2002 Ford Focus

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD FOCUS JUST 5 MONTHS AGO (DECEMBER 2009). WHEN TRYING TO START MY CAR AT A RESTAURANT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A FULL HOUR OF TRYING TO FIX IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION WITH A FORD PART THAT I FEAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION COST ME OVER $400, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THE NEW IGNITION WILL FAIL TO THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. I AM LIMITED BY OTHER OPTIONS, AS NON-FORD PARTS AND LOCKSMITH WORK DOES NOT COME WITH THE 12 MONTH-WARRANTY THAT FORD OFFERS. MY BEST OPTION IS TO SELL THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE IT HAPPENS, OR BEFORE MY WARRANTY IS UP-- NEITHER OF WHICH ARE A SOLUTION, BUT PUTTING THE PROBLEM ONTO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS TRAGEDY AND IN FAULTY DESIGN. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE FRIENDS TO HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION, BUT THE EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN ARE NOT WORTH IT. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR

2002 FORD FOCUS SE STATION WAGON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ENGINE HAS STRONG NOISE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK THREE TIMES TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. THE WINDOW REGULATORS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED TWICE WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE COVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *JB

FUEL PUMP IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS FAILED SUDDENLY AS I WAS MERGING ONTO A 50MPH HIGHWAY IN JANUARY 2010. THE CAR JUST LITERALLY DIED, WITHOUT WARNING. FUEL INTAKE STOPPED AND SO DID THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS SUDDEN FAILURE WOULD HAVE POSED A GRAVE SAFETY RISK. THE REPAIR COST $700. FORD REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF IT. IN A SEARCH OF INTERNET ARTICLES AND YOUR WEB SITE, I FOUND THIS FUEL PUMP FAILURE TO BE A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM IN 2000 - 2002 FORD FOCUS'. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PUMP WITH AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL PUMP, EXPOSING ME TO CONTINUED DANGER. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH A THEORETICALLY WORKING PARKING BRAKE, I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ONLY ONCE AS I WAS BUSY AND COULDN'T DO IT MYSELF. NOW THAT I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS AND TIME I WENT TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW, SO I CONTINUED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THE REAR DRUM BRAKES. WHEN I TOOK THE DRUMS OFF THEY WERE TIGHT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED SO I DOUBLE CHECKED AND MADE SURE ALL THE BRAKES WERE DIS-ENGAGED. I CONTINUED TO WORK ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP ASSURES ME THEY REPLACED THESE BRAKES BEFORE, HOWEVER THE SHOES WERE WORN AND CRACKED DOWN TO BARE METAL AS IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY PARK BRAKE APPEARED TO BE ENGAGED. I DOUBLE CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WASN'T, I HAD SOMEONE WATCH THE BRAKE AS I ENGAGED AND DIS-ENGAGED THE BREAK AND IT WORKS FINE, COME TO FIND OUT THE SPRING/WIRE FOR THE PARKING BREAK IS TO SHORT FOR THE CAR'S HUB, ABOUT TWO INCHES INFACT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN I TALKED TO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE WHOLE BREAK ASSEMBLY. SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW WITH THE PARKING BREAK ENGAGED AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY BUILT IT THAT WAY AND I HAVE TO PAY THEM TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS ENGINEERED THAT WAY. IF I BROKE IT OR IT'S WEAR AND TEAR I UNDERSTAND, BUT I BOUGHT A CAR TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL OFF THE LOT NOT SO I CAN BRING IT IN AND PAY FOR THEM TO FINISH BUILDING IT PROPERLY AFTER I OWN IT. I CANT AFFORD THEIR OUTRAGEOUS PRICES FOR THIS WORK SO I DIS-ENGAGED THE CABLE AND AM NOW DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY BRAKE, THANKS FOR THE SAFETY FEATURES FORD. *TR

FORD FOCUS 2002 ZTS KEY IGNITION FAILED AT 80,000 MILES FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE THE TOTAL FAILURE THERE WERE AT LEAST 12 TIMES THAT THE IGNITION FAILED BUT FINALLY WORKED AFTER A FEW TRIES. I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON MORE THEN ON OCCASION DUE TO THIS FAILURE AND LAST TIME HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT THE FORD DEAL SHIP AND COST ME 450.00. I HAD TO GET A NEW KEY AND A NEW IGNITION. I CAN FEEL THAT ONCE AGAIN THE KEY IS RUBBING THE IGNITION THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND AM SURE THAT IN THE FUTURE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART ONCE AGAIN. I JUST HOPE THIS TIME I WON'T BE STRANDED. *TR