Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10303359January 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS IS LOCKED UP AND I CANNOT TURN IT OVER AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR NOW! THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A NEW IGNITION ONLINE FROM AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP, DRILLED OUT THE OLD ONE AND INSTALLED THE NEW ONE HIMSELF. THE NEW IGNITION WE BOUGHT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FREE OF THE DEFECT THAT WAS CAUSING THE IGNITION FAILURE. WE HAVE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND THE AMOUNT OF FOCUS OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS IS WIDESPREAD. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON ONE OF THE COLDEST DAYS OF WINTER WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON. FORD WILL NOT COVER THESE REPAIRS BECAUSE MY CAR IS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF THE STANDARD WARRANTY PERIOD, HOWEVER, I'M LEFT TO PAY FOR THE SAME COSTLY REPAIR TIME AND TIME AGAIN. MEANWHILE, REMAINING CONSTANTLY WORRIED ALL THE TIME IF MY CAR WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED. PLEASE HELP US FORD FOCUS OWNERS AND PUSH FORD TO RECALL THIS APPARENT AND IMMEDIATE SAFETY DEFECT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302904January 28, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. FOR A WHILE MY 2002 FOCUS HAS BEEN GIVING ME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. EITHER THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WON'T COME OUT, OR THE KEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT, IT NOW HAS AROUND 67,000. 2. IT HAPPENS ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS. ALTHOUGH USUALLY THE KEY WILL EVENTUALLY TURN, SIMPLY BY REMOVING IT AND PUTTING IT BACK IN THE OPPOSITE WAY. IF THEY KEY IS STUCK IN THE SWITCH, USUALLY RESTARTING IT OR REVERSING AND GOING BACK INTO DRIVE WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET THE KEY OUT. 3. NOW I AM CURRENTLY STUCK AT WORK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN MY FOCUS AT ALL! AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. REFERENCED HERE: HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/FORD-FOCUS/FORD_FOCUS_IGNITION_CYLINDER_BREAKS_FOR_SECOND_TIME AND HERE: HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/FOCUS/KEY-WONT-TURN-IN-THE-IGNITION.SHTML *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301714January 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE IGNITION REMAINED LOCKED. THE CONTACT TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK THE IGNITION AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TAPPED ON THE IGNITION AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LUBRICATED THE IGNITION SWITCH; YET, THE IGNITION LOCKED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT ORDER THE PART FOR THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A GOOD FAITH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS NOT VALID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRANDED IF THE FAILURE RECURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299106January 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVING 45 MPH RAN OVER SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER IN ROAD AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297242December 28, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I DROVE MY CAR (A 2002 FORD FOCUS) TO A RESTAURANT ON DEC. 28TH, 2009 AT 7:15 PM. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO RELEASE IT FROM THE "LOCKED" WHEEL POSITION, BUT THE KEY STILL WOULD NOT TURN. I WAITED IN MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY ONCE MORE IN THE IGNITION WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A FRIEND AND WAIT IN MY CAR WITH NO HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AS I WAITED FOR NEARLY HALF AN HOUR TO BE PICKED UP, THEN DROPPED OFF AT HOME BY A COWORKER. HE WILL HAVE TO PICK ME UP FOR WORK TOMORROW AS ALL REPAIR FACILITIES ARE CLOSED FOR THE EVENING. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONCE I GOT HOME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS AND SPECIFICALLY FORD FOCUS MODELS FROM 2000-2003 YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL POSTED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO AN INFERIOR PART THAT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294962December 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 FORD FOCUS BATTERY CABLES WAS BURNING I WAS SMELLING A BURNING SCENT WHEN I STATED THE VEHICLE AN WELL WHEN I DROVE THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY HARNESS IN THIS CAR FRAYED AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATOR. FORD SAID THIS WAS NOT A RECALL PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294099December 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKED MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ON THE STREET, WHEN I CAME BACK THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO YANK ON THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE TURNING THE KEY, THIS WORKED AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, BUT AFTER I TURNED IT OFF, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, YANKING THE WHEEL FOR 10 MINS IT WORKED. NOW I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION SO IT WONT LOCK UP ON ME. I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO TURN ON MY CAR BECAUSE WHEN I TURN A CORNER IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL WAY AROUND. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WORKS LATE, AND I RELY ON MY CAR TO GET ME HOME SAFELY..I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293513November 25, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AT THE REAR OF THE CAR, FAILED AND DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION DOWN ON TO THE REAR-TRANSAXLE AND DAMAGED MOTOR MOUNTS. THE BRACKET APPEARS TO BE MADE OF VERY FLIMSY METAL AND IS NOT AN ADEQUATE PIECE OF MACHINING FOR THE TASK HOLDING THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293516November 25, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE GEAR SHIFT SWITCH THAT LOCKS THE CAR INTO PARK AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO REMOVE THE KEY IS FAULTY. THE DRIVER CAN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN PULL THE GEARSHIFT BACK TO REVERSE WITHOUT HAVING TO ENGAGE THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT. ALSO, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FIX OR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE, IT IS NOT SAFE AND THE CAR IS JUST NOT THAT OLD TO HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. THE SAFETY FEATURE HAS FAILED AND MADE THE CAR UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292488November 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS LOCKED UP. IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. I WAS COMPLETELY STRANDED AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET SOMEONE TO COME HELP ME. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND KNOWN ABOUT. I WOULD HOPE THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL SINCE IT POSES THE POTENTIAL TO STRAND PEOPLE IN LESS THAN DESIRABLE CONDITIONS WHEN THE ONLY PROBLEM PRESENT IS THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291106November 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WENT TO MY BABYSITTERS TO PICK UP MY CHILD AND I TURN OFF MY CAR WHICH IS A 2002 FORD FOCUS TOT GO INSIDE. I COME BACK OUT 5 MINS LATER AND TRY TO START IT AND THE IGNITION WAS STUCK. SO IT WAS TOWED AND FIXED FOR 400 DOLLARS. AND JUST A BIG PAIN IN THE '!@#$%. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287410October 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON REAR HATCH WIRING HARNESS FRAYED WIRES AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287235October 13, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CAR STARTED TO PUTT PUTT AND THEN IT STALLED OUT I HAD A HAFL OF TANK OF GAS WHEN I HAD TO GET THIS TOWED COME TO FINE OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WAS CLOGGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287124October 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION, THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TODAY OCT 12, 2009 THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO MY CHILD MISSED SCHOOL TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS GETTING FRUSTRATING I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE APRIL OF 2009 AND THIS IS CAUSING ME GRIEF. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD FOCUS DUE TO THIS FRUSTRATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286890October 9, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE LATCH AND STRIDE WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65000. UPDATED 10/29/09 *CN UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB THE PART HAS NOT REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286322October 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION IS LOCKED. KEY WILL NOT TURN, BRAKES ARE LOCKED, GEARS ARE LOCKED. COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO BE REPLACED AND I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME. FORD REPLACES THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE EXACT IGNITION KEY AS BEFORE, CREATING DEJAVU FOR MOST CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286037October 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY IN MY FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS FIXED AFTER HOURS OF PLAYING AROUND WITH IT. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, WITHOUT AS MUCH LUCK. LUCKILY, I HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO OR AT HOME WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD EASILY MAKE ME STRANDED ONE DAY. NO WARRANTY IS AVAILABLE AND MY ONLY OPTION IS TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285749September 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO ON AUGUST 23, 2009, WE PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD FOCUS FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ON OAHU, HAWAII. ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 28, 2009, AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS, WE TRIED TO START THE CAR, BUT THE KEY JUST WOULDN'T TURN. WE TRIED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS TO GET THE CAR STARTED TO GET HOME (AND TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE GAS PUMPS SO OTHER PEOPLE COULD PUMP GAS). WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE HELP US, BUT THE KEY JUST WOULDN'T TURN, AND WE COULDN'T PUSH THE CAR BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. WE FINALLY CALLED A TOW TRUCK, BUT LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO WHACK THE KEY REAL HARD (FOR THE UMTEENTH TIME) AND TURN THE IGNITION, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. WE GOT HOME, SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. NOW IT'LL COST US ABOUT $200 TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED AT A LOCKSMITH. I WILL NOT RETURN TO FORD TO DO THIS AS IT'LL COST DOUBLE WHAT THE LOCKSMITH COST. WHAT'S SAD IS THAT FORD KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, YET THEY WON'T DO RECALLS TO FIX IT. WE USED TO BE A FORD FAMILY (PURCHASED AT LEAST THREE FORD EXPLORERS), BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE BUYING ANYMORE FORD CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285870September 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO HINT THE IGNITION WAS GOING TO LOCK UP. STRANDED MY WIFE IN FREEZING WEATHER UNTIL I GET THERE. THANK GOD FOR CELL PHONES. THIS IGNITION ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH FORD FOCUS VEHICLES 2000 TO 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285647September 29, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2002 FORD FOCUS EXHIBITS ENGINE HESITATION WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS BELOW 1/4 FULL. THERE ARE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN WITH 80,000KM ON THE CAR AND NOW ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH ONLY 1/4 TANK OF GAS. COMPLAINTS TO FORD ABOUT HOW THIS IS THE EXACT SAME CONDITION THAT CAUSED THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL ON 2000 AND 2001 FOCUSES (03N01) HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY OFFER TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR FREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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