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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 Ford Focus 2.0L SOHC engine has a defect where the intake valve seat fails. The valve then falls into the cylinder, destroying the engine & most owner relationships with Ford in the process.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,693 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Ford Focus electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Sep 012005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #15

Aug 302005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 58,000 miles
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.

- Boulder City, NV, USA

problem #14

Jun 012005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
Exactly same complaints as complaint # 10056383, engine stalling while driving at slow speeds. Radio cuts out, headlights start flickering and sometimes speedometer goes grazy and seems to reset itself. Dealership has had the car for three weeks and was not able to solve the issue. No fault codes were registered, and since the issues happen infrequently and shortly no electrical measurements were possible. As soon as I pick up the car it stalls on me. Still trying to work thru the dealership, although I'm getting desperate. Dealership told me MY2002 has already the upgraded fuel pump, according to some Focus forums then the problem could be egr related. Dealership is not willing to replace components without knowing what is causing this safety and possibly environmental issue...

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #13

Jun 262005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer said that over the course of time vehicle lost power. Consumer was exiting freeway when the engine stalled and everything on vehicle failed. There were no lights working or any kind of power. Same thing happened again last Sunday going into san fransisco. Consumer stated that radio will work sometimes and not other times. Also, sometimes she could not lock doors. Al battery had to be replaced after just one year due to the electrical problem, battery was a three year battery. In addition, one time the left turn signal went out. Consumer S believed that these problems were electrical.

- Pleasent Hill, CA, USA

problem #12

Apr 302005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was parked at state employee's residence for about 10 hours when it suddenly caught fire. Fire dept. Responded and extinguished fire. Vehicle is a total lose.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #11

Mar 072005

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles
I have a 2002 Ford Focus 4-door sedan. I have approximately 45000 miles on the vehicle. When driving the vehicle, it stalls particularly when the electric parts are turned on. You can jump the car and get it to start, but the same thing keeps happening. Also, when you turn on the radio, it makes a buzzing noise as if there is interference from the motor. The problem appears to be getting worse. Also, there seems to be some sort of a noise coming from the back of the vehicle when stopping. It is not the sound of worn-out breaks but as if there is an axle problem. I have had my rear right tire replaced twice.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Nov 012003

Focus

  • Manual transmission
  • 15,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car will randomly not start. This occurs both when engine has been cold for several hours and after engine has been running a while and then shut off and restarted. Car will eventually start usually after waiting about 30-40 minutes. Dealer says cannot replicate problem but they will not keep it long enough to really try. If we were to tow to dealer, car would be starting by the time it got there. Occurs at random, about 1-3 times per month since November 2003. Has been to dealership 2 times. First time, loose wire in steering column was corrected but they said nothing was wrong with car. Second time they replaced a part in ignition switch but said nothing was wrong with it to start with. Still having no-start problem. Returning to dealeriship tomorrow.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #9

Jan 272004

(reported on)

Focus

  • miles
Consumer had concerns about her vehicle. The consumer received a fuel pump recall letter that was fixed under warranty. The consumer stated the vehicle experienced electrical problems in the past.

- Kulpsville, PA, USA

problem #8

Aug 292003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,344 miles
After having my 2002 Ford Focus for 4 months the engine began to stall wile I was driving. When this happened the radio would cut out, the headlights began flickering on and off, and sometimes the speedometer would drop to zero and pop back up while I was driving on the interstate. The problems got worse after aweek or so. I took it to a local dealership and they said it wouldn't do it for them so they couldn't do anything to fix it. It would stop doing it for a month or so and do it again once or twice then stop again, but eventually it gets progressively worse. I have taken it in three times and they refuse to admit anything is wrong. I have spoken to an attorney and am begining lemon law proceedings against Ford.

- Lee's Summit , MO, USA

problem #7

Dec 122003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,452 miles
2002 Ford Focus ZX5 hatchback model was purchased new from lafres Ford. The check engine light keeps coming on and stays on. Various electrical problems have occurred and various parts have been replaced (documented on all service reports) the check engine light has been a problem from day one and I have experienced other parts burned and replaced in the past, ie cooling fan harness and resistor burnt, burn smell when A/C is in use or the heator, replacement of battery. (car is still under warranty) I continually take the car back and forth to the dealer to have the check engine light corrected. (no reimbursement of toll/bridges and days off from work to have this car properly serviced, no reimbursement of rental cars) when I get the car back the check engine light is off and two days later it is back on again. I periodically call my service advisor at the service department telling him that I just picked up the car and within 24 hours the check engine light came on again. My service advisor tells me that the check engine light does not mean anything and I could drive around with the light onindefinetly althought the light is a nuisance. On 12/11/03 while driving, the check engine light which was already on, the battery light indicator came on, I immediately called the dealer service department and explained to my service advisor of the problem, it was late Friday afternoon, he stated that was not a good sign and advised me to seek service at a Ford service station. Took car to universal Ford. The car began to emit a burning smell I arrived at the dealer service stations and was told that my alternator was no good and that the harness hand burned and all the wires had melted. That is truly an unsafe car, this problem could have caused the car catch on fire and I could have been seriously injured, or become a fatality or others could have gotten hurt. The car is currently at the universal Ford dealer service station.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #6

Dec 022003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2002 ZX3 began having problems after only owning the vehicle for six months. The first problem was with the locking mechanism which would make a very loud buzzing noise when the doors would lock. The second problem began last winter when the car would not start after sitting outside overnight. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership five times over the last year for this problem and each time they inform me that the problem is fixed. However, the problem is not fixed and my vehicle continues to be unreliable.

- Chesterfield Twp., MI, USA

problem #5

Nov 122003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles
While driving I lost all power to the car. It completely shut down and I could not start it. It has been towed to dealership to be fixed twice. I do not feel safe driving this car with my kids in it. I don't think the problem is fixed and I'm waiting for this to happen again. Now I need to take it back to the dealership again because there is a bad vibration in the front end. I had it there previously for this also, and they said it needed the tires rotated and balanced. Even though it is still under warranty, they charged me $36....the vibration is worse now so obviously that wasn't the problem. Oh I forgot to mention that the trunk won't latch properly and the windshield wipers won't go the whole way down when you turn them off. This car is not safe to drive. The dealership acts like they haven't had any complaints with this car!

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #4

Jul 212003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,678 miles
I have a 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 4 dr hatchback my problems started on 7/21/03 when my brakes lights, headlights, turn signal and radio stopped working. I took it into the dealership and it was repaired however now the radio will no longer response to me turning the vol. Up or down as well as I only only set the time on military time. Now on 9/7 my brakes have started to grind. On 9/11 my car now vibrates when I accerate at 60 mph +. in the past week I have also noticed that my car will accellerate and hesitate when in motion. In the last three months my gas mileage has slowly declined as well. I am taking it into the dealership tonight - but thought I need to report. Seems there are many others like me.

- Corinth, TX, USA

problem #3

Nov 112002

Focus 4-cyl

  • 4,400 miles
While the vehicle was running, the engine caught on fire. The fire started under the hood, due to an electrical short. Ts scc

- South Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 012002

Focus

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Consumer states while driving vehicle will just stall without any warning, will start back up after sitting for about half an hour. Contacted dealer. Cannot fix problem. Consumer stated that all electrical parts fail to operate when the vehicle stall. The dealer replaced many parts but the problem was not solved.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 042002

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 45mph, in the snow vehcle suddenly lost all power, including electrical. Vehicle was able to be restarted. Took to dealer, and vehicle was placed on both the diagnostic and data recorder machine, nothing was found to cause power lost after one week.

- Delevan, NY, USA

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