Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10223364April 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED I NOTICED IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, LIKE A SPUTTERING. THEN IT WOULD GO AWAY AND THE CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE. THE CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND SO I CONTINUED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVELS. 2. THE DAY WHEN THE ENGINE DIED IT HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMALLY. I HAD STOPPED AT THE STORE. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND TURNED IT ON THE ENGINE MADE A POPPING NOISE AND THEN THE ENGINE "TURNED OVER" AND STARTED MAKING A THWAPING NOISE, LIKE CARDBOARD IN CONTACT WITH A FAN BLADE. AFTER TOWING IT TO A MECHANIC (IT WOULDN'T START, IT KEPT MAKING THUD-ISH THWAPING NOISES), WHO HAD WORKED FOR FORD PREVIOUSLY, HE SAID THAT THE 4TH PISTON HAD BROKE AND WAS GRINDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK (HE HAD TAKEN A LOOK AT THE TIMING BELT - OK- AND WAS TESTING THE GEARS THAT THE TIMING BELT ATTACHED TO. 3 TURNED WITH THE RIGHT TORQUE BUT THE FINAL ONE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BLOCK DIDN'T TURN UNLESS TORQUE GREATER THAN WHAT WAS NORMALLY NEEDED WAS APPLIED. WHEN IT TURNED THERE WAS A THWAP SOUND INSIDE THE ENGINE). WHAT MADE ME WONDER IS HE SAID THAT THIS ALWAYS HAPPENED WITH THIS MODEL ON THE SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES AT AROUND 90 TO 120 THOUSAND MILES. HE SAID THAT HE REPAIRED NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE, EVEN GUARANTEEING THAT OPENING UP THE ENGINE WOULD SHOW THAT THE 4TH PISTON (FARTHEST ON THE RIGHT FACING THE FRONT) BROKE. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY AND THE PISTON HAD BROKE. 3. THE COST TO REPLACE WITH A NEW OEM ENGINE WAS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR IF I WERE TO PERSONALLY SELL IT (BASED ON KELLY BLUE BOOK) AND SO WAS THE COST FOR A USED ENGINE ($1200 WAS THE LOWEST, COMPARED TO THE DUEL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES FOR THE FOCUS WHICH I FOUND USED FOR $500. SEEMS THE DEMAND FOR THAT STYLE ENGINE IS HIGH). I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING IT TO A SCRAP YARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222280March 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 10PM WHEN I WAS DONE GOT INTO MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. I SAT THERE TRYING FOR A LONG TIME AND NOTHING. IT WAS OBVIOUS THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED UP. GOT MY CAR TOWED THE NEXT MORNING TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, WHICH DID NOT OPEN UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THEY FINALLY WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND SAID THE IGNITION TUMBLER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST FOR THAT IS $453.00. I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I AM ALREADY ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT LED UP TO THE IGNITION DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222303March 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222084March 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION IS LOCKED ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. NOTHING LED UP TO IT. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS TO FOCUSES OFTEN. I NEED TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH REPLACE IT, AT COST TO ME, WHEN FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS TAKEN TO ACTION TO REMEDY IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221492March 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH LEAKS FLUID. FLUID RUNS DOWN STEM OF CLUTCH PEDAL, LOOSENING THE RUBBER PEDAL PAD, WHICH PROCEEDS TO FALL OFF IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO CLUTCH FLUID IS SUPPLIED BY BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR!!! THIS LEAK CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE AS FLUID LEAKS OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220447March 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR CRASHES, HOWEVER MY SPEEDOMETER READING STOPS WORKING AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY ODOMETER STOPS WORKING TOO. SINCE THE ODOMETER STOPS WORKING, THIS GIVES A FALSE READING ON HOW FAR I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING. IN OTHER WORDS IF THE ODOMETER STOPS AT 500 MILES AND THEN IT STARTS WORKING TEN MILES LATER, IT PICKS UP AT 500. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE TRUE READING IS ANYMORE. I HAVE HAD SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS THAT I DO NO KNOW THE TRUE READINGS OF MY ODOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220340March 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE TRIP ODOMETER AND IT DISPLAYED ALL ZEROS. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE TRIP ODOMETER BUTTON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DPFE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE DPFE SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AT THAT TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,773 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,300. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220163March 5, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE (~65 MILES PER HOUR), A COOLING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON (2002 FORD FOCUS, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 46,000 MILES), AND INSTANTANEOUSLY, THE CAR STALLED. IT ALMOST THREW ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR RECOVERED AND DID NOT DIE, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN (~20 MILES PER HOUR). I BROUGHT IT TO PEP BOYS, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT STALLED AND DIED TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM PEP BOYS, SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK ON ANY RECALLS BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY FOCUSES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE THERMOSTAT , THERMOSTAT HOUSING ASSEMBLY AND O RING, AND I NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE (WHICH WAS DONE AT PEP BOYS ONE WEEK EARLIER). THEY WANTED $1100.00 TO FIX IT, SO I TOOK MY CAR HOME. TODAY, I DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC, AND IT KILLED TWICE, AND STALLED THREE TIMES (DRIVING NO MORE THAN 30 MPH). THE HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC JUST CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS BAD, AND THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STALLING. IT IS A SHAME THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS CAR, AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR FAULTY FUEL PUMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219356February 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS THEN TURNS OFF. I GIVE IT GAS AND IT SEEMS TO GET WORSE. IDLES DOWN TO ZERO AND TURNS OFF. I HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THEN IT WILL RUN. IT USUALLY WILL KEEP HAPPENING EVERY FEW MILES UNTIL I STOP FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE/EXPRESSWAY, TOO DANGEROUS WHEN IT STALLS AT 75MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219124February 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN. I GOT STUCK WHILE SHOPPING AND HAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT. HE INFORMED ME THAT MY KEY WAS FINE, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAS RESPONDED TO MANY OF THE SAME CALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS. HE SUGGESTED THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF RESPONSES. SO I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF THE SAME CALLS, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL IN EFFECT. THE MAN I SPOKE TO GAVE ME THE FORD 800 NUMBER TO CALL AND ISSUE A COMPLAINT, WHICH I DID. NOW I HAVE TO UNFORTUNATELY GO SPEND $300 PLUS DOLLARS ON REPAIRING MY IGNITION SWITCH EVEN THOUGH FORD IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY PART. PLEASE RECALL 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCHES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219035February 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION CYLINDER, NO SEMI LOCKING, NO GLITCHES NOTHING, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I GO TO START MY CAR TO LEAVE THE GROCERY STORE AND THE KEY WON'T TURN. SO I HAD TO WAIT 3 HOURS WITH MY 87 YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER IN A FREEZING CAR WITH NO HEATER (CAUSE THE KEY WONT BUDGE) OF A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT FOR A LOCKSMITH TO COME AND FIX AND THEN TO PAY HIM $400. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT THE WAIT, BUT THAT THIS FROM WHAT I READ IS A PROBLEM OCCURRING IN THESE FORD FOCUS FAULTY IGNITION. IF THIS WHERE SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME, THEN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY PROBLEM, BUT ITS NOT. SO NOW WE ARE OUT $400 BECAUSE OF CHEAP MERCHANDISE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED FOR FREE BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE BEFORE ME HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND LET GET A RECALL GOING SO NO ONE ELSE HAS TO BEAR THIS BURDEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN OF THIS MATTER. SINCERELY MADELEINE MELLOTT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219431February 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN THREE WEEKS. HE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO RUN FOR OVER AN HOUR; HOWEVER, THE GEAR WOULD STILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN IF AN EMERGENCY BUTTON IS ENGAGED, WHICH ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW THE GEAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL AND A WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2007 WITH A 1,000 MILE OR 30 DAY WARRANTY. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN AND THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,332 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,302.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218015February 14, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MONDAY FEB 11TH AT 7:15 AM. MY SEATBELT WAS BROKEN DURING THE IMPACT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS CONSIDERED A "TOTAL LOSS", THEREFORE I CAN NOT FIX THE DAMAGES TO IT. IF MY SEATBELT BROKE DUE TO THE IMPACT, THEN WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10217867February 12, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214554January 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR INTO THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 103,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,900. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO A FORD DEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED DECORATIVE OVERLAYS TO GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213702January 4, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
I COULD NOT BUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED UP. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN THE START POSITION. SO NOW I HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213080December 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
'02 FORD FOCUS ZX5 HAS SHOWN CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION. FIRST, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 'P'. THEN, THE KEY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS OCCURRED WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, AND IT IS NOW STUCK PERMANENTLY. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO GET FIXED, BUT BASED ON PHONE INQUIRIES TO REPAIR SHOPS IT WILL COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $200-500 TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212636December 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212005December 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN, WHEN SPEAKING WITH A DEALER ON THE PROBLEM THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM VERY VERY COMMON WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT NEED THE KEY CYLINDER REPLACED, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES, DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211452December 11, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, AND HAD JUST TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD HAS TOLD US THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Focus