Ford Focus Complaints (2002)
971 consumer complaints on file.
- #10139236October 11, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 OVER 65,000 MILES RECENT OFL CHANGE APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ENGINE CUTTING OFF AFTER TURNING OVER WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE ALMOST EVERY DAY. ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS BUT MOST NOTABLY DURING OR AFTER A TURN - WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING - ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOTION - THIS HAPPENS AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 3-4 DAYS. CONSTANT NOISE FROM THE REAR LEFT TIRE ASSEMBLY. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED ABOUT 1 AND HALF YEARS AGO. RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED 4 MONTHS AGO ALONG WITH CRACKED THERMAL HOUSING THAT HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK - OVER $900 REPAIR W/LABOR. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I AM AWARE OF- OTHER THAN LOSS OF DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WHILE IT WAS PARKED 2 YEARS AGO. OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN W/THE SHIFTING. UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK - W/O USING THE SHIFT RELEASE. REPLACED SHIFTER AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE CAR IN AT THIS TIME - WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST APPROX. $80 ALONE JUST TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. ORIGINAL OWNER. TAKING CAR TO DEALER THIS WEEKEND. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138767October 6, 2005AIR BAGS
DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOUND THE THERMAL FUSE IN THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIR BAG BLEW OUT, THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CONSUMER HITTING A DEER ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE DEER HIT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WAS A WHITE SMOKE THAT CAME FROM THE DRIVER'S AREA, AROUND THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ,AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO ONE INJURED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN OVER THE PHONE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHAT THE SMOKE WAS THAT CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138151September 29, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
COULD NOT REMOVE IGNITION KEY NOR START THE VEHICLE. COMPLETE IGNITION KEY FAILURE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10137828September 27, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT LOCKED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THE CYLINDER LOCK REPLACED IN THE IGNITION. THIS DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS SPECIFIC PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10137267September 22, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR IS STALLING AND DYING WHEN STOPPED. WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY. HAVE REPLACE BOTH SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES EVEN THOUGH ONLY HAVE 36K MILES ON THE CAR. ONLY THING DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOW IS THE FUEL IS TOO LEAN. I AM ASSUMING THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER SINCE FORD WILL NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS EARLIER MODELS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136739September 16, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CONSUMER CANNOT GET THE CAR TO TURN ON. THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. THE CAR HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136558September 15, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN OUR 2002 FOCUS SEDAN. THE KEY WILL NOT EVEN TURN IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND THE RENTAL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL! *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10135736September 7, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
BATTERY CABLE FAILURE IDENTICAL TO THOSE RECALLED IN 2000-2001 FORD FOCUS (02V288000) IN A VEHICLE MANUFACTURED VERY EARLY IN 2002 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE INITIALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO MISS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO LURCH SEVERELY WITH A LOUD 'BANG'. DEALER (BERGE FORD, MESA, AZ, 8/05/2005) HAD VEHICLE 3 DAYS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. VEHICLE BECAME INCAPACITATED 8/24/2005, CABLE WAS REPLACED AT DEALER (HOLMES-TUTTLE FORD, TUCSON, AZ, $500 BATTERY CABLE!), BUT NOT RETURNED TO US. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10135025August 31, 2005SUSPENSION, TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I PURCHASED NEW AN 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH A SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS WORN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES UNEVENLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD. ONE SET HAD ACTUALLY WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT BEYOND THE RUBBER CAUSING ITS FAILURE AT 18,000 MILES. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE ALIGNMENT SHOP, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS WELL WITHIN FORDS SPECIFICATIONS. AFTER CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR SPECIAL VEHICLE TEAM THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I AM LUCKY THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHIN THE LAST 30,000 MILES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FEEL THIS SAFETY OVERSIGHT IS DUE TO FORD AND ITS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THEIR SUSPENSION PARAMETERS TO WORK PROPERLY ON OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS. REPLACED ONE FACTORY WHEEL, INSTALLED SUSPENSION CAMBER ADJUSTMENT PARTS, FOUR NEW TIRES AND HAD VEHICLE RE ALIGNED OUT OF FORDS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134733August 30, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY WILL DROP TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING IN ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS (HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED). THE ODOMETER WILL NOT MOVE WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER IS AT ZERO AND OFTEN WILL BLANK OUT. AN OBVIOUS SOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE RADIO IS ALSO NOTED WHEN THIS ALL OCCURS. BROUGHT IT INTO TEAM FORD TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134762August 30, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
R.E. FORD FOCUS 2002 FUEL PUMP FAILURE [XXX] I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE IDLING WAITING TO PICK MY WIFE UP FROM WORK AT AROUND 5PM CST. AS SHE APPROACHED I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE SO SHE COULD DRIVE. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE LOVED OUR FOCUS BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELIABLE. WHEN SHE STARTED UP THE ENGINE, IT STARTED TO SHAKE. THE SHAKING BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER. SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A MINUTE AND THEN RESTARTED. THE SHAKING CONTINUED AT A LESSER INTENSITY SO SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ABOUT 25 FEET LATER, IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY OFFICE BUILDING ACCESS ROAD, THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. WE HAD A 1/4 OF A TANK. WE CHECK THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND TRIED THE FUEL PUMP RESET SWITCH. THINKING THAT THE FUEL TANK INDICATOR MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE CAR MIGHT BE OUT OF FUEL, MY WIFE HAD A CO-WORKER DRIVER HER TO A LOCAL GAS STATION TO GET GAS. ADDING GAS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE FUEL TANK INDICATOR SHOWED THE ADDED FUEL. WHEN NONE OF THE QUICK FIXES WORKED, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO APPLE VALLEY FORD IN APPLE VALLEY MINNESOTA FOR SERVICING. THEY IDENTIFIED THE FUEL PUMP AS THE CAUSE AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE 2000/2001 FOCUS "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY AROUND $600 TO REPAIR THE CAR. I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THE COST BUT MORE SO ABOUT THE DANGEROUS AND UNTENABLE SITUATION THIS DEFECT PUTS MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY LOVED ONES. HOW COULD THE 2002 NOT BE INCLUDED? AFTER RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE, I AM ANGRY THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT CONSIDER IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO FORD OR TO THE NHTSA. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE ENGINE HAD STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF RECENT COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY OTHER 2002 FOCUS CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR FUEL PUMPS MULTIPLE TIMES. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUAN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134301August 26, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES AT ANY TIME THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN IN HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE. IF THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CONTACT STATES HE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE SERVICE DEALER EXTRACTED AND REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE FORD FOCUS AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID NO, BUT HE SHOULD CALL NHTSA AND FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134051August 24, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT WISHED TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE REAR DOOR LATCH THAT HAD AN ACTIVE RECALL. BUT THE CONTACT WAS GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON AUGUST, FRIDAY 26, 2005. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH REAR DOORS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WARNED MANUFACTURER IF RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE SHE WILL SUE FORD AND NHTSA. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10135585August 19, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
COMPLAINT REGARDING 2002 FORD FOCUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT HASN'T RECEIVED A REPLY YET. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133523August 19, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . HORN FAILED THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THAT ON 8-18-05, WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR, IT WAS SLOW TO START THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SHE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS BAD, BUT IT WAS GOOD AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HER THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED THE BATTERY ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS BURNED OUT. THEY WOULD NOT LET HER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. SHE HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT CITED RECALL 02V288000; REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ BATTERY CABLES. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133529August 19, 2005UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MAYBE ONE YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS THERE WAS A REALLY BAD STORM ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED IN WATER ALMOST LIKE A PUDDLE. THEN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES. AFTER TAKING OUT THE FLOOR MAT AN ACTUAL PUDDLE OF WATER GATHERS ON MY FLOOR BOARD WHEN IT STORMS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME IT STORMS BUT IT'S HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS ONLY GOING ON FOUR YEARS OLD (AND I KEEP IT CLEAN ALL THE TIME AS I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN NOR AM I MARRIED AND THEREFORE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT) BUT IT SMELLS LIKE IT'S REALLY OLD WITH A STRONG MILDEW ODOR. THIS IS VERY UPSETING, I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORD INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE WHICH I'VE ALREADY MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP TO TELL THEM ABOUT MY FLOOR BOARD ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FORD FOCUS 2001 BUT NOT A 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY WAS NOT FIXED ON THE 2002'S BECAUSE MINE IS STILL LEAKING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133053August 16, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
RE: EA02022 FUEL PUMP IS FAILING. CAR STALLS AT IDLE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132864August 15, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WAS HAVING FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM WAS OPERATING POORLY AND FUEL WAS SURGING AND HESITATING. WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR ROCKETED AND HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND COMPLAINED THAT CAR WAS NOT GETTING GOOD FUEL MILEAGE AND WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132700August 13, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR CORE WHICH COST ME $900.00, I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,100.00 THROUGH THE FORD DEALER. I WOULD EXPECT THAT A MAJOR PART LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN THIS. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO SELL THE PART TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AND STATED THEY WERE SAVING THE 11 THEY HAD ON HAND FOR THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS, AS THIS PART HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE FOCUSES. WE HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $50.00 TO SPECIAL ORDER. IF THIS IS THE CASE THAN WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT BE REPLACING MAJOR PARTS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES ON AND ANOTHER 3 YEARS OF PAYMENTS.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128325August 12, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN, CONSUMER STATES THAT YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE, THIS OCCURS DURING ANY WEATHER, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE ALREADY BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV. 2004, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SOMETIMES OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START, WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PART IS BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. *NM *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0