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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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,784 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #15

Jul 172015

Focus

  • 327,000 miles

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

I am writing this for two incidents happened within a two week time frame. 1. the engine had to be replaced since one piston pin had broken due to which the whole piston had broken inside the engine. The whole engine had to be replaced as per mechanics suggestion. I have the invoice from the mechanic shop and the mechanic would gladly provide more details if needed. 2. this was scary ! while driving at 70 miles an hour on cruise, the car would not come out of cruise control and constantly accelerated even after trying to use brakes. (ideally when you first touch the brakes, the car should come out of cruise) once the car reached at a speed of 80 miles and I could not do anything. When the car was shut down abnormally, and restarted the issue continued and even when it was in neutral, it constantly raved up. I see other people have recently filed complains for this and expect the NHTSA to do something about it urgently as in my opinion it is a huge safety issue. The mechanic mentioned that the cruise control cable was stuck in the housing. Currently the cruise control has been disconnected by my mechanic and I have bought a new cruise control cable from the dealer and hope to get it fixed soon, however expect the company to take care of both of the above issues.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #14

Mar 202015

Focus

  • miles
While driving my 2002 Ford Focus about 45 mph vehicle suddenly accelerated up to 85 mph. I tried to reduce speed by stepping on the brakes still would not come to a complete stop I had to pull the emergence brake, steam was coming out of vehicle and turn the engine off but when I started it back up the engine is still revving up.

- Mcconnelsville, OH, USA

problem #13

Oct 042006

Focus

  • miles
The speedometer on my 2002 Ford Focus suddenly drops to zero. It often takes several minutes to reset and often does this repeatedly. It has been happening with increasing frequency this started after the warranty expired but it is a safety issue that Ford knows about and will not correct. They claim that I must replace the entire expensive instrument cluster.

- Rosendale, NY, USA

problem #12

Mar 062006

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 74,806 miles

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

: the contact stated while slowing down at ten mph and putting the vehicle in neutral the RPM's drop to 500. This causes the vehicle to stall or sputter intermittently. The dealer can not duplicate the problem and no repairs have been made.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #11

Dec 172005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,411 miles
The contact stated the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed the dealership and it was determined the fuel pump failed. The fuel pump and iac valve were replaced. There were no warning indicators prior to the failures.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #10

Nov 112005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,700 miles
The contact stated when starting the vehicle the engine will rev without warning. This problem only occurs on morning starts and in cold temperatures. He immediately turns off the ignition and restarts the vehicle. This procedure remedies the problem. He plans to take the vehicle to a dealer for further inspection of the problem. The replaced the throttle position sensor. Updated 12/27/05.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #9

Nov 202005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,385 miles

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

Engine accelerated at a high speed while shifting from forward to reverse (and vice versa). To overcome the problem I maintained heavy pressure on the brake and tapped the accelerator.

- Sanford, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 052005

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was accelerating rapidly to merge into traffic and the gas pedal got stuck, and the car kept accelarating after I removed my foot from the brake pedal. It has done this twice. I have a 2002 Ford Focus

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #7

Jan 212004

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,393 miles
On several separate occasions vehicle commenced to accelerate and lurch forward without warning. No incident occurred at this time. Vehicle has been to the dealer and they were unable to duplicate the problem.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

problem #6

Jun 172004

Focus

  • miles
While pulling inside of the garage vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle by applying both feet on the brakes. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed the consumer that the problem could not be duplicated.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #5

Nov 142003

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,065 miles

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

Sudden acceleration of vehicle while pulling into a level parking stall at a shopping mall. Vehicle collided into a planter head on and the air bags did not deploy

- Unknown, DC, USA

problem #4

Nov 292003

Focus

  • miles
Our 2002 Ford Focus SE, has had a surging problem since the day we purchased the vehicle on 04/15/02, the engine seems like it wants to stall out.lso we have a water leak under the dashboard, and we need new tires. After only 20000 miles on them.

- Stratton, OH, USA

problem #3

Apr 072003

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
The vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, when a turn was made.

- Highland, CA, USA

problem #2

Dec 112002

(reported on)

Focus

  • miles
While driving, when cruise control is engaged the vehicle's acceleration decreases.

- Addison, VT, USA

problem #1

Mar 232002

Focus

  • miles
When the brakes were applied with the cruise control activated, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The dealer has been notified. Nlm

- Dallas, TX, USA

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