Ford Focus Complaints (2001)

1,761 consumer complaints on file.

#10169739October 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONCERN: 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 (IGNITION SWITCH STUCK) THIS CAR HAS ONLY 35000 MILES. AS I HAVE SEARCHED FOR REPAIR INSTRUCTION FOR THIS PROBLEM I KNOW IT IS WIDE SPREAD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR EVERYDAY TO COLLEGE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STUCK AND LEFT HER STRANDED. THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE CYLINDER BUT WOULD NOT TURN. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SHE WERE ALONE AND STUCK IN A PARKING LOT IN THE DARK!!! I BELIEVE THE SCENARIOS ARE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT FORD NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WINTER IS SETTING IN AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE GOING TO BE GETTING STRANDED IN THEIR FORD FOCUS'. THIS WON'T GET ATTENTION UNTIL SOMEONE DIES! FORD IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169704October 1, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAD TAKEN MY GRAND-DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST AND WHEN WE CAME OUT THE KEY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. I SPENT THE MOST OF THE MORNING TRYING TO GET IT TO TURN ONE MORE TIME SO THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO FORD TOWN TO GET IT FIXED. I KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2004 FORD FOCUS AND HERS HAD JUST LOCKED UP ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE AND SHE NEVER DID GET IT TO TURN OVER, SHE HAD TO HAVE HER CAR TOWED AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER DRILLED OUT, FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO TURN OVER ONE MORE TIME AND THE MAN AT FORD TOWN TOLD ME TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE NEXT DAY THEY WOULD TRY AND WORK MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO FORD TOWN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY FIXED IT AND IT COST ME $184.37. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169515September 28, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG CAUGHT THE CONTACT'S SHIRT ON FIRE (INVESTIGATION #EA02017) CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE DEALER NEVER MADE ANY COMMENTS OR DETERMINATIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 11/09/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10168779September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION LOCK-UP. FIRST TIME MAJOR DISASTER WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP COSTING ME $1055.26 JUST BECAUSE THE KEY CYLINDER/KEY WOULD NOT WORK. SECOND TIME IT LOCKED UP, 14 MONTHS LATER, STILL COST ME OVER $500.00 FOR FIX AND NEW KEYS AT DEALERSHIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168641September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK, COULD NOT TURN KEY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168669September 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WON'T START. KEY WILL NOT ENTER IGNITION. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168115September 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY IGNITION KEY OFTEN STICKS IN THE IGNITION AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PIECE OF JUNK. IT MAKES THE CARS UNSAFE AS THEY SOMETIMES LOCK THE COLUMN AND SOMETIMES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART THE CAR IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS, SUCH AS HIGH CRIME AREAS OR ADJACENT TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IT MAKES THE CARS VULNERABLE TO THEFT. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND IT SEEMS EVERY FOCUS WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AS THEY DO NOT OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN FAILURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168061September 12, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS WERE INOPERABLE FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. TO GET INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DOOR MUST BE LEFT AJAR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167778September 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
*THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!* WHEN LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START, THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT COME ON...I WENT INSIDE FOR 10 MIN TO TRY TO ARRANGE A RIDE HOME...WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR I DECIDED TO TRY ONE LAST TIME AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP NO PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HOME (AT ABOUT 8.30PM LOCAL TIME...FULLY DARK OUTSIDE) AT APPROX. 50 MPH THE CAR DIED INCLUDING MOST ACCESSORIES, MOST NOTABLY, THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THIS ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, I WAS BRAKING AND THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES BUT NOT FULL BRAKING POWER. I WAS HEADED STRAIGHT AT A LARGE TREE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO LIFE AGAIN AND I MANAGED TO JUST MISS IT. I LIMPED THE CAR ABOUT A 1/4 (AT 10 MPH) TO MY BROTHERS APARTMENT AND IT DIED 2X AGAIN ON THE WAY. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT WIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION INDUCES THE CAR TO DIE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A WIDE SCALE BASIS AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM AND MANY MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS RISK (AS WAS I UNTIL ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO). I HAVE FOUND NO WAY TO GET THE MATTER CORRECTED VIA THE MANUFACTURER AS THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT PART IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL AND IS NOTED FOR SHORT LIFETIME AND FOR FAILING IN THE SAME MANNER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167782September 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2001 FORD FOCUS, 6 YRS OLD, ONLY 38K MILES. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO INSERT KEY MORE THAN HALFWAY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER ($75), WHO REPLACED CYLINDER FOR $350. DEALER REPORTS THEY STILL SEE THIS REPAIR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH ON THE 2000, 2001 MODELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167635September 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. I GUESS THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167644September 8, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP FOR 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V482000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167554September 7, 2006
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO/CD/CLOCK UNIT APPEARS TO SHORT OUT AT VARIOUS UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. THE CD OR RADIO WILL ACT AS IF THE UNIT IS TURNED OFF; HOWEVER THE CLOCK DISPLAY ALSO DISAPPEARS FROM THE PANEL. AFTER 10 MINUTES OR LONGER THE CLOCK DISPLAY WILL RETURN TO THE SCREEN - WITH THE CORRECT TIME AND THE RADIO/CD PORTION CAN BE TURNED BACK ON AS IF WAS TURNED OFF. DURING THESE "SHUTDOWNS" I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THE UNIT WORK. THIS INCLUDES USING THE ON OFF BUTTONS AND ANY AND ALL OF THE OTHER CONTROL OPTION/BUTTONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES THAT I AM AWARE OF SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS 01 FOCUS 4 DOOR MODEL. STARTING IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR 2006. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167353September 5, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED 4 TIMES, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY STALLING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECALL NUMBER 03V482000 (FORD RECALL 03N01), FOR THE FUEL FILTER, BUT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167295September 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2001 FORD FOCUS. KEY ( IGNITION SWITCH) FAILED. KEY WON'T TURN . *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167122August 31, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS -- CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES LEADED TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS. THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING. STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166993August 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DARKENED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS OBSERVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT A BARREN CAME OUT OF ONE OF THE PULLEYS HOWEVER THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. TWO DAYS LATER THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR OBSERVED A SECURITY VIDEO WHICH IDENTIFIED THE VEHICLE SMOKING AND A WINDOW HAD FALLEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166679August 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2001). I SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH MY CAR. MY IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY OTHER FOCUS OWNER HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS PURCHASING A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER (~$400). FORD NEED TO ADMIT TO A FAULTY PART AND LOW QUALITY OF MATERIALS. PLEASE HELP THIS BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166236August 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED COMPLETELY, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE KEY WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY IN TO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED, AND NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DRILLED OUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER, AND REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER CITED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166083August 21, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2001 FORD FOCUS-WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE. 5 TIMES THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED, 3 OF THOSE WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE WINDOW EITHER DROPPED OR WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP IF WINDOW WAS OPEN. THE FIRST 3 TIMES IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT COOL THE BACK SEAT WHERE MY NEWBORN WAS SLEEPING. ALL 4 WINDOWS HAVE DONE THIS AT LEAST ONCE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW HAS DONE IT TWICE. FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES AND REFUSED ON THE FIFTH TIME. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD IN DEARBORN, MI HUNG UP ON ME 3 TIMES REFUSING ANY SERVICE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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