electrical problem
7.3
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
no data
Average Mileage:
11,067 miles
Number of complaints:
3 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (3 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2005 Ford Focus won't start intermittently
2007Oct 03
(reported on)Focus ZX V4
- Manual transmission
- 22,000 miles
This car has been a pain since six months after purchase. For no reason it will not start. I brought this car for my daughter thinking that it would be a great car for her. But instead I worry if she will make it home safely. The car has been taken to the dealership several times and of course they don't see the problem. To get rid of the lemon, the Ford Company wanted us to pay $2000.00 for the use of the car to be able to get a new car. We have also had a problem recently with the gas peddle not being able to push it in to accellerate. Again, the dealership did not see any problems, but I was stuck with a $56.00 rental bill because I insisted that they drive the car. But of course there was no problem. I think that I will trade the car back into Ford since there are no problems. I wonder if they will give me top dollar for a "perfectly great car".
2005Mar 08
(reported on)Focus ZX5 SE
- 700 miles
CAR HAS FAILED TO START AT 700 MILES , 1200 MILES, 2000 MILES, 3100 MILES GOING BACK TO DEALER AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME INFORMED DEALER IN ANTIOCH ILLINOIS AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 3000.00 DOLLARS PLUS TAX FOR ANOTHER IDENTICAL CAR IF THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM , REGARDLESS IF WITNESSES CAN COLLABORATE PROBLEM , THEY ACT AS IF I AM LYING , I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECH OF OVER 25 YEARS AND OWN MY OWN GARAGE , I REALIZE THE TECHS GET PAID BY THE JOB AND ARE NOT HAPPY TO BE WASTING THEIR TIME ON A CAR THEY DON'T FIND PROFITABLE , MAIN REASON I WILL NEVER WORK FOR A DEALERSHIP , THIS LEAVES THE CUSTOMER STUCK WITH SUBSTANDARD EFFORTS ON MANY JOBS , AFTER TALKING TO THE SALES MANAGER AND FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS AND HAVING BOTH PARTIES REFER ME BACK TO THE OTHER I HAVE HAD ENOUGH , I HAVE RECOMMENDED THESE CARS TO MY CUSTOMERS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS DUE TO THEIR TRACK RECORD AND EVEN WORKED ON ONE FOR A CUSTOMER TODAY THAT IS VERY HAPPY WITH MY RECCOMMENDATION , PROBABLY SOLD FORD MORE THAN 50 OF THESE CARS , SO WHEN I BOUGHT ONE FOR MYSELF AND HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS TIME FOR THE 1ST OIL CHANGE I WASN'T TO HAPPY I HAVE PURCHASED MY LAST 3 VEHICLES FROM THIS DEALER AND EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HIGHER PRICED I STAYED LOYAL , NOW THEY SHOW ME HOW MUCH MY BUISNESS MEANS TO THEM , AFTER TALKING TO THEIR NEW SALES MANAGER TONIGHT AND HAVING HIM TELL ME THAT IF I TRADED THE CAR IN HE WOULD NOT KEEP IT ON THE LOT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAS , BUT ON THE OTHER HAND , SAYS THEY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM , THAN HE SHOWS THAT HE IS ONLY LOOKING OUT FOR HIMSELF AND WOULDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH THE NEXT VICTIM , SO HE WILL PEDDLE IT OFF TO ANOTHER DEALER WITH OUT A MENTION OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM , UNTIL THEN I AM STUCK WITH THE CAR OR AN ADDITIONAL 3000.00 FOR A GOOD WORKING CAR , AND PAY TAXES AGAIN, THE DEALER HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY DOCUMENTATION WHEN MY WIFE GOES TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE , IS THIS ANOTHER COVERUP ? THE 1ST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURED I LET IT SLIDE KNOWING ELECTRONICS HAVE GLITCHES THAT HAPPEN ONCE AND NEVER AGAIN BUT AFTER 3 TIMES AND THE CAR HAD NOT SEEN ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE , 2500 MILE AN WAS PEDDLED THROUGH THE DEALER IN ONE DAY WITH OUT THE SERVICE TECH TRYING TO FIND A PATTERN OR TIME THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENED OR OCCURED IN , I WAS NOT HAPPY , I USSUALLY TALK TO A CUSTOMER AND SEE WHAT THERE CONCERNS ARE AND THEN QUESTION THEM TO SAVE THEM MONEY AND ME TIME , THATS WHY I HAVE SUCH LOYAL CUSTOMERS , I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR ON A CREDIT CARD WITH BUYER PROTECTION AND WILL GIVE THE DEALER 2 MORE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM , BUT IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THE SORRY YOUR SCREWED THEN I WILL HAVE THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY DISPUTE THE SALE AND THE CAR WILL BE LEFT ON THE LOT AND I WILL DRIVE AWAY IN MY OTHER MERC THAT HAS 276,000 MILE ON IT AND IS MORE RELIABLE THAT THIS BRAND NEW FOCUS , FROM MY EXPERIENCE THE FOCUS IS AN EXCELLENT VALUE AND I REALIZE I HAVE THE EXCEPTION OF THE LEMON IN A BATCH OF GOOD APPLES . I WILL NOT BAD MOUTH THE FOCUS LINE BUT FIND IT HARD TO ACCEPT I HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH A PROBLEM CHILD AND CAN'T SEEM TO IRON OUT AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITHOUT NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP .
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your electrical problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Oct 15
(reported on)Focus ZX3 2.0L
I bought my 2005 Ford Focus new in August 2005. One winter morning, I went to start the car. Cranked, cranked and cranked for about 10 seconds. The car didn't start. Waited about a minute and tried again. The engine sputtered briefly and died. Waited another minute and it started up fine.
Took it to the dealer and they flashed the ECU. They claimed the transponder on the key lost communication with the car. The problem was of this magnitude only that one time, but it frequently takes an extended cranking to start the engine. It seems to happen at random. Sometimes, it would fire up in a split second, sometimes I have to crank it for five seconds.
05_focus
Portland, OR, USA
SEND A COMMENT »