Ford Focus Complaints (2001)

1,761 consumer complaints on file.

#10222629March 28, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUL07. IN DEC07 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAR SURGING/JOLTING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (55-65 MPH) THEN CAR WOULD JUST STALL, COMPLETELY DIE. ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, NO POWER STEERING NO LIGHTS. I WOULD MANAGE TO GET IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NARROWLY AVOIDING ACCIDENT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SAT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS IT WOULD START. IT WOULD DRIVE OK FOR ABOUT 10-20 MILES AND THEN SURGE AND DIE. IT HAPPENS PERIODICALLY AND IN BETWEEN THE CAR MAY DRIVE FINE FOR WEEKS. SERVICE CENTER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN 3-18-08 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, JOLTED TWICE AND COMPLETELY DIED. I WAS NEARLY KILLED AS A SEMI WAS BEHIND ME AND ANOTHER BESIDE ME. I HAD TO FIGHT THE CAR TO GET IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NARROWLY MISSED THE SEMI RUNNING UP OVER THE TOP OF ME. AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MIN IT STARTED AGAIN BUT WOULD NOT REACH FULL POWER. I COULD ONLY GET IT UP TO ABOUT 50 MPH, THEN STARTED JOLTING AND DIED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 6 MILES THIS CONTINUED FOR 30 MILES. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I HAD THAT READ BY ADV AUTO LATER AND IT WAS TWO CODES ONE FOR MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. IT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE GARAGE SINCE THEN. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I DID NOTICE THAT THIS SEEMS TO ONLY BE HAPPENING WHEN IT RAINS. THEY SPRAYED WATER TODAY ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING AND IT DIED IN THEIR SHOP. THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IT ALSO HAS A LOUD VIBRATION/NOISE IN FRONT END. MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW BATTERY, NEW BELT REPLACED DEC 27,07. THE VEHICLE DIED AGAIN FEB 5, 2008 6 TIMES. IT DIES AT ALL SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH IT AND NEED A RELIABLE CAR TO GET TO WORK AND AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 36 DAYS IN THE LAST 90. ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR KILLING MYSELF, MY KIDS OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222189March 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND THEN FLAMES APPEARED. SHE STOPPED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,899. UPDATED 04/11/08 *BF THE DEALER STATED CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN A PINCH BOLT TORQUED AND A ZETEC ENGINE CABLE ROUTING. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS. UPDATED 04/11/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221907March 20, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
COIL SPRINGS. LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITH OUT REASON. THANKFULLY THE SPRING DID NOT BLOW OFF OF RETAINING AREA. IF IT HAD WHILE I WS DRIVING THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED MY STEERING TO LOCK UP BLOW A TIRE OR WHO ELSE KNOW WHAT. AND THE OUTCOME FROM ANY OF THESE COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221611March 18, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER IN JANUARY 2004 FROM MR. FRANK M. LIGON, DIRECTOR OF SERVICE ENGINEERING OPERATIONS OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE LETTER STATED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROGRAM 03N01 (ENGINE STALLING IN 2000-01 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES) CUSTOMER'S VEHICLES "MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL COMPLETELY...AS A RESULT OF CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTERS."..."FORD IS OFFERING TO REPLACE YOUR VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP (PARTS AND LABOR), AT NO COST, IF YOUR VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS...VALID FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE, WITH NO LIMIT ON MILEAGE." ...I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ABOVE FOREMENTIONED SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 FOCUS, AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, ORIGINALLY STATING THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THIS PROGRAM, BUT CALLED BACK LATER AND ULTIMATELY CHANGED THEIR MIND. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN WAS THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS NO LONGER "OPEN." SINCE THE COMPANY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PARTICULAR SAFETY CONCERN, CONFIRMED THE LETTER BEING SENT AND MY VEHICLE FITTING THE PROGRAM 03N01 GUIDELINES OF MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND TIMELINE (10 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE), AND HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE, AS STATED IN THEIR LETTER, ...I WOULD LIKE TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE ...AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS RUNAROUND THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS GIVEN ME. I GOT THE LETTER, HAD THE PROBLEMS AND SAFETY ISSUES AS STATED IN THAT LETTER, IT HASN'T BEEN 10YRS, SO WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221618March 18, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
THE DEVICE IN THE STEERING WHEEL HOUSING THAT CANCELS THE TURN SIGNAL HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTING IN DESIGN. THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN MY RELUCTANCE TO USE THE TURN SIGNALS SINCE I MUST TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN. AND NOT USING TURN SIGNALS COMPROMISES DRIVING SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221461March 17, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE, SLID INTO A CURB, AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM TO BEND. A NEW SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. ON MARCH 14, 2008, WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING NOISE, THE STEERING FAILED, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB AND THE SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87587.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221465March 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CV-JOINT MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CV-JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40100 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220889March 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND JERKING. SHE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS. NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE YET, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AXLE SPLIT IN HALF. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220277March 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2001 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START CAR. ELDERLY WIFE WAS FORCED TO WAIT IN CAR IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPS. UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. WE HAVE SCHEDULED THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROX. $400. THIS PRESENTS A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220028March 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH AND WHEN SHE HIT OR TAP THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE AND TRY TO CUT OFF. THE CAR DID CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START . I TOWED THE CAR TO A SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE VALVE SEAT CAME LOOSE AND FELL ON THE PINIONS, THEREFORE, DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THE VALVE SEAT WAS TOTALLY GONE AND WENT THROUGH THE EXHAUST. FORD MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REPLACING WITH NEW MOTOR AND MANIFOLD PLENUM SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE METAL FROM THE VALVE SEAT OUT OF THE PLENUM. I COULD GET A USED MOTOR BUT FOUND OTHER ON THE INTERNET THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THEREFORE THE PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219229February 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO THE "ON" POSITION, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS TRIED. THE CYLINDER APPARENTLY IS STUCK, AND THE CAR WILL THEREFORE NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218933February 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS MY IGNITION ALSO JAMMED UP, AND LEFT ME DOWN AND HAD TO FIND A WAY GET HOME FROM MY JOB ,AND COST ME $ 240.00 FOR A LOCKSMITH THE NEXT DAY. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE ACTION AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE, AND REPAY ALL THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. GC *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218840February 22, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,750.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218824February 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SEIZING, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON. HAS HAPPENED, AND BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS, YET FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS THEY DO NOT SEE IT AS A 'SAFETY ISSUE'. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT WAS AROUND 11PM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, ON A SMALL SIDE ROAD NEAR MACK AND WOODWARD, DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL ANYONE CAN CONVINCE ME MY SAFETY WAS NOT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218572February 19, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE REAR LATCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE THAT THE DOOR WAS AJAR. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CLOSING THE REAR LATCH. WITHIN THE LAST SIXTY DAYS, THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2005 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,143 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218063February 14, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND BACKFIRE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/07/08 *BF UPDATED 05/07/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217641February 11, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF...I ENCOUNTERED MY FIRST INCIDENT JUST RECENTLY, ABOUT A WEEK AGO. MY CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT HAPPENED RIGHT AS I WAS CHANGING LANES. I THOUGHT I NEEDED A JUMP BUT WHEN THAT DID NOT WORK I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FUEL SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED/BLOCKED, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT STATEMENT, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A FUEL SYSTEM FLUSH, A FUEL FILTER, AND A NEW FUEL PUMP. I CHECKED THE RECALL LIST AND SAW THAT MY CARD MAKE AND MODEL WERE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY. I TELL ME THAT MY ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELSE...THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND NOW FORD IS TRYING TO SAY MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217441February 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, STUTTER, SKIP, AND NOT RUN WHEN THE TANK REACHED A QUARTER TANK. INITIALLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT, GEAR, PULLEY, AND TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. FINALLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TOO LATE TO BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,073. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF\THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216797February 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY WILL NOT TURN...CAN'T START CAR..KEY TUMBLER DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216516January 30, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED IN 2004 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Focus