2002 Ford Focus complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED HEAVILY. *NLM

BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY RUINED ALONG WITH ROTORS IN 11,000 MILES. COMPLETELY UNTHINKABLE. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM BUT NO ONE IS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM VERY UNHAPPY.

I HAVE 2002 FORD FOCUS. PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. BEGAN HEARING GRINDING NOISE FOUR DAYS AGO. 30,000 MILES. CHAFES, WEAR EXCESSIVE, UNEVEN, SCORED.

THERE WAS A BAD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE THAT MADE THE OCCUPANTS SICK. THE SMELL EXISTED EVEN WHEN THE AIR VENTS WERE CLOSED BUT WORSENED WHEN THEY WERE OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOCATE THE OF THE ODOR. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT,THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T INFLATE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, STARTER SHORTED AND DESTROYED FLYWHEEL. LATER IT WAS FOUND THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER WAS TAKEN INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DOOR SEALS. I WAS NOT STOPPED IN THE PUDDLE, ONLY MOVED THROUGH IT. DUE TO THE WATER INCURSION INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE. THEY FEAR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE COULD RESULT. I AM CONCERNED THAT ANYONE GOING THROUGH STANDING WATER (THIS WAS NOT A HUGE PUDDLE) WOULD FIND THEMSELVES WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY. *JB

THE REAR DOOR ON THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SCC

NAR 03/13/2003 THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE GO UNDER EVALUATION BY FORD TO DETECT PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AFTER GOING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BECAUSE THE CERTIFIED INSPECTOR IDENTIFIED RAW GAS IN THE TAIL PIPE AND THE SMELL WAS BECOMING INTOLERANT. THE CONSUMER WANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATING . *CB *JB

THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR ALSO. *JB

THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE DIVIDER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

EVERY TIME IT RAINED THE CAR WOULD LEAK WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FROM BEHIND GLOVE BOX. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO FIX 5 TIMES. FORD AGREED CAR WAS A LEMON AND BOUGHT IT BACK AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 31 DAYS OF BEING OUT OF SERVICE.*JB

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING COLLISION AT 35 MPH. COLLISION RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND PASSENGER HEAD INJURY, NEITHER PASSENGER NOR DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB

THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *JB

THE CAP WHICH JUST PRESSES ON OVER THE LUG NUT ON THE TIRE IS JUST PRESSED ON, AND COMES OFF EASILY, LEAVING JUST THE LUG NUT WHICH THE TIRE WRENCH IS TO LARGE TO REMOVE JUST THE NUT. *TS

THE RIM WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR.*JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS THAT I PURCHASED LAST JUNE. I HAD WENT INTO THE WALMART , AND WHEN I CAME OUT I SAW A CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS MINE BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE I HAD PARKED THAT CLOSE TO THE CAR-I PROCEEDED TO THE CAR UNLOCKED THE TRUNK WITH MY KEY-PUT MY GROCERIES IN THE TRUNK AND OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR-WHICH THEN I NOTICED SHOES IN THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND REALIZED MY KEYS HAD JUST OPENED THE DOOR AND THE TRUNK TO SOMEONE ELSE'S FORD FOCUS-SO I GRABBED A BUGGY REAL QUICK GOT MY STUFF OUT OF THE CAR-LOCKED THE DOORS AND WENT AND FOUND MY CAR. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT YOU HAVE A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN -THEY COULD CHANGE THE LOCKS BUT DIDIN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY-WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN-I EMAILED THE FORD COMPANY. THEY CALLED MY HUSBAND TALKED TO THEM-THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A REPORT AND TO CALL THE DEALER BACK AND SEE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO ABOUT IT. AFTER MY HUSBAND TALKED TO BOTH OF THESE PARTY'S IT WAS DECIDED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A BURGULAR ALARM-SO I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE GETTING IN MY CAR , STEALING ITEMS IF SHOPPING,ETC,ETC,ETC. MOSTLY WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE AND SEE IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. YOU PAY A LOT FOR A CAR-FOR EVERYONE WHO OWNS ONE LIKE IT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN YOUR CAR. SCARES ME TOO=THAT CAR THIEVES MAY CATCH ON TO THIS

THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH. SCC *JB

FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 - DRAMATICALLY POOR HANDLING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE. ? FAULTY BRAKING SENSOR / ? POOR SUSPENSION / ?? CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL NUMEROUS TIMES ON FLAT EVEN HIGHWAY SURFACE. ON PATCHES OF ICE - BACK END OF CAR VEERS BADLY TO LEFT (SIDEWAYS NOT FRONT END). IN SNOW COVERED SECTIONS BACK END FISHTAILS EXCESSIVELY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS (20 MPH). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE BEHAVIOUR ON DRY CLEAR ROAD SURFACE.

WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT, MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE, CHECK BATTERY AND CHECK OIL LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP NOTED ON THE INVOICE THAT THEY HAD CHECKED THE BATTERY AND CHARGE, AND ALL WAS "OK." HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY IT STALLED AS IT DID, I RECEIVED A SHORT ANSWER THAT THEY "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING" THAT WOULD LEAD TO THAT. THE STALLING WAS NOT NOTED ON THE REPAIR INVOICE. I'M AFRAID OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, PARTICULARLY WHEN COMMUTING. THE FOCUS HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT.

KEY DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN COLD. YOU HAVE TO WRIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES BUT CAN NOT FIGURE IT OUT.

CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION REGARDING THE FORD FOCUS.*DT *JB

2002 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT RUN IN SUB ZERO WEATHER DUE TO CONDENSATION IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE FIX IS TO DRILL HOLES IN THE EXHAUST AND LET OUT THE WATER. THIS CHANGE IN BACK PRESSURE, SALT IN THE SYSTEM, FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND LEAKAGE OF EXHAUST INTO PASSANGER COMPARTMENT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THIS MODIFICATION SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED AFTER FACTORY CERTIFICATION.

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 50 MPH IN THE REAR END. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP,AND WAS IMPACTED AT 50 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK TWISTED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND SNAPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE GAS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

I AM NOT SURE FORD HAS COMPLETLY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. I JUST HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE COMPLETE WHEEL AND HUB ASY JUST ABOUT CAME OFF THE VEHICLE (WHEEL BEARING FAILURE). COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT IF THE WHEEL CAME OFF, AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO MY WIFE.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

THE REAR END OF THE CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE, LOOSE CONTROL AND FISH TAIL AT A DRIVING SPEED 0F 70 TO 75 MPH ON A TOTALLY NON SLIPPERY DRY ROAD. ON WOBBLING, THE CAR QUIT RESPONDING AND STARTED FISH TAILING EVENTUALLY ROLLING OVER TWICE BEFORE IT CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN DOWN A HILL. THE POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED THE CRASH SITE, LOOKED INTO THE TYRE MARKS AND VERIFIED THAT THE BRANKES HAD BEEN HIT EVEN BEFORE THE CAR TOUCHED THE FOG LINE(WAKE UP STRIP). THE OFFICER ALSO MADE A NOTE IN HIS REPORT REQUESTING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE REAR AXLE OF THE CAR.

WHEN HIT AT 40MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. AIR BAG MONITOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. TS

2002 FOCUS ZX3 - WITH 16" WHEELS - WHEEL CENTER CAPS ARE DEFECTIVE. ONE HAS FALLEN OFF, AND UPON INSPECTION, THE OTHER THREE HAVE TABS THAT ARE BREAKING OFF, THAT WILL LEAD TO THE CENTER CAPS FALLING OFF.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT,THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER RESULTING IN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 23 MPH. *NLM

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE'S A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO FORD AND THEY STATES THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE WOBBLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

INTERMITTENTLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED . THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2002. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HYDRAULICS CLUTCH WAS BROKE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50MPH FROM OREGON TO CALIFORNIA. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT HER COMPLAINT IS REGARDING NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON SNOW WAS CONTACTED BUT NOT YET RETURNED CONSUMERS CALL.

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. TS SCC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE AT 45MPH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP FOR FIVE MINUTES. PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS

FRONT SUSPINSION BAD

REAR END FISH TALES AND WANDERS THROUGH TURNS AND ON STRAIGHTS. IS SCALLOPING REAR END TIRES. CAR IS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS ONLY. DELONG FORD IN WINNEMUCCA TELLS US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. PURCHASING DEALER, JONES-WEST TOLD US WE COULD TAKE IT TO ANY FORD DEALER TO BE SERVICED.

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION DECREASES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE IS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM, CAUSE THE CAMBER CANNOT BE SET PER DEALERSHIP. MR

WHILE GETTING A FRONT TIRE REPLACE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRONT RIMS WERE BENDING. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT ANY THING HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE RIMS TO BEND. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

I'M CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING A BURNING SMELL (AS IF SOMETHING IS GETTING VERY HOT) COMING FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 'NEW' APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. I'VE NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP (SELLER) AND RETURN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEM REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I ADVISED THEM ABOUT NEWS REPORTS WHICH INDICATED THAT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER THEN CLAIMS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECIDES TO INITIATE A RECALL NOTICE. DT

THERE IS A STRONG MILDEW SMELL WHEN DEFROST IS TURNED ON. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA PRODUCING AGENT IN THE DEFROST SYSTEM. DEALER STATES ALL NEW CARS ARE LIKE THIS. CONSUMER HAS A BREATHING PROBLEM AND THIS MILDEW SMELL MAY CREATE A BIGGER PROBLEM. TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TS

IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE OWNED MY FOCUS I'VE HAD TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD TO REPLACE A MODULE TO THE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK THEY GAVE ME A RECORDING DEVICE THAT I HAD TO USE TO RECORD THE AIR BAG LIGHT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT REGISTERING THAT IT EVER CAME ON. I HAD TO RECORD THE LIGHT A TOTAL OF 3-4 TIMES AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID SO AND RETURNED MY CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS DEVICE TOLD THEM NOTHING. SO NOT KNOWING THE EXACT PROBLEM THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG. ALL OF THESE ATTEMPTS OCCURED LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH MID OCTOBER. AS OF 11/8/2002 THE LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON. I FEEL KNOW THAT I'M LEFT WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND THE QUESTION OF IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IS THIS AIR BAG GOING TO PROTECT ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE BUT I'M NOT TO SURE ABOUT THAT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. DT

VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. STARTED AFTER 40/45 MINS. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR