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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.

2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,310 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 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Sep 042013

Focus

  • 181,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side door could not be locked electronically or manually. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The failure and current mileage was 181,000.

- Tallahassee , FL, USA

problem #23

Jul 122013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the passenger side rear door latch malfunctioned and the door would not latch. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 110,000.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #22

Mar 152012

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
I have a 2002 Ford Focus zts and the truck latch and locking mechanism is not working. The trunk won't stay latched. I brought my car to a Ford dealership but they said they would replace it for $314. I can't afford that now. I asked if it was under recall and they said that they always check on recalls first. When I looked up the item on line it did have a recall. What can I do to solve this problem?

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #21

Jun 092011

Focus

  • miles

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

Went to leave work yesterday and the key won't turn at all in my 2002 Ford Focus. After a quick internet search, it seems to be a huge problem and consistent failure on Ford part...but they refuse to issue a recall. From what I've read, the dealership charges $350-450 to replace this part, and they replace it with the same faulty designed part that was causing the problem in the first place!

- Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

problem #20

Apr 012011

Focus

  • 70,000 miles
Rightrear door lock is stuck in locked position. It is not possible to unlock the door. This is dangerous situation in case of an accident, passengers will not B able to exit the vehicle. If passenger is a child on car sit, it is not possible to open the door to remove child from car. With door in locked position, emergency teams will not be able to open the door to remove passenger in case of accident.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #19

Apr 182011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
I have a 2002 and a 2003 Ford Focus the automatic door locks don`T work property the locks will shut and open on there own as of now I can`T open the driver side door the locks have shut in an inbetween position.I have to crawl over the console to get out the passenger door.it will not let me open the door form the outside either the locks are like in an inbetween position.this has been going on for both of my Focus for a long time I have called Ford and they say they don`T have a problem with this. My mechanic friend says they get alot of calls about Ford Focus lock problem, my brother has a Focus and has had the same problem.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

problem #18

Feb 152011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 82,500 miles

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

I have a 2002 Ford Focus ZX5. The front passenger side door lock actuator is seized in the locked position. There are no alternative ways to open this door. This results in a serious safety issue if the passenger is not able to exit the vehicle in an emergency. There was no warning before this happened and appears to be permanent. The actuator must be removed and replaced at a cost of approximately $400.

- New Ulm, MN, USA

problem #17

Jan 232011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 131,000 miles
I bought a 2002 Ford fozus ZX3 with automatic transmission in the fall of 2010. I found myself having trouble with the ignition key not turning once inserted into the ignition cylinder. This occurred quite frequently (approximately once every two weeks) and I had to play with the steering wheel and the key for at least five minutes every time. I did not consider it to be a substantial problem until last night. I was at my friend's apartment and around 1:30 am I decided to leave. I got in my car, inserted the key in the ignition and could not turn it at all and the steering wheel was locked. I was in my friend's driveway for about a half hour, trying everything I could possibly think of to get the steering wheel to unlock and the key to turn. I engaged the gear release and manually put the car into neutral, I blew on the ignition with my hand cupped over it, as I thought this issue may have been caused due to the cold weather. I locked and unlocked the doors, because I thought it may have been a safety feature. After a half hour of effort with no results I had to call my parents and ask them to come pick me up, both of them had to work in the morning and my 62 year old father had to get out of bed, and come get me at 2 in the morning in the middle of Jan. I was ten minutes from my house, but every other time this has happened I've been approximately 30 minutes from my house or more. This has been a major disappointment and cause for concern, especially since my family and I have grown to trust and depend on Ford vehicles. My oldest brother's first car was a mustang, my other brother's first car was a thunderbird and he now drives and escape. My father currently drives a Ranger, my mother's last vehicle was a Windstar, and my first car was an Explorer. It served me well and when I had the opportunity to buy another Ford I didn't have to think twice, but this latest experience has made me seriously second guess what I had thought to be an american name I could trust.

- Napanoch, NY, USA

problem #16

Jun 152010

Focus 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
(2002 Ford Focus SE) has auto locking doors now these doors sometimes stay lock press all buttons and not a thing happens.now sometimes I can be inside the car 5-7 minutes pressing the release buttons but the doors wont open. One problem is that this type of doors is all power operated and they don't have manual release latch. Please note in a emergency if this happens no one would be able to get out of the car without having something to break the glass. These door should have a manual release latch when the power fails. This keeps on happening very often.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #15

Nov 262010

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
Complete ignition lock failure. Can not turn key in ignition to start the car.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #14

Aug 282010

Focus

  • miles

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

Key won't turn in the ignition of my 2002 Ford Focus -- it's locked.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #13

Jul 252010

Focus

  • 67,500 miles
I own a 2002 Ford Focus SE and for the past three weeks we've been forced to "entice" our key into the ignition and to turn in the ignition to start the car. Finally, today, 07/25/2010, we had to leave it while visiting a friend because it would not start, no matter what we did. We will be towing it and fixing the problem and, through research, we have came to the conclusion that it would cost $300+ to do so.

- Provo, UT, USA

problem #12

Jun 082010

Focus 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
2002 Ford Focus ignition problem. I purchased this car two months ago and it works great. Problem is sometimes ignition switch get stuck and wont turn. Now my husband is stuck in another state and stranded due to this problem. Very disappointed with Ford.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #11

May 292010

Focus 4-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
Key sticks in ignition. 2002 Ford Focus, 83,000 miles. We just purchased this car used on Saturday and have already experienced this problem.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

problem #10

Feb 272010

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
Ignition locks up, will not turn regardless of effort, pushing, pulling, beating, or twisting your tongue just the right way. However, one tap on the edge of the key while it is in the ignition works. No amount of wd-40 or parts cleaner fixes the problem though.

- Reidsville, NC, USA

problem #9

Jan 022010

Focus

  • 54,000 miles
I have a Ford Focus 2002 ZX5 and the key will not turn in the ignition. I am seeing that this is a very common problem, in fact California has started a class action lawsuit. Ford has not recalled this part.

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #8

Dec 282009

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
I drove my car (a 2002 Ford Focus) to a restaurant on Dec. 28th, 2009 at 7:15 pm. When I got back into my car, the key would not turn in the ignition. I turned the wheel to release it from the "locked" wheel position, but the key still would not turn. I waited in my car for several minutes, then attempted to turn the key once more in the ignition with the same results. I was forced to call a friend and wait in my car with no heat. The temperature was approximately 27 degrees Fahrenheit as I waited for nearly half an hour to be picked up, then dropped off at home by a coworker. He will have to pick me up for work tomorrow as all repair facilities are closed for the evening. I did some research online once I got home and found that this is a common problem with Ford and specifically Ford Focus models from 2000-2003 yet there has been no recall posted and I will have to pay for repairs to an inferior part that is out of warranty.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #7

Apr 112009

Focus

  • 211,000 miles
I own a 2002 Ford Focus and I simply parked my car at the grocery store, locked my car, and when I came back I could not turn the key in the ignition to start the car. This is the first time its happen where I completely failed to turn the key. Now my car is sitting at the grocery store and now I'm reading that I'm going to potentially pay 200 to 400 bucks to get this fixed. This is very, very upsetting. Thanks Ford for your lousy ignition design. I'll never buy a Ford again.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #6

Nov 052008

Focus

  • miles
Rear door wont latch right and driver side tail light wont work.

- Downingtown, PA, USA

problem #5

Nov 222008

Focus

  • 63,000 miles
When the key is inserted, the ignition will not allow it to turn forward to start the car. Although this just started without any warning sign on my car, I have heard of it happening to many other cars of the same make and model. I feel it is a safety issue because it could result in myself and my passengers being stranded in an unsafe area.

- Poway, CA, USA

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