engine problem
9.8
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$2,837.00
Average Mileage:
81,915 miles
Number of complaints:
10 complaints
Most common solutions:
- had to replace the engine (6 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
- donate to a high school vica club to repair and auction (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2002 Ford Focus engine failure
2008Jun 11
Focus LX 2.0L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 85,500 miles
I was driving to work like 95% of America. I work 7 miles from home right now. I was stopped at a stop light waiting for the super cool - go fast green light to come up as I was almost late for work. While sitting at the stoplight my car started shaking, it felt like there was a very large kid behind me kicking my seat repeatedly, and hard. Then the engine shuts down. I figure, 'no problem, I will wait a sec start it back up and take it to a shop'. It doesn't start a again, when I tried it sounded like I was trying to start a diesel motor with no oil, no glow plugs, and it was labored intensely as well. Then the light turns green... luckily I was pointed downhill, so I put it in neutral and coasted through the intersection and on to the the median. After that I called my boss and AAA. I had the car towed to my house. While researching the symptoms I got to this site. I heard of several other people having issues with the 02 Focus. Most cases of engine failure seemed to be do to pistons breaking, or rods being thrown, which I found odd, especially at relative little miles, but my brother suggest I check the compression in the cylinders. I did and I found that the number 4 cylinder has no compression while the other 3 rannge from 70-77 psi. That being the case, Only a few things can cause that, Piston, Rod, and Valves; all of which I cannot afford to fix. So after that I made the decision to never purchase a Ford vehicle again and stick with vehicles that go further than 85000 miles until they die....... In fact I still have a beater Oldsmobile that has more than 270,000 miles and a Buick with just under 100,000. There is no reason to expect any one to use a vehicle for onl,y 85000 miles then have it break. I have heard of planned obsolescence dut dang Ford, maybe give me 150,000 miles before you try to dig into my pockets for another car. Thanks for reading the post... I hope FoMoCo gets there hands on this too. Before I donate the car I am going to be calling writing and complaining to them as well to see what they will do for me.
just as an aside..... This is not the first issue with the car. About 3 years ago "something is wrong with the torque converter" said dealer maintanence man. They fixed it free of charge because it was Ford's fault. Now the engine fails. like I said before, I wont be buying another Ford.
2008Feb 20
Focus 2.0L Sohc
- Automatic transmission
- 117,000 miles
Engine had a hard time starting two days prior. On the day it broke I parked to run an errand. When I got back and turned the engine over it made a sound like some one stuck a stick in spokes of a bike. When I had it looked at by a mechanic he said something broke inside the engine and was blocking the pistons. I took it to another mechanic for another opinion and he used to work for Ford as a mechanic. He said that the Single Over Head Cam engines were poorly designed and that he guarnteed me that the piston on the right had shattered. He said that was the one they always worked on. To get a new engine from ford was more than the car is worth in perfect condition on Kelly Blue Book. To find a used engine cost $1200 at the cheapest (on ebay) as opposed to Duel over head cam engines in the focus which cost $500 used. Evidently there is a lot of demand for that particular engine. I thought I would go online to see if this was headed to a class action lawsuit (I just want a running car) before I scrap the vehicle for $500.
2008Mar 12
Focus SE 2L Sohc
- Automatic transmission
- 103,148 miles
Never again will I buy another Ford. It started chugging for 2 weeks. I took it into a Ford Dealership in Ontario and their diagnostic tests came up with nothing. I paid $100 for this test, only to be sent home. Two days later, the car started chugging, then rattling, then died on the spot. I had it towed to another Ford Dealership, after several diagnostics they said they thought it was a timing belt issue. Then they looked in the engine and the piston had smushed some parts inside and now I needed a whole new engine. Getting a used engine with no warranty cost $2600 to fix. I passed on getting the refurbished new engine, that would have set me back $5000. All in all, I have no sympathy that Ford stocks are going down because if they made better cars, the public would support buying their cars. Since they put out crappy cars, it's no wonder people won't buy them, not only will I NEVER buy another Ford, I have told all my friends and family NEVER to buy a Ford.
2007Dec 06
Focus
- Automatic transmission
- 111,000 miles
I bought the car from a private party in the last week of August, it died the first week of December. I'm a highschool student who saved up many, many years for the car and paid $4,500 cash for it. Now the dealer wants $3000 more because the engine died. It had been rattling periodically for short periods of time, but I didn't want to take it in because I couldn't afford it... who knows if that would have helped or not, but I'm pretty sure at that point it was gone. The mechanics told me 2 valves were broken and many more on the way, along with some other problems and I needed a totally new engine. This car is cute, but TOTALLY not worth $7500. I havn't been able to pay for the repairs, or buy a new car, so right not I'm careless... sounds like the Ford Focus' (or is it Foci???) just SUCK.
2008Feb 14
Focus ZX3
- Manual transmission
- 45,000 miles
It began with the "auto transaxle light (exclamation point)" going on, then the car jerking while at high speeds. Then, the light would come on and the car killed. I brought it in, and was told that nothing was wrong. It didn't happen for two weeks, then it happened again. I see from other complaints that this happens with the Ford Focus, but I don't know what to tell the mechanic to look for, as he said my car runs "great."
2007Sep 01
Focus LX 3.2L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!! I actually bought a 2001 with a blown engine and replaced the engine, myself, with a 2002 that only had 35,000 miles. About a month later it would start stalling while I was driving. I would give it gas and the idle would just drop to zero and turn off. Now it happens all the time!!!! I have to pull over, stop, turn off the car, wait a couple of minutes and try again. Just to get a few miles down the road and it does it again!!! I've researched the problem both trouble shooting my own car and using the internet. My OBD2 reader tells me cylinder 4 misfire! Unfortunately so does the internet. Even worse it seems to lead to total engine failure!!! I bought this cheap car so I could go back to school. Now its just a waste of money and time. Two things I do not have! I'm going to see if Ford can lend a hand, but I'm not rich or important so. . .
2007Dec 25
Focus SE 2.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 111,000 miles
Car has been making a rattling noise for quite some time and no one could figure it out until it died Christmas night. Thought the rattling had something to do with the catalytic converter cuz when it died it was making this horrible noise coming from the engine/converter area. Something I guess "fell off the head" and there was a bunch of metal inside the piston that had obviously broken or shattered. Replaced engine with an '03 that cost $1400 and $650 for the labor and $59 for a motor mount that was just replaced a year ago!!!
2007Dec 04
Focus SE 2.0L 122 Sohc
- Automatic transmission
- 129,000 miles
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Complaint Photos
valve seat broke, caused total engine lose. cheaper to replace engine than fix. this happened while letting car warming up in morning. this car has so many problems i would stay away from this car. cheap on gas but breaks often and parts are $$$
2007Sep 04
Focus LX
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
Beware Focus LX buyers or existing drivers experiencing this problem: it began as an intermittent issue immediately upon starting the engine. It would act "chuggy" like the idle was really low or like the engine wasn't getting enough fuel and was on the brink of stalling. Then after 30-60 seconds the problem would go away and the engine would run fine. Giving the engine gas while this was taking place would only make matters worse. Ultimately my engine completely died at a stop light a few weeks after the problem began. No cause for the engine failure could be ascertained by two different professional private mechanics. $700 later to take the engine apart, it was determined that a piston and cylinder were destroyed and the engine was unrepairable.
I am still debating what to do. I am a poor student. I cannot afford a new engine. Not likely Ford will help, but I will try to contact them. There is no excuse for an engine well cared for with 57,000 miles should have a failure of this type. All fluid levels were normal with no leaks at any point in time with regular oil changes.
My mother also has a 2002 Ford Focus ZTX and she began having maintenance issues as well around 60,000 miles.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jun 20
Focus ZX3
Drove 8 blocks to run an errand, parked car while I went into store. I restarted car and drove about 1 mile. While in traffic, had to stop suddenly (no brake lights on car ahead of me). Engine did not kill, but when I resumed driving, immediately my car lurched, the yellow exclamation point light came on and I had trouble rev-ing up again to get moving. Had to use the clutch ALOT to keep moving at all. Engine killed several times before I could get to side of road. After many lurching attempts, made it 4 blocks to nearest garage. They had car for rest of afternoon and overnight but couldn't diagnose the problem. Car is not drivable as it stalls out in 1st gear, but strangely does not stall out in reverse. Garage recommends having car sent to Ford dealership, which will happen tomorrow. What's this all about???
ella
Denver, CO, USA
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