Ford Focus Complaints (2002)

971 consumer complaints on file.

#10463538June 29, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP AND HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COIL AND STRUT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462329June 19, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. IGNITION KEY COULD BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY INTO THE LOCK CYLINDER, BUT KEY WOULD NOT TURN FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS TO EITHER ENGAGE THE STARTER OR TURN ON ACCESSORIES. TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FREE UP THE CYLINDER AND MADE SURE THE CAR WAS IN PARK TO TRY AND TURN THE CYLINDER. NOTHING. WAS TOLD BY THE AAA MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH EARLY MODEL YEAR FORD FOCUSES. THE ISSUE, PER THE AAA TOW TRUCK OPERATOR COULD BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY USING SOME WD40 ON THE KEY AND A COUPLE OF QUICK TAPS TO THE KEY WHILE IN THE LOCK CYLINDER. THIS FIX DID NOT WORK AT THIS TIME. HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE THIS WAS NOT A FIX I COULD MAKE ON MY OWN (I COULD REPLACE THE CYLINDER MYSELF, BUT THE CAR'S PASSIVE ALARM WOULD NEED TO BE RE-SET BY THE DEALER). RESULTING CHARGE WAS $378.50 FOR A PART I COULD HAVE FIXED FOR $60-70. MY LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE RE-KEYED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. SAFETY ISSUE: COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. CAR FAILURE OCCURRED ON VERY COLD DAY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459659May 25, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD ALREADY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457209May 2, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND HAS A HOLE ABOUT 8" WIDE. SCARY THAT THIS HOLDS THE VEHICLES STEERING SYSTEM AND THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TOGETHER. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL NEED TO GET HURT? HOW MANY CARS WILL FALL APART BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? WHY RECALL THE WINDSTAR AND NOT THE FOCUS? *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455907April 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED, BUT THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR PIN WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,750.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453830April 2, 2012
SUSPENSION
WHILE USING A HIGHWAY ON RAMP, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND. I'VE BEEN GETTING A RATTLE FOR A FEW WEEKS. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TODAY. THE PASS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN AT THE TOP. THE DR. SIDE REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN OFF AT THE BOTTOM. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY, 10 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WOULD BREAK. MY FRONTS WERE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO BY FORD DEALER WHEN THEY BROKE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM IF ALL 4 COIL SPRINGS BREAK OFF THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452359March 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION NUMEROUS TIMES HOWEVER, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE KEY WAS EVENTUALLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451852March 15, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS AND THE TRUCK LATCH AND LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING. THE TRUNK WON'T STAY LATCHED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $314. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT NOW. I ASKED IF IT WAS UNDER RECALL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALWAYS CHECK ON RECALLS FIRST. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ITEM ON LINE IT DID HAVE A RECALL. WHAT CAN I DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451554March 13, 2012
SEAT BELTS
FAILED TO RETRACT TO THE RATCHET. LEFT WITH LOOSE NON FUNCTIONAL LENGTHY BELT NOT PROTECTING ME FROM POSSIBLE CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450403March 5, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD MY 81 YEAROLD MOTHER WITH ME, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 5 DAYS LATER THAT MY MECHANIC SON IN LAW WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME THE PROBLEM AND THAT A FORD GARAGE HAD TO FIXIT. THEIR PRICES VARY FROM 350.00 TO 450.00 TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. IT IS A 48.00 PART. FORD REFUSES TO RECALL BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS IF SOMEONE HAS A HEART ATTACK OR A STROKE BECAUSE OF THE STRESS OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE OR BECAUSE IT IS OVER 100 DEGREES AND YOU CAN'T WALK TO A PHONE OR TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. NOT EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE. IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED EVERY TIME BY FORD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448579February 20, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE CAR REAR-ENDED A TRUCK, SLID UNDER THE TRUCK, AND CRUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT END. THE HOOD WAS SHOVED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THIS IS THE SECOND 2002 FORD FOCUS WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH WERE IN ACCIDENTS (OUR OTHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, SALVAGED, AND IN AN ACCIDENT AGAIN) AND ALL THREE TIMES NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE 2001 FORD FOCUSES HAD PROBLEMS WITH EARLY DEPLOYMENT FROM THE AIR BAGS. PERHAPS FORD OVERCOMPENSATED FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S MODEL? WONDER IF THE 2002 FORD FOCUSES SHOULD BE RECALLED? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448577February 20, 2012
AIR BAGS
BLACK ICE WAS HIT AND THE CAR SLID OVER A THIRTY-FOOT EMBANKMENT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. THE SECOND ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE WITH THE SAME CAR, WHICH HAD BEEN SALVAGED AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. HIT BLACK ICE AGAIN, FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE, AND ROLLED. AGAIN, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE SIDE AND ROOF WERE DEMOLISHED AND THE CAR WAS NOT SALVAGEABLE THIS TIME. THIS IS THE SECOND 2002 FORD FOCUS WE HAVE HAD--BOTH WERE IN ACCIDENTS, AND IN ALL THREE ACCIDENTS, BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED AND NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. WONDERING IF THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED? AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON FORD FOCUSES, I FOUND THAT THE 2001 FORD FOCUSES HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. THEY WOULD DEPLOY AT THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. CAN'T HELP IF FORD DIDN'T OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S MODEL? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444515January 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CYLINDER HEAD VALVE SEAT FAILURE. APPROX 1/2 OF THE VALVE SEAT FELL INTO COMBUSTION CHAMER (BETWEEN PISTON AND HEAD).. THIS CAUSED PISTON TO BREAK AND ROD TO GO THROUGH CYLINDER WALL BUT NOT THROUGH BLOCK OUTER WALL AND CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INTO OIL. BEING A FORD TECH, I HAVE SEEN DAMAGE CAUSED BY VALVE SEATS IN CYLINDERS 1,2,&4. IT'S ALWAYS A INTAKE VALVE SEAT. ALSO ALWAYS AND ONLY ON SOHC MOTOR. HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AND AS EARLY AS 60K MILES. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444569January 19, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTW. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT EXTENDED OUTWARD AND FAILED TO SECURE PROPERLY. THE CRASHED CAUSED ONE INJURY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10439986December 14, 2011
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE MOTOR ON THE SUN ROOF WENT OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD IT FIXED THEN AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED, THE MOTOR FOR THE REAR WINDOWS WENT OUT (BOTH PASSENGER SIDES) THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK BECAUSE THE MOTOR WENT OUT, AND KNOW THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS STARTING TO MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT GOING TO GO OUT ALSO AND THE DOOR LOCK IS MAKING NOISE LIKE ITS GOING TO GO OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FIRST OF ALL WHEN CARRYING SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DOORS NOT LOCKING MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO CAR JACK YOU. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND DOORS AND THE MOON ROOF WENT OUT THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME UNLESS I PAY. I CAN'T EVEN LOCK THE DOOR USING A KEY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439724December 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE MASSIVE FLAMES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437602November 28, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BLEW THE FUSE FROM MY FUEL PUMP UPON START UP OF CAR, NEEDED FUSE REPLACED AND GOT THE CAR TO START. HOWEVER, THE FUSE WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW, THEREFORE NEED NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. TRIED TO REPLACE THE PUMP WITH AN AFTER MARKET PART AND IT WOULDN'T FIT PROPERLY, MEANING I NEED A NEW EXPENSIVE PUMP. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437382November 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE IDLING, MY CAR IS TURNING OFF. IT ALSO DOES SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR FROM P TO D. INITIALLY THE GAS CAP LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNALED. I REPLACED THE CAP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. NOW, THE CAR IS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IDLING AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435238November 11, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP STARTED TO CAUSE CAR TO STUTTER, STALL, COMPLETELY DIE. HAS STALLED OUT ON INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY AFTERNOON 4-LANE TRAFFIC; BOTH TIMES BARELY MAKING IT OF TRAFFIC AND BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC W/CHILDREN IN THE CAR! CAR MANUFACTURE DATE IS 09/01 IN MEXICO. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACE AND HAS FAILED BOTH TIMES, COST IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME! ALREADY PAID OVER$1000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR! NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP!!! I HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE OF THESE 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE EARLY FORD FOCUS, WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE YET??????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435259November 11, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEW! I SERVICE MY AUTO LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO AND THIS HAPPENS. BY LOOKING ONLINE I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. TRY FINDING A ENGINE FOR THIS CAR IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT'S RIDICULOUS! THAT LET ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GOING RATE FOR THIS CAR'S ENGINE IS $1700! SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A PIECE OF JUNK COSTING ME $3500 TO GET IT FIXED ONLY TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT SHOE FALLS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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