Ford Focus Complaints (2001)

1,761 consumer complaints on file.

#10166089August 21, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY IGNITION LOCKS UP AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW AND EACH TIME I HAVE TO HAVE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED COSTING ME AROUND $400.00 EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES AND NOW I HAVE 85,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THERE IS NO SIGN WHEN AND WHERE IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IT JUST DOES AND THEN IT LEAVES YOU STRANDED AND IN NEED OF A TOW TRUCK, WHICH IS MORE COST TO THE CONSUMER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166032August 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS LOCKED. UNABLE TO PUT KEY ALL THE WAY INTO IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165907August 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REMOVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165940August 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION CYLINDER FORD FOCUS LX 2001 93,980 MILES LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET. INSERT KEY - IGNITION LOCKSUP YOU'RE STRANDED AND HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. COST FOR REPAIR BY FORD DEALERSHIP $489.20. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED NOTICING IGNITION PROBLEM - WE CALLED FORD TO GET A PRICE ON THE PART AS MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO REPLACE HIMSELF. WAS TOLD BY PARTS GAL THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM THIS HIMSELF - IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS - THERE ARE NOW SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE WIRING AND INSULATION IT HAS TO BE DONE BY FORD. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE IGNITION WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CALL TOW TRUCK AND TAKE TO FORD. TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMS US THIS IS COMMON DEFECT WITH ALL 2001-2006 FORD FOCUS AND TEMPOS. BEFORE WE HAD IT TOWED MY HUSBAND THOUGHT MAYBE THE KEY WAS JUST WORN OUT - FORD SAID THE KEY DID LOOK WORN AND THE KEY DID NEED REPLACING BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE SPECIAL BECAUSE KEY CONTAINS A CHIP AND IT TAKES SPECIAL PROGRAMMING - KEY COST $35.00 P/KEY LABOR WOULD COST $50.00 - WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT TOWED IN CASE THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM. (DON'T WANT TO BE THROWING AWAY MONEY) NEXT DAY I CONFRONTED FORD MECHANIC ABOUT THIS BEING A KNOWN CYLINDER DEFECT AND ASKED WHY IT WASN'T A RECALL - MECHANIC SAYS HE AGREES IT SHOULD BE A RECALL - BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A TSB TELLING TECHS HOW TO FIX AND TO MY HORROR FIX IT WITH ANOTHER IDENTICAL FAULTY PART. I ASKED IF THERE WAS SPECIAL PRICING SINCE IT WAS FORD'S FAULT. ANSWER NO. ASKED IF NEW KEYS WERE INCLUDED IN PRICE - ANSWER NO. I ASKED IF PROBLEM COULD REAPPEAR. ANSWER YES. IMAGINE IF MY DAUGHTER OR I WERE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE OR ON A ROAD TRIP - WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED OR THE EXPENSE FOR TOWING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN NOW AND I AM HORRIFIED THAT I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $489.20 FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. WHY IS FORD FIXING THE PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PART -RIP OFF SCAM? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165678August 16, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES IGNITION SHUTS DOWN AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ONE TIME AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165545August 15, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH FRONT DOOR FAILED AND DO NOT OPEN THE CAR DOORS. FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165361August 13, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I TURNED THE AC ON AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW COMPRESSOR WHICH WOULD COST 1000 DOLLARS..I FOUND A GARAGE THAT WOULD DO IT FOR LESS USING A USED ONE...MY PROBLEM WAS THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I TURNED THE AIR OR THE DEFROSTER ON. I WAS AFRAID I WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT..AND AM STILL AFRAID TODAY WHEN I DRIVE IT FAR..WONDERING IF IT WILL STALL OUT AT HIGH SPEED AGAIN AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY JAMMING AND NOT TURNING AND MY NEWEST PROBLEM IS I STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT ALL I GOT WAS A CLICKING SOUND.. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165203August 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FROZEN IGNITION LOCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164880August 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN TRYING TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE IGNITION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO ENTER OR WHILE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. BUT AFTER A WHILE, TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK THE IGNITION GIVES IN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE BECAUSE THE KEY MAY NOT WORK. BOTH KEYS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164482August 4, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WE OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS. FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE BEEN CHASING A FUEL SYSTEM OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM BUG IN-WHICH THIS CAR FOR SOME REASON STALLS. OUR FORD DEALER HAS BEEN CHECKING THE SPARK, FUEL INJECTOR AND OTHER SYSTEMS LOOKING FOR THE STALLING ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD STALL ONLY WHEN YOU TEEN DRIVERS WERE BEHIND THE WHEEL, ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER AND ALWAYS ON CROWDED HIGHWAYS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. TUESDAY WE GOGGLED FORD FOCUS FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT FORD WON A LAWSUIT NOT TO RECALL 2000-2002 FOCUS FOR STALLING ISSUES RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. WE ARE SHOCKED THAT FORD WOULD PUT THAT MANY DRIVERS AT RISK. THE FOCUS BEING A CHEAP SMALL CAR IS DRIVEN BY MOSTLY YOUNG INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS. MY KIDS HAVE HAD THIS CAR STALL SEVERAL TIMES ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE AROUND MILWAUKEE AND GREEN BAY. OUR LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE BAD PARTS N/C BUT THE POINT IS THAT LIVES WERE PUT AT RISK. IF A FOCUS IS RUN OVER BY A SEMI BECAUSE OF STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHO WOULD KNOW THE REAL ISSUE OR BE ABLE TO RECREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAD TO THE ACCIDENT. THE LITTLE CAR AND DRIVER WOULD BE CRUSHED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164490August 4, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED, WITH NO WARNING, WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE, AND UNLESS IT IS SECURED IN THE FRAME, IT WILL SLIDE DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND STAY THERE. THE WINDOW REGULATOR THAT FAILS IS A FORD (PLASTIC) PART, THAT COSTS OVER $130 AND NEEDS A SPECIAL TOOL TO REPLACE. EVERY PLACE IN TOWN THAT I CALLED ABOUT THIS SAYS THEY REPAIR MORE FORD FOCUSES THAN ANY OTHER CAR, AS THIS PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. I SEE MANY FOCUSES WITH WINDOWS TAPED UP, ETC. I'M CONSIDERING JUST GLUING THE SECOND WINDOW INTO PLACE IN THE FRAME, AS OVER $200 (PARTS AND LABOR) TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART IS MONEY I DO NOT HAVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164514August 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE SWITCH , REPLACED SWITCH ONE TIME, THE NEXT TIME I HAD TO HAVE THE KEYS REPROGRAMMED ONE TIME AND NOW MY POS IS SITTING ACROSS TOWN WILL NOT CRANK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. IF I SIT IN THE CAR AND BANG AROUND ON THE KEY WHILE IN THE IGNITION FOR 3 OR 4 HOURS I MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY GET THE CAR TO CRANK. NOW ONCE THE VEHICLE ( I DON'T KNOW WHY I CALL IT A VEHICLE ITS MORE LIKE NIGHTMARE ) DOES GET STARTED UP AND AS LONG AS I LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IT WILL RE-START. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164307August 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WENT OUT TO START CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AND IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY ONLY REPLACE THESE TYPES OF PARTS ONCE UNDER RECALLS? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163775July 28, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
EVERY SINGLE DOOR ON MY 2001 FOCUS HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS. THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR ON MY CAR THAT IS CURRENTLY OPERATING CORRECTLY, WHICH PROBABLY WON'T LAST LONG. MY TWO FRONT DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT CLOSING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. FORD HAS MADE A TERRIBLE PRODUCT AND I IMAGINE MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO FORD'S CARELESSNESS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AS LONG AS I AM DRIVING AND I WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. I CONSIDER THE FORD COMPANY TO BE CARELESS BUSINESS PEOPLE. THEIR FIRST CONCERNS SHOULD BE SAFETY AND QUALITY. IF MY SON WERE TO EVER GET HURT BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF CONCERN, IT WOULD BECOME AN EXTREME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO EITHER FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OR BUY IT BACK BECAUSE I SIMPLY DO NOT WANT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163167July 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INSERTED KEY IN IGNITION AND KEY REFUSES TO TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162876July 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN WE PULLED UP AT THE STORE THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE; HOWEVER, WHEN WE TRIED TO LEAVE THE STORE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND WE COULD NOT START THE CAR. WE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS (AS IT SAYS IN THE MANUAL) INCLUDING THE MANUAL OVERRIDE ON THE BASE NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT AND CHECKING FOR BLOWN FUSES. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME WHERE A LOCKSMITH CAME OUT AND REPLACED THE CYLINDER IN THE IGNITION. HE ALSO HAD TO RECODE THE KEYS SO THAT THEY WOULD WORK IN THE IGNITION. THE WORST PART WAS THAT WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, ETC.) AND WE WERE STUCK OUT IN 98 DEGREE HEAT WITH OUR 2 SMALL CHILDREN!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162900July 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION DIDN'T TURN, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN KEY WAS TO BANG AGAINST KEY WITH SCREW DRIVER, PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, SO EVENTUALLY I HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. MANY FORD FOCUS FORUMS STATE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM UPON MANY FOCUS'! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162748July 18, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STARTS SURGING AND LOSING POWER 2 DAYS LATER, VEHICLE STALLS IN LEFT TURN LANE AND CONTINUES AT EVERY STOP(I HAVE TO DOUBLE PEDDLE TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING). FOUND RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP HOWEVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T FALL UNDER NHTSA: 03V482000. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO HAVE THE PLANT MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN TO BE RE-EVALUATED I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL DESCRIBES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162436July 14, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I WAS DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WHEN MY WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN THE POURING RAIN. I PULLED OVER AND DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO GET HOME. LUCKILY, FOR ME THE RAIN LET UP ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. IT IS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOUR DRIVING AND WIPERS GO DEAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162067July 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN RESPONSE TO HELP ANOTHER PERSON IN ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS. THE FLICKER YOU HAVE WITH YOUR 2001 FOCUS IS SUPPOSEDLY A GROUND ISSUE TO THE CHASSIS. IT APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED MY PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENTS AND HEADLIGHTS AND ANYTHING ELECTRICAL FLICKERING SPORADICALLY. THE FIX IS PRETTY CHEAP UNDER 20 BUCKS AND YOU COULD DO IT YOURSELF IF YOU ARE SOMEWHAT MECHANICAL. AS FOR MY COMPLAINT. FOR A CAR TO BE IN THE TOP 10 FOR A FEW YEARS AND A GREAT ECONOMY CAR THIS IS NOT THE CAR WITH AN ANSWER. I HAVE SUCH REPLACED 2 ALTERNATORS UNDER WARRANTY, 3 BATTERIES BEFORE I FIXED MY GROUND PROBLEM. REPLACED PVC VALVE 2 TIMES, RADIATOR, TRUNK RELEASE ACTUATOR, NUMEROUS HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS, RADIATOR AND HOSES THAT WERE BUSTED FROM OVERHEATING, COUPLE OF BELTS, DRIVER DOOR LOCK, SOMETHING WITH THE GAS TANK I THINK TO BE A FUEL PUMP. ALL OF THIS WITH 30K ON THE CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE ONLY REPLACED TIRES AND RIMS ON THE CAR AT 130K I DECIDED TO REPLACE ANY PART AFTER WARRANTY WITH AFTERMARKET GEAR. SO NOW THE CAR HAS A COLD AIR INTAKE, SVT ENGINE, AEM ON BOARD COMPUTER TO ADJUST WITH LAPTOP, NITROUS, AFTERMARKET HELLA LIGHTS, NEW PAINT JOB, NEW DASH INDIGLO LIGHTS, NEW STEREO SPEAKERS, INTERIOR. SO AFTER ALL THIS I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE JUST BOUGHT A LEXUS AND CALLED IT A DAY. THE CAR NOW RUNS GREAT AND HAS NOT HAD A SINGLE PART FAILURE SINCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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