EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON HAS NEVER GONE OFF SINCE, HIGHLY INCREASED RUNNING NOISE, ENGINE HESITATION THAT AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT CAUSES THE WHOLE CAR TO JERK FAILURE: I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW HEAD THAT FORD HAD REDESIGNED A NEW ONE AND IT WOULD COST $1000. THE ONE I CURRENTLY HAVE DEPOSITS CARBON AND WILL KEEP DOING SO UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY GIVES OUT. THE THING THAT IRKS ME IS FORD OBVIOUSLY KNEW THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IF THEY DESIGNED A NEW ONE, THEREFORE I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS. CORRECTIONS: NONE, CANNOT AFFORD. WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE CAR GIVES OUT.
2001 Ford Focus complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →
DT CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE ON MAY 21, 2003, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND IT CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO REAR END CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 12, 2005. CONSUMER STATED THAT HER HUSBAND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THE BATTERY CABLES BURNED OUT AND MELTED AGAIN, AND THAT IS THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS STATED IN THE RECALL. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, BUT THAN LIKELY IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. *AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE HOME EARLY IN THE MORNING OF THE 12TH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, AND THEN THE SOUND OF SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER MY CAR. I PULLED OVER TO SEE MY GAS TANK HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BEING DRAGGED UNDER THE CAR. ANOTHER CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN SPARKS COMING FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET AS IT WAS BEING DRAGGED ALONG WITH THE TANK. A POLICEMAN ALSO PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND LOOKED AT THE CAR, THEN HELPED ME MOVE IT OUT OF THE STREET. LATER THAT MORNING MY FATHER TEMPORARILY WIRED THE GAS TANK TO THE FRAME SO WE COULD BRING THE CAR HOME. HE PUT IT UP ON RAMPS AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE THAT THE BOLT WHICH HELD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE HAD STRIPPED COMPLETELY OUT. HE SPENT THE NEXT 3 HOURS REMOUNTING THE TANK. IT WAS A BLESSING THAT THE SPARKS FROM THE BROKEN FRAME DID NOT IGNITE THE GAS TANK. IF IT HAD, MY CAR COULD HAVE EITHER CAUGHT ON FIRE OR BLOWN UP AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *NM
DT: 2001 FORD FOCUS - THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 05S27 CONCERNING CORROSION OF THE REAR DOORS IN MARCH 2005. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A HATCH BACK CAR. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING; THIS WOULD NOT EFFECT THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE DUE TO THE CORROSION. *AK
2001 FORD FOCUS PROBLEMS PROBLEM 1 - IN THE PAST, WHENEVER I WOULD TRANSITION BETWEEN FREEWAYS, MY CAR WOULD BEGIN TO STALL. I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN FOR AT LEAST 10 - 15 SECONDS. IT HAPPENED MOSTLY ON A CIRCULAR ON RAMP. AND I THINK THIS PROBLEM LEAD TO THE NEXT ISSUE. PROBLEM 2 - I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP (WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE). I THINK THIS ISSUE HAPPENED DUE TO THIS STATEMENT I READ "NHTSA INVESTIGATORS SAID THE ALLEGED ENGINE STALL PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY DEBRIS ACCUMULATING IN THE GAS TANK, BLOCKING FUEL FROM BEING DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE." EVENTUALLY, THIS "DEBRIS" PROBLEM CAUSES STRAIN ON THE FUEL PUMP. AND NOW, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE ISSUE, AND THEY SAID IT'S A GAS VAPOR LEAK OR SOMETHING TO THAT AFFECT. THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A GAS LEAK. THAT ISSUE MAYBE FROM THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED IT, BUT IF FORD WOULD HAVE PUT A RECALL FOR THAT ISSUE, I WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM 3 - I TOOK MY FOCUS INTO FORD TO GET A "BUZZING" SOUND CHECKED OUT. THEY FIXED THE BEARING PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, THE SOUND IS BACK. I READ A STATEMENT "...A REAR-WHEEL BEARING FAILURE THAT COULD LEAD TO A WHEEL FALLING OFF..." I AM AFRAID THAT THIS NOISE I HEAR TODAY IS DUE TO THAT SAME PROBLEM 2 YEARS AGO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO COST ME CLOSE TO $400 TO REPAIR IT. FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO ME. SECONDLY, I'M VERY AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE. I'M AFR
THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS ISSUE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE BREAKAGE OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PART BREAK ON MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN BUT FORD DECLINES RESPONSIBILITY.*JB
THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS ISSUE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE BREAKAGE OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PART BREAK ON MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN BUT FORD DECLINES RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATED IN 3-03 WINDSHIELD CRACKED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED. IT WAS STILL LEAKING, AND HE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED IT AGAIN. BUT, IT WAS STILL LEAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED IT A THIRD TIME. IT CONTINUED TO LEAK. IN 4-03 THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SAID HE WOULD SEAL THE WINDSHIELD. A MONTH AGO, IT CRACKED AGAIN. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND HE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE DEALER SEALED IT TWICE. IT WAS STILL LEAKING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS DEFECT IN THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE DOME LIGHT, AND THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID THERE MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AGAIN ON 9/18/2005 BUT ON 9/23/2005 THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IS WAS STILL LEAKING. *NM
CONSUMER IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN. *TX THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-CODED. *JB
(1) AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN GOING OUT A FEW DAYS BEFORE ACCIDENT. (2) IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE IN TURN CAUSING ME TO RELEASE CLUTCH AND BUMP IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ADDITIONALLY AIRBAG CAUSED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON MY LEFT WRIST AND SPRAINED KNUCKLES ON RIGHT HAND. (3) CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AUTOWAY FORD FOR EVALUATION/REPAIR. *JB
WHEN ACCELERATING IN VARIOUS INCLINES OR DECLINE MY CAR CHOKES AND HESITATES AS IF IT HAS WATER IN THE GAS LINE OR THE FUEL FILTER IS CLOGGED. IT STARTS TO JERK AND SPUTTER AND REFUSES TO ACCELERATE IF I PUSH ON THE PEDAL INSTEAD IT CHOKES OUT. EITHER THE CAR DIES RIGHT THERE OR I MANAGE TO PULL IT OVER AND LET IT DIE ON ITS OWN AS SOON AS I COME TO A STOP. TROUBLE RESTARTING THE CAR AS IF TO MUCH AIR INTAKE TO CHOKE IT OUT. FINALLY IT STARTS AND IT RUNS AFTER BLOWING THE LINES BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE IT'S GOOD FRO MAYBE ANOTHER 10 15 MILES AND THE AGAIN IT STARTS PUTTERING AND WANTED TO DIE NO CHOICE BUT TO LET IT DIE TO RESTART. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES HAVE HAD A COLLAPSED FUEL LINE AND HAS BEEN REPLACE BUT STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AGAIN WHEN IT'S IN THE SHOP IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND YET THEY DO NOT DRIVE IT AT THE TIME ITS NORMALLY DRIVEN OR AT THE EXTREMES OF THE TRAFFIC WHILE IT HAPPENS SO AS TO SEE WHAT IT DOES. A BEST EXPLANATION YOU CAN FIND FROM A MECHANIC IS NO PROBLEM SEEABLE. AND YET THERE IS ONE FROM US THE PURCHASER. *JB
DT: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. WENT BACK AND FORTH EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO DIE. THIS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT RESTART EASILY. IT MAY TAKE 20-30 MINUTES TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER HAS NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL, NHTSA 03V482000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND THERE IS AN EXHAUST TUBE THAT RUNS OFF THE RIGHT SIDE (LOOKING FROM THE FRONT) OF THE MANIFOLD WHICH BROKE FROM RUSTING. I SEARCHED SOME FORUMS ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60000 MILES ON IT SO I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD OF RUSTED AND CRACKED LIKE IT DID. *NM
CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED DUE TO FAILED/DEFECTIVE WELD, LEADING TO DAMAGE TO CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. WELD SHOWED INDICATION OF INSUFFICIENT HEAT PENETRATION. DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD HAVE NOT PASSED QUALITY INSPECTION. DEFECTIVE PART AVAILABLE. CAR STRANDED IN GEAR. *NM
LAST 2 YEARS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION AND TURNING IT. I HAVE HAD TO JIGGLE IT AND PUSH IT IN. I GOT STRANDED AT WORK BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT GO IN THE IGNITION AND TURN. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IGNITION CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME $392.00 FOR THE PART!!!!!! THEY SAID THAT MY STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY BREAK DURING INSTALLATION! *JB
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO START. THE SWITCH (XS4Z-11582-AC CVR ASY AUX FL) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 41,407 MILES AND AGAIN AT 57,834 MILES. THE DEALER AND AAA PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY TO THE STRANDED DRIVER, WHICH IS "WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, HIT IT HARD WITH A HAMMER TO ENGAGE THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY." AAA KEEPS SPARE FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCHES IN ITS EMERGENCY SERVICE SUPPORT TRUCKS. *JB
DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS LX. THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND WHEN THE CONTACT GOT THE BILL IT WAS $500, INCLUDING TOWING. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE IN NOVEMBER 2003. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND AGAIN ON AUGUST 8, 2005 IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE REPAIR INVOICE FOR AUGUST 8, 2005 STATED DIAGNOSTIC KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION, NECESSARY TO REMOVE STEERING BEZELS, REMOVE IGNITION SWITC TO DRILL LOCK CYLINDER, REMOVE GUTS AND HOUSING. ALSO, IT WAS NECESSARY TO CODE NEW LOCK CYLINDER AND INSTALL IT. THIS COST $257.00. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TTHE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER. THE COST $103.66 AND THE TOWING WAS $85.00 . THE SECOND TIME ALL THIS WAS OUT OF POCKET, BUT THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED $195, 50% OF THE PARTS AND LABOR. *NM
2001 FORD FOCUS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP.*MR THE CONSUMER SON RECEIVED RECALL 03N01 ON THE FUEL PUMP AND HAD IT REPLACED AT THE DEALER. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ON SEPTEMBER 6TH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLES FORD AND THE CONSUEMR'S SON WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD INDREED FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND BURNED THE DRIVER. THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE IMMEDIATELY. *JB
DT: THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS ALSO DO NOT COME ON WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE ON. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK, AND REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO WORK WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED A FUSE SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT, INDICATING A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. BETWEEN THE HATCH AND THE BODY THERE IS WIRING HARNESS, AND INSPECTION OF THAT WIRING HARNESS DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIELDING OF THE WIRING SEPARATED OR CRACKED, INDICATING THE WIRES ARE STRESSED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A PROBLEM INDICATED ON A RECALL FOR PRIOR MODEL YEARS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, WHO SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS MADE OTHER THAN THE ELECTRICAL TAPE THAT WAS PLACED ON THE EXPOSED WIRES BY THE CONSUMER. *AK
THE IGNITION LOCKS UP DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CYLINDER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS AND I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BY THIS. I LOOKED ON THE WEB AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT EVEN THE SERVICE AT FORD ADMITTED TO. I WAS PARTICULARLY SURPRISED WHEN THEY SAID FORD HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED 2 AND 3 TIMES IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE. I WOULD LIKE IT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING FORD KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE AND STILL MAKES THE CUSTOMER PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND MULTIPLE TIMES AS WELL. *NM
DT: THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WILL NOT MOVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON 12-23-04. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
DT: CONTACT STATED THE DPFE SENSOR WENT OUT. SHE SAID IT WENT OUT 2 YEARS AGO AND SHE HAD IT REPLACED. SHE SAID IT CUT OUT WHILE SHE WAS GOING 40-60 MPH. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS JERKING. SHE NOTICED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD HER THAT IT WAS A WEAK SENSOR, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. *AK
I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2001 AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION TUMBLER FOR A SECOND TIME IN ONE WEEK NOW. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IT WOULD NOT GET UNLOCKED BY THE IGNITION KEY. THE WHOLE PART WAS REPLACED IN THE SERVICE SHOP A WEEK AGO AND YESTERDAY I HAD TO BRING IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY TRUNK AND THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE ORDERED TODAY. *JB
FIRST MY GAS PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. THEN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IT JUST BROKE. IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO GAS PEDAL. WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT SOMEONE DID NOT REAR END ME. HAD I BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT GO. *NM
THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO JIGGLE THE WHEEL, BUT CAR REFUSED TO START. *JB
DT. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, SURGE AND LOSE POWER AND THEN SHUT OFF. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR AWHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO PASS 60- 70 MPH, WHEN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THIS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. *JB
DT: THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN WITH THE KEY IN. CALLER SAID IT WAS STICKING BUT TO IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. UP UNTIL HOWEVER, SHE COULD FORCE IT AND IT WOULD WORK, THIS TIME SHE COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN. SHE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IT STARTED WITHOUT WARNING AND KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL 08/26/2005. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
I REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT. MPH WAS LESS THAN 10. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED GIVING ME 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO MY HAND AND ARM RESULTING IN LOSS OF WORK FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SCARRING. MY WINDSHIELD ALSO SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT HAD NO DAMAGE. MY WAS VERY MINIMAL. MY AIRBAGS AND WINDSHIELD WERE REPLACED, BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NEVER FIXED. WITH THE MANY NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE PLUS THIS INCIDENT, MY WIFE AND I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR.
VEHICLE HESITATED UPON STARTING. CONSUMER REPLACED THE BATTERY. BUT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. FINALLY, DEALER STATED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 03V482000 DUE TO VIN. *AK *TT
YET ANOTHER FORD FOCUS OWNER WHO HAD THE IGNITION COMPLETELY LOCK-UP. THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN, RENDERING THE CAR DEAD, AND IN NEED OF TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPLACEMENT IGNITION.
SIMILAR DESCRIPTION WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000, BUT NO MATCH ON VIN [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
MY CAR HAS 29,500 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT USED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: 1 - CAR STUMBLES/HESITATES/LOSES POWER AT AROUND 2-3K RPM...REGARDLESS OF SPEED...BUT STUMBLING/HESITATION IS BEST FELT ON THE FREEWAY. 2 - CAR HAS HAD SOME TYPE OF RECALL WORK AND DPFE SENSOR REPLACED AT: 17500 MILES. NOT SURE IF FUEL PUMP RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED...FORD DEALERS HAVE BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO TELL ME WITHOUT MAKING ME SPEND $150+ ON A STUPID DIAGNOSIS...THAT'S CALLED GOOD BUSINESS. 3 - DPFE SENSOR REPLACED PRIOR TO ME PICKING UP THE CAR AT: 28440 MILES. 4 - 1000 MILES LATER...I HAVE THE STUMBLING. 5 - THINGS I'VE DONE TO THE CAR: A - REPLACED AIR FILTER B - REPLACED FUEL FILTER C - REPLACED PCV VALVE D - REPLACED PLUGS (USING BOSCH PLATINUM 2) SO FAR I'VE DONE ALL CHANGES MYSELF BECAUSE NO FORD DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO CARE TO OFFER ADVICE OR A HELPING HAND. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR DUE TO STUMBLING/HESITATION. *JB
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TRAFFIC WAS TRYING TO MERGE, AND SHE WAS BLOCKED IN ON THE LEFT. SHE ACCELERATED A LITTLE TO GET AHEAD OF THE MERGING TRAFFIC. AT THAT TIME THE THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES, IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS PUSHING AS HARD AS SHE COULD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE PLACED THE GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. SHE CAME TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE RPMS WERE AT 7000 BEFORE SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTART, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE TO 7000 RPM. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE THROTTLE UN-STUCK BY PUSHING THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND RELEASING. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO A SEARS AUTO CENTER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE THROTTLE LINKAGE MALFUNCTIONING. HE COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE, AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING. IT WAS A VERY SCARY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EVENT. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS AT 30,000 MILES IN OCTOBER 2003. THEN AT 47,000 MILES ON JULY 29. 2005. THE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AND THE ROTORS RUSTED AND PITTED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *JB
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. *NM
I BOUGHT MY 2001 FORD FOCUS 4 MONTHS AGO AND I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. AFTER RESEARCH, I AM SEEING THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEPENDABLE. *NM
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER OF 2003 FOR THE SO CALLED "RECALL" OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE LISTED SYMPTOMS AMONG OTHER ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND DROVE IT LESS THAN A MILE AND DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS DUE TO EXHAUST PROBLEMS AND FUEL PROBLEMS. NOW MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN I REQUESTED IT TO BE DONE. NOW I HAVE TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BENEFIT FROM THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY THAT THEY PUT ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE SMALL SURGES. ON JULY 15, 2005 IT SURGED WHILE AT A RED LIGHT AND CAUSED ME TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. NOW MY INSURANCE MAY INCREASE. I AM A TEACHER AND WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $1600 IN REPAIRS NOT COVERED IN MY WARRANTY SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2001. *NM
PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION. CAR SHAKES WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEEDS ALONG WITH NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE DRIVING WITH A FLAT TIRE. TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. TOOK IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A DIFFERENT SAFETY RECALL AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DETERIORATED. PART IS BEING REPLACED. *NM
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FOR CLAIM # 10131720 ALONG WITH FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEING REPLACED, THE FRONT AXEL BEARING IT ALSO BEING REPLACED. *NM
2001 FORD FOCUS SEDAN, 21,000 MILES. IGNITION SWITCH COMPLETELY FAILED AROUND 1.5 YEARS AGO AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN AND WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. DANGEROUS!!! THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR, PURCHASED NEW TO PROVIDE HER SAFE TRANSPORTATION, AND CANNOT COUNT ON IT EVEN TO START RELIABLY FOR HER. *NM
I WENT OUT TO MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 AND TRIED TO START IT UP AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT UNLOCK. IN CALLING PEFFLEY FORD DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS FOR YEARS AND NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM, BUT ON LOOKING ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND MOST FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUSES. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND TELL ME IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? THANK-YOU SO VERY MUCH! *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 60 MPH. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THE EGR VALVE WAS BAD. SHE HAD NOT HAD THE VALVE REPLACED YET. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON 7-23-05. SHE HAS BEEN ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND LOTS OF FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS; BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC TO THE EGR VALVE.*AK
I HAVE HAD MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FOR ABOUT 3 AND HALF YEARS. RECENTLY, THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS ALREADY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IGNITION CYLINDERS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME. THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS BECAUSE IT WAS DEPENDABLE. IF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ARE OCCURRING WHEN AM I GOING TO EXPECT NEXT. *NM
THE CAR BEGAN CHUGGING AS IF HAVING BAD GAS. WHILE ON RTE 40W IN TEXAS, THE CAR DIED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN THE CAR DIED. I WAS TRAVELING AT APX. 75 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED. I WAS TOWED INTO NM AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL OF MY FUEL PUMP AND THEY INSIST THAT THE RECALL ONLY EXTENDS UP TO 2000 MODELS. I HAVE A 2001 FOCUS ZX3.
DT: CONSUMER IN MAY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE LETTER WAS FOR THREE OR FOUR PARTS. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS AND THEY HAD TO BE ORDERED. THEY WERE NOT YET IN. CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL, THE PARTS OR NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK
THE IGNITION HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS. I WOULD NORMALLY JUST REPLACE IT AND MOVE ON BUT WHEN SEARCHING FOR A NEW PART ON THE INTERNET I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. IN ALL CASES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ONE IT IS FIXED IN CASE I ENCOUNTER MORE PROBLEMS.
2001 FORD FOCUS, IGNITION AND STERRING WHEEL LOCK UP
NO EVENT LED TO THIS FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A LANE THAT ALLOWED ME TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER; HOWEVER, A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT.
TWO NIGHTS AGO, AT A PARKING GARAGE IN A LOCAL MALL, WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE, I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. I COULD INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY KEY WAS WORN DOWN A BIT, SO I FIGURED MAYBE THE KEY WAS NOT "CLICKING" PROPERLY WITH THE IGNITION. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY APARTMENT BUILDING AND ATTEMPTED TO USE MY SPARE KEY TO SEE IF THE KEY MADE A DIFFERENCE. IT DID NOT. THE NEXT DAY I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DELEARSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION CYCLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MY KEYS NEEDED TO BE RECODED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER ANY OF THIS. SO I PAID $650 TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TOLD THAT TWO RECALLS NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AT NO COST TO ME. BOTH WERE ADDRESSED, HOWEVER, THEY CHARGED ME $36.08 FOR "MECHANICAL LABOR." I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR ANY WORK DONE ON RECALLS. THIS EVENING I LOGGED ONTO A WEBSITE CALLED "AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET." I WAS AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THE POSTINGS DATED BACK TO 2003. I DON'T SEE HOW A PROBLEM LIKE THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, OR WHY THE OWNER (ME) WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THESE OUTRAGEOUS SERVICE CHARGES.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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