general problems of the 2002 Ford Focus

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.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the engine ignited in flames without warning. The contact was able to exit the vehicle without injury. The fire department and the police department were called and both a police and fire report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was ruled as destroyed and was towed to the contact¿s insurance agency for further investigation of the failure. The contact also mentioned that upon further research, he discovered that the cruise control wiring remained hot at all times and could have possibly been the cause of the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

While waiting at a construction site the engine died and would not start (the engine indicator lit). The brake lights, power windows, and rear hatch release also failed to function. The vehicle was towed and the personal mechanic reported the electrical harness to the rear hatch had failed where is passed between the body and the hatch door. The harness electrical insulation was cracked on the entire bundle of wires and shedding fragments causing some wires to short, the 15 amp fuse for the brake lights had evidence of heating, but did not blow, rather, wires leading to the brake pedal sensor, the 15 amp fuse, and along the harness back to the short in the rear wiring harness near the center brake light had discolored and were melted in some segments. Ford customer service said to consult a Ford service center to determine if there was a manufacturing defect. The Ford service representative said he had seen this before and said it was not a manufacturing defect, rather it was a design defect that occurs after 10 years or more.

Even today, I never know when I can get a startup. The key does not catch right away.

Without warning the engine blew! I service my auto like I'm suppose to and this happens. By looking online I see I'm not the only one. Try finding a engine for this car is so expensive that it's ridiculous! that let me know I'm not alone! I can't believe the going rate for this car's engine is $1700! so now I'm stuck with a piece of junk costing me $3500 to get it fixed only to wait until the next shoe falls!!.

Cylinder head valve seat failure. Approx 1/2 of the valve seat fell into combustion chamer (between piston and head). . This caused piston to break and rod to go through cylinder wall but not through block outer wall and causing coolant to get into oil. Being a Ford tech, I have seen damage caused by valve seats in cylinders 1,2,&4. It's always a intake valve seat. Also always and only on sohc motor. Have seen this happen and as early as 60k miles.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph the engine dropped down onto the drive shaft. The vehicle was pulled over and towed home. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and the contact was informed that the bolts for the engine mount fractured due to corrosion. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 88,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated she was unable to start the vehicle and it was towed to a local repair facility. The mechanic found that the valve seat had fractured and caused the piston skirt to fracture along with the connecting rod. In addition, the failure caused cylinder scoring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The current and failure mileages were approximately 87,000. Updated 11/23/jb.

I had to replace the motor mounts twice in approximately a 4 month period due to cracking and complete breaking, a partial break in one and general overall weakening. My mechanic only charged me the first time for the mounts and installation (the second time was a free replacement--as the mounts failed, and as it came only a few months after the first replacement). My mechanic said that there is a problem with the Ford Focus vehicles due to the lack of stability in the motor mount area. Basically, he said that there isn't much structural support for the engine and the motor mounts get stressed as a result of the vibrations and constant tension on them. He told me that they would probably need to be replaced again at some point. I was trying to figure out some type of jury rig device to reinforce the stability of the area. Do you have any suggestions?.

Intermittently at any speed, the vehicle will shift out of drive and into neutral then back into drive. The vehicle has been to the dealer seven times for this problem. The dealer will not do anything because they can not duplicate the problem. The manufacturer is aware of the problem.

I bought the car on oct 29, 2002. Since day one the car has consumed way too much gas. It is outrageous! it has become a mortgage pmt! my car pmt is $344 a month I pay the same in gas a month. I use to own a 1993 Ford escort,stick,4 cyc and never did I ever spend so much gas. I am 49 yrs old, don?t speed, and know the difference. I have also owned many stick,4 cyl cars and none have ever spend so much gas. There has got to be a problem with the car in that respect. Second: a couple of months ago the "check engine" light came on, ever since then, my car won't start in the mornings, and when it has been sitting for a awhile. I have brought my car to the dealer 4 times already, they have changed the fuel pump 3 times, still having the same problem, this last time in which I picked up the car yesterday, Nov. 11, nothing was done! I ask questions but all I get is there is nothing wrong! but something is happening. . . Nowadays, everything is computerized, one thing goes bad and it affects the entire car. Something is not being check, but I am informed, everything is being checked! I have had it with the car! with the amount of gas that is being consumed & the not starting just don?t know what to do! there is something majorly wrong with this car! I can't stay this way, it is not fair, it?s so expensive to own a car nowadays. The stress of being left anywhere, being late for work most of the time due to the car not starting. Why should I pay for something that is not working properly? I work, living pay check to pay check, I am having way too much stress & now I am @ a point where it has effected my work, possibly I will loose my job.

The car is a 2002 svt Focus. The engine has a severe miss/surge under normal driving conditions. The last ticket on the vehicle states that there is no fix at this time. October 27, 2003 update: thank you for your help on this matter. Ford purchased the vehicle back, refunded all of the payments made, and compensated me for any aftermarket parts I had the receipt for. Ford went out of its way to make me happy. Thank you.

On November 9, 2002 while doing errands I noticed smoke coming from the engine area of 2002 Ford Focus (5 months old). It was a wet and rainy day and the windows were fogging-up. I had to roll the windows down to defrost the light mist on the windows, as the defrost button would not work. The smoke became so thick I decided to pulled over and call for Ford road service. By the time I was giving the rep. My location people were running from thier homes to move thier cars. I told the rep. The car is on fire. I hung-up and called the fire department. The fire department responded in less than a minute. I ran back to my new car and watched as it burned. The fire departement said the engine fire was caused by an electrical short. I was also told that I pulled over just in time. My insurance company has not been helpful. Ford assured me that they would take care of everything. I am waiting for Ford motor to take car of everything. I told them in a fax I sent last week that I want that "blue oval" service they constantly talk about - maybe someday. Thanks, denise keyes.

The engine experienced complete failure at 55 mph with no warning sign. It has not been taken to the dealer for inspection. Sunroof was stuck in open position and would not close properly unless manipulated by hand. Dealer fixed the problem the following day.

Problem I'm still having and was reported to dealership is car pulls to left, ( not corrected) back end of car or tires bounce on road and especially when hitting a bump, cannot stay on road in slush or snow, back end is all over road, ( nothing done) tires are completely groved in many spots on the tires, caused by rear end bouncing on road, firestone won't replace they say it is focas's rear end and it wears out the tires, dealer or Ford won't do anything about rear end or tires, car vibrates badly, rear doors barley open are so stiff, looks like door locks are coroaded nothing was done by dealership even though they said they lubricated, nothing is on the locks to show lubrication of locks.