEEK AGO THE LEFT WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT AGAIN. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR THE NEXT WINDOW WILL GO OUT AND STARTLE ME INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM FAILING TO RAISE AND/OR LOWER WINDOW GLASS IN VEHICLE. WINDOW OPERATOR REQUIRES GREASE TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH WAS NOT PRESENT AFTER CLOSER EXAMINATION OF PARTS. PARTS WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHEN THE REAR WINDOW, (BOTH), IS RAISED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,(3-5 YRS), THE UPPER CABLE RETAINER ON THE WINDOW ELEVATOR,(ITS MADE OF PLASTIC), BREAKS OFF ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO DROP DOWN. THIS IS BOTH A SECURITY& A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE OLD PARTS I'VE REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR ELEVATOR IN 4/07 NOW THE LEFT HAS FAILED.(11/07). *TR

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE DEFECTIVE FOR THE TWO REAR WINDOWS IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN THE BACK LEFT WINDOW JUST FELL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE WINDOWS ARE NEVER LOWERED SINCE WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND ALWAYS USE THE A/C. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW ABOUT 6 MTHS AGO. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A CAMPAIGN OR SPECIAL POLICY. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE COST IS EXCESSIVE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND RELEASE A SPECIAL POLICY TO COVER THIS UNNECESSARY ISSUE. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WENT, THIS CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT, COST TO REPAIR $298+ THIS IS THE THIRD EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON THIS 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE OTHER TWO WERE WHEEL RELATED AND LOCKING DOOR LOCKS THAT WERE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AS WELL. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP. VEHICLE CANNOT BE SECURED.*AK

I WAS SITTING AT MY DAUGHTERS SCHOOL, I TRIED TO ROLL DOWN THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW I HERD A LOUD NOISE LIKE GLASS BREAKING. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SEEN THAT THE WINDOW HAD GONE ALL THE WAY DOWN, WHEN I TRIED TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO RAISE THE WINDOW I KEPT HEARING A STRANGE NOISE AND NOTICED THE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR HAD GONE OUT AND THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR OVER $ 400.00 BECAUSE MY WARRENTY HAD GONE OUT 3 DAYS EARLIER. I WAS VERY UPSET TO LEARN MY WARRENTY WAS OUT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I HAD SPOKE TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAD ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, SO I SHOCKED WHEN I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN OHIO THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE ABOUT THE ISSUE.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREQUENTLY FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE DURING RAIN EVENTS DESPITE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SOMETIMES I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE AND AM CONCERNED HAVING HEARD THAT THE FOCUS WIPER MOTORS HAVE CAUSED FIRES IN THE PAST. TWO FORD DEALERS HAVE FAILED TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I COULD NOT START IT. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED TWICE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY KIDS IN IT. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND I'M WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. NOW I NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. I HAD IT THERE PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS ALSO, AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CHARGED ME $36.00....THE VIBRATION IS WORSE NOW SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE TRUNK WON'T LATCH PROPERLY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T GO THE WHOLE WAY DOWN WHEN YOU TURN THEM OFF. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP ACTS LIKE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR! *LA

I HAVE A 2002 FOR FOCUS. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TOTAL OF 6 WINDOW REGULATORS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE BIGGEST ITEM TO BE REPAIRED ON THE CAR I JUST WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. THIS COULD REALLY BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SOME PEOPLE. SAY YOU WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND BECAUSE FORD MOTOR COMPANY USES PLASTIC REGULATORS YOU WINDOW FALLS.......AND SHATTERS!!!! THAT WOULD BE REALLY BAD YOU COULD GET GLASS IN YOUR EYES AND ALL OVER THE PLACE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME WAY TO GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO PUT A RECALL ON ALL WINDOW REGULATORS ON MODELS OF THE FORD FOCUS. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG MILDEW SMELL WHEN DEFROST IS TURNED ON. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA PRODUCING AGENT IN THE DEFROST SYSTEM. DEALER STATES ALL NEW CARS ARE LIKE THIS. CONSUMER HAS A BREATHING PROBLEM AND THIS MILDEW SMELL MAY CREATE A BIGGER PROBLEM. TS

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES (205/50R16) WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTEADY ON BUMPY, WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE REAR TIRES VIBRATE AND CHATTER WHEN DRIVING ON WIND ROADS AND ON OPEN ROADS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALSO THE REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING IRREGULAR AND PREMATURE WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES STATED THAT IMPROPER FACTORY ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. AUTO DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONS. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, THE REAR WINDOW WASHER WOULD NOT SPRAY PROPERLY AND THE REAR WINDOW WASHER NOZZLE FAILED, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM HEATING OR A/C SYSTEM, THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS LEAKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AND REVERSE WHEN IT WAS COLD, THE CHILD RESTRAINT BRACKETS WAS PUTTING DENTS IN THE REAR SEAT *YH

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DISAPPEARS WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR. I PUT IN OVER 3 GALLONS, EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT USE THE WASHER. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW MUCH FLUID IS IN THE CONTAINER AS IT IS HIDDEN IN THE WHEEL WELL. WE VISITED THE DEALER 4 TIMES. ALTHOUGH HE SAYS HE REPLACED THE SYSTEM, THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. IN THE NORTHEAST, WE HAVE SEVERE SNOW AND ICE STORMS. FAILURE OF THE WASHER SYSTEM DURING AN ICE STORM WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. IT WOULD REQUIRE STOPPING THE CAR AT FREQUENT INTERVALS ON A DANGEROUS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO CLEAD THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERS SOLUTION: "CARRY A GALLON OF WIPER FLUID IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES." HE CAN'T FIX IT. SAYS IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. CAN YOU FORCE FORD TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS? NOTE: THIS FORM SAYS THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. IT WAS NOT.*AK