Four problems related to engine failure have been reported for the 2002 Ford Focus. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Ford Focus based on all problems reported for the 2002 Focus.
I own a 2002 Ford Focus zx3 with a very low mileage of 45226. On October 12th Friday, I drove my car to the university, (~2 miles from my home) and parked for a few minutes. Then I started driving toward the commuter parking lot. However, 30 seconds later, a huge ?continuous knocking? sound came out from the engine followed by white smoke. Then I saw a very large amount of engine oil spill, down the road. Since I could no longer drive the car, I had to get it towed to the nearest garage. The mechanic concluded that one of the piston rods have been broken and spiked the engine oil sump. He was clueless about seeing such a mechanical failure from a low mileage, well-maintained car. Most surprisingly, there were three other Ford Focus cars with similar engine failures/defects. For a small university town, four cars with similar defects is not a normal issue. The main reason for this complaint because I had to go through a life threatening situation. The continuous knocking and wobbling that occurred for a speed of 18mph, I could only imagine what would have happened if I had been on the highway, 55+ mph. There has to be a defect or else this would have not happened to a well maintained car with regular oil changes, wheel alignments. . . Etc.
I was driving to work. I live 7 miles from work. At a stop light my car started shaking very bad and the engine shut down. It would not start again. . I had it towed to my brothers house and started researching the symptoms. . . Everything I could find leads to engine failure, caused by a thrown rod or broken piston. After checking the compression in the cylinders # 1-3 no problems about 75 psi and #4 was 0. I believe that the #4 piston or rod is broken or otherwise rendered useless causing the complete engine failure. The vehicle has 85500 miles and has been maintained per the owners manual.
While driving, the engine failed. The dealer was notified.
Just completed 3 hour trip in heavy rain. Had driven through area of road with several inches of water. While vehicle approached from opposite direction the resulting splash caused the engine to fail. Towed car to a local Ford dealer and they said the cause of the engine failure was due to too much water in the engine. We also found out that the air intake valve is located near the bottom of the front bumper. This has caused us to need a new engine on a car that we haven't even had for three months. Ford refuses to pay for a new engine and insists it isn't a design flaw. The insurance adjuster stated that it is odd that the engine would fail due to water intake.