Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10160351June 21, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160114June 18, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160043June 16, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159355June 8, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158615May 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158472May 28, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158475May 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO ANY POSITION. NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, HAD TO BE TOWED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158009May 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157929May 20, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY NIECE'S 2002 FORD FOCUS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. FORD SAYS 'SENSOR' INDICATES AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE WAS NONE, AND CHARGED $95 FOR THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ANALYZE THIS FURTHER, AND REMAINING AIRBAGS NO LONGER FUNCTION. WE BELIEVE THAT AIRBAG SENSORS/SYSTEMS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157815May 18, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157586May 15, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STALLED, POWER LOSS, ROUGH IDLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157425May 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157436May 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157166May 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157004May 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP, NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO TURN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156896May 5, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
5/4/06 NOTICED VENT LEAK ON PASSENGER FLOOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156581May 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156422April 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156297April 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156315April 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON 3/25/05, WHILE PARKED & LOCKED, THE IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED ON ITS OWN, RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT BURNED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES AND HEAVY SMOKE WITHIN THE SEALED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WITH THE LACK OF OXYGEN. PICTURES OF THE WIRING HARNESS, STEERING COLUMN AND INTERIOR ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM FILE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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