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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:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,662 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

Oct 152002

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,650 miles

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

Other - lose fender wheelshield/told part on recall as defective body - dings in fender panel/told part defective replaced under warranty

- Pendleton, OR, USA

problem #8

Jan 152003

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Key does not want to come out of steering column. You have to wriggle the steering wheel and the key. You never know when this is going to happen. It has happened from day 1. it has been into parr Ford in bremerton Washington 4 times for this problem, they can not find it. They have verified that it sticks.

- Allyn, WA, USA

problem #7

Feb 202004

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,587 miles
Rear tires traction failed. As a result, vehicle became uncontrollable. The consumer stated when the roads were wet, the vehicle was hard to control. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at least 6 times for the same problem, three of the six times the dealer replaced the tires, however that did not resolve the problem.

- Three Forks, MT, USA

problem #6

Nov 122003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 17,000 miles

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

2002 Ford Focus SE wagon noticed rain water leaking into passenger compartment via heating/cooling cowling on passenger side wetting floor mat significantly till the point it was completely soggy. Checked grill between hood and windshield and noted no leaves blocking drains. Noted rubber dam not continuous, and water appeared to be leaking into engine compartment via one of these gaps and then into the heating/cooling cowling along top surface of rear of engine compartment. The fit between the cowling and the 'firewall' at the back of the engine compartment is not good, and there are gaps along the entire top surface allowing water to drain in.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #5

May 272003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
At least twice a week my car takes 2-5 tries to start. After it starts, it runs very rough and feels like it's going to stall...sometimes it does if I'm at a light. I have a stick shift and there's no indication on the idle that it's running low. My car has been in the shop more than I've had it for the last six months. Ford tells me they haven't received any complaints like this and the dealership has told Ford they can't replicate the problem...even though they've told me on a couple of occasions that they have. Usually they don't replace anything but so far they've replaced my egr valve, fuel pump, and gas tank. The dealership has been inconsistent on how they document the time my car's been in the shop and with a one year old and a four year old...I can no longer take time to go to the shop...not to mention lossed time at work. I actually like my car but I need it to start and they obviously can't fix it. This has been a frustrating experience and we will no longer purchase Ford vehicles because of the lack of cooperation from both the dealership and Ford. We've bought an F-150, Explorer, and the Focus from the same dealership...I guess our money was just a drop in the bucket for them and in the long run customer don't really matter. I don't know what to do about the car except to try for the lemon law...but since the dealership has chosen to lie and say they can't replicate the problem, who knows how that will turn out.

- Vadnais Heights, MN, USA

problem #4

Feb 172003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,200 miles
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.

- Highland, NY, USA

problem #3

Jan 252003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

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.

- Allyn, WA, USA

problem #2

Jul 232002

Focus

  • miles
Consumer requested information regarding the Ford Focus.

- Ukn, 00, USA

problem #1

Jul 052002

Focus

  • miles
At approx three hours after purchasing our new Focus, we where driving on the freeway. The vehicle began to jerk, and the speedometer went from 60 to 140, and returned to zero. The vehicle then came to a stall. We then noticed that the check engine light came on, the fuel cap, and the engine services soon. We were able to restart the vehicle, but approx 5 minutes later, the engine shut off. We then return the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. The services department stated that the causes was a loose grounds, and incomplete cir. The services department corrections were diag. Led to loose ground connections near battery. A few days later the vehicle did not want to start, and it took 2 attempt's to start the vehicle.

- La Puente, CA, USA

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