Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10184193March 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION KEY HAS LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT TURN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183570February 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT ACTIVATED AND DEACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE CORRODED AND THE POWER LEAD FUSE PANEL WAS INOPERABLE, THE CABLES AND GROUND CIRCUITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,300.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183450February 25, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY BRAKE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT FELT LIKE MY BACK END WAS FISHTAILING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA. AS AAA WAS TOWING MY VEHICLE, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOCATED AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES TO OTHER VEHICLES. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED AND THE REPAIR BILL WAS IN EXCESS OF $2,900, INCLUDING THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED TO THE REAR SPINDLE, CONTROL ARM AND SUSPENSION. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE PREVIOUS 2 MODEL YEARS WERE RECALLED FOR REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182241February 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF WORK AND WENT TO LEAVE. I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE GUY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I CALLED, STATING IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE FOCUSES. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT SAME THING. FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT DEFINITELY CAN BE. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN, ESPECIALLY NOT ONE FROM ARCHIE COCHRANE IN BILLINGS, MT. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF MONEY HUNGRY JERKS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WRONG DOINGS OR HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR A CUSTOMER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181976February 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS HAD IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PROBLEMS. SINCE 08/2006 WHEN HE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT CONSISTENTLY TURN OVER. HE STATED THAT FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER THE IGNITION, AND HE HAS BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND WAS ADVISED TO TAP ON THE KEY WHILE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT FOUND ON A WEBSITE CALLED AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET, AND A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS WERE LISTED. THE WEBSITE STATED THAT VARIOUS LOCKSMITHS DESCRIBED THE FAILURE AS THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT COULD GET THE KEY OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO GET THE IGNITION TO START. THE CONTACT DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND HE WILL HAVE A CASE NUMBER AVAILABLE FOR THE HARD COPY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181510February 3, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH WONT TURN, LOCKED UP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181034January 29, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAS A LEAK OF FLUID INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR (DOWN THE CLUTCH ARMATURE TO THE CLUTCH PAD AND TO FLOOR MAT, IF SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE) WHICH HAS A) CAUSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL PAD TO BECOME SLIPPERY AND FALL OFF DUE TO THE FLUID SEEPING BEHIND THE PAD [AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENTS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO RELATIVE YOUTH OF CAR, THEREFORE NECESSITATING SERVICE AT DEALER], B) CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON SPORADICALLY DUE TO A DROP IN BRAKE FLUID (CLUTCH HYDRAULICS SHARE A RESERVOIR WITH BRAKE SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH NO FINDING OF CORRESPONDING BRAKE TROUBLE CAN BE MADE [PROBLEM TEMPORARILY DISAPPEARS WHEN FLUID LEVEL TOPPED OFF] AND C) CAUSES SPORADIC CLUTCH "SOFTENING" AND DECREASED EFFECTIVENESS. ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF BOTH DEALER AND INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NONE CAN FIND A FAULT WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AS INDICATED BY THE ERROR LIGHT AND THEREFORE NONE INDICATE THAT A TROUBLE EXISTS. THE LEAK IS NOT OBVIOUS UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BRAKING POWER (UNLESS LEFT TOO LONG AND BRAKE FLUID LEVELS DROP SIGNIFICANTLY). UNABLE TO LOCATE PRECISE LOCATION OF LEAK (SUSPECT EITHER RESERVOIR OR SOME ASSOCIATED LINE TO CLUTCH HYDRAULICS) OR TO DETERMINE WHY ONLY CLUTCH SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE IMPACTED. 1) NO NOTICEABLE/KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE; UNCERTAIN HOW LONG CONDITION EXISTED PRIOR TO INITIAL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM 2) SEE FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES NOTED ABOVE 3) NO CORRECTION IN PLACE YET AS DEALER SERVICE DOES NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND DID NOT "FIND" PROBLEM AT RECENT 60K SERVICE WORK-UP (INCLUDED TOTAL SYSTEMS CHECK AND FULL BRAKE INSPECTION WITH FLUID TOP OFFS) PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT FIRING MANIFEST APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO WEEKS (SINCE FIRST NOTED IN NOVEMBER 2006) DUE TO FLUID LOSS, PARTICULARLY WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ISSUE IS "RESOLVED" BY ADDING BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179429January 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GAUGES HAVE BEEN SURGING ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT THOUGH AS THE GAUGES NEVER RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION AND I DROVE ALL THE WAY TO WORK ( 13 MILES) NOT KNOWING MY SPEED ,MILEAGE NOR TEMP OF MY CAR. AT THE SAME TIME MY RADIO WAS ON AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN DOWN MY HEAT FROM 4 TO 3 IT TURNED OFF ANY SOUND FROM THE STEREO. WHEN I REACHED WORK I LET MY CAR SET FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES WHEN FINALLY MY GAUGES SURGED ONCE AGAIN AND RETURNED TO NORMAL. I BOUGHT MY CAR A YEAR AGO AND TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT IT THEN (THE SURGES ALWAYS RETURNED TO NORMAL UNTIL THIS EVENING) AND THE DEALER JUST COMMENTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179036January 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TWO SEPARATE 2002 FORD FOCUS AUTOMOBILES HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK BREAK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY, UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN, OR START THE VEHICLE. BOTH THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. IN THE FIRST CASE, THERE HAD BEEN A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION LOCK. IN THE SECOND CASE, THE FAILURE WAS ABRUPT AND COMPLETE - NORMAL OPERATION IN THE EVENING AND TOTAL FAILURE THE NEXT MORNING. THE TWO VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE A 2002 FORD FOCUS 3-DOOR HATCHBACK (ZX3), AND A 2002 FORD FOCUS 4-DOOR SEDAN (ZTS), BOTH TIMES IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (SPECIFICALLY, VETERANS FORD IN METAIRIE LA) AND HAVE THE LOCK REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS MADE AT THE COST OF $375 FOR EACH OCCURRENCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178180January 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY FORD FOCUS 2002 STALLS, SOMETIMES IT STOPS COMPLETELY. IT STALLED OUT ON A BRIDGE WHICH INTERFERED WITH TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO TIPTON FORD TWICE FOR REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177011December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS LX AND I EXPERIENCED A LOCK UP FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM THAT CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO USE MY CAR AT ALL. I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING, REPLACEMENT OF THE PIECE AND LABOR. I UNDERSTAND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE MASSIVE FAILURE THAT THIS PIECE IN THEIR CARS HAS EXPERIENCED AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPLACE THE PIECE. I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD WITH FEVER AND NEEDED TO GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, THE CAR WAS THE ONLY CAR AVAILABLE FOR MY USE, BUT COULDN'T USE IT AT ALL. I WANT FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176677December 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*- ON DECEMBER 18TH OF 2006 WHILE COMING OUT A DRIVE-THRU, CONTACT STATES THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WENT ABOVE NORMAL . THE GAUGE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE TOP OF THE REGISTER. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR HER ENGINE NOT TO OVER HEAT SHE HAD TO DRIVE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE COOLING HAD BURNED OUT AND PART OF THE HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND THERE ARE 24 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IF THE INVOICE FOR REPAIR IS NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176522December 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION JAMS, KEY WILL NOT TURN IN LOCK. INTERNET SEARCH TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. READ HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS.HTML FOR MORE DETAIL. I HAD TO POUND ON THE KEY WITH A FLASHLIGHT TO GET IT TO WORK. PROBLEM GETTING WORSE/OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. I HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT KEY, THINKING THE OLD ONE MIGHT BE WEARING OUT, IT ONLY WORKS IN THE DOORS, IT WILL NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176410December 18, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175743December 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKING UP. IT JUST COST ME $285.00 TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME TO MY HOUSE WHERE MY TOTALLY DISABLED FORD FOCUS SAT. THE LOCKSMITH COMPLETELY REPLACED MY IGNITION AND SHOWED ME THE DIFFERENCE AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORD OEM IGNITION. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BECOME AN EXPERT IN FORD FOCUS' IGNITIONS DUE TO THIS FAULTY PART. THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY TO SO MANY PEOPLE SHOULD JUST GO AWAY. FORD NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN FORD CAR BUYING PUBLIC OR WE SHOULD STOP BUYING FORD'S! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175257December 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
EXHAUST GAS RETURN (EGR) LINE FAILED AT EXHAUST MANIFOLD MOUNTING FLANG . THIS FAILURE ALLOWS CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE TO SEEP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE FOCUS. CO POISING CAN CAUSE: 1)DEATH A) THE DRIVER OF THE FORD FOCUS PASSES OUT AND DIES IN A CRASH B) THE DRIVER OF THE FORD FOCUS DIES FROM CO POISING 2)ORGAN FAILURE IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT YOU CAN'T ATTACH A PHOTOMICROGRAPH'S TO THIS COMPLAINT FORM? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174083November 22, 2006
SUSPENSION
IN LATE OCTOBER 2006 I TOOK MY 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR VIBRATION/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. FORD WALKER IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA SAID THAT MY ENGINE/TRANS. MOUNT WERE WORKING PROPERLY. FORD KEPT MY CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD THE VERY NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND REGIONAL MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. FORD CHARGED ME $100 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE AND DIDN'T FIXED MY PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THEY REPLACED MY RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT WHICH WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE VERY SAME PIECE FORD WALKER LIED TO ME STATING IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173920November 21, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP QUIT ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS - CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THIS SAME PROBLEM ON YEAR 2000 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT THE 2002. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172926November 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE FRONT END COLLISIONS AND BOTH TIMES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND 30 MPH ON THE SECOND INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT; THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. AFTER THE SECOND ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10172756November 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL DISINTEGRATED, INVESTIGATED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT HYDRAULIC FLUID IS LEAKING FROM CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I THINK IT SHOULD NOT HAD WORN OUT PREMATURELY WHEN THE CAR HAVE ONLY 32500 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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