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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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,875 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #6

Apr 182005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

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

While driving at 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The battery cable melted and the alternator was bad and needed replacement. A week prior, the check engine light came on and smoke had come from the engine compartment. The fourth gear went out because it's wire connection melted. The consumer felt the failures were due to the engine misplaced cable problem as stated in recall 02V288000.

- Lafayette, CO, USA

problem #5

Mar 102005

Focus 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 2,000 miles
My car stalled when driving anywher from 20 - 70mph. The gauges go haywire the light cut off and on, the clock resets, the speedometer goes crazy, and I have a young daughter that rides in this car. This started in October and is still going on to date. My car is still under warranty.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #4

Mar 172004

Focus

  • miles
While driving 70 mph smoke was coming in to vehicle through the vents. Vehicle caught on fire. Police and fire departments were called, no injuries reported. Vehicle was towed.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #3

Mar 042003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Went to start car and it would not start. When I turned the radio on the windshield wipers would come on, when I turned the wipers on the headlights would go off. Ford dealer tried to say that the cause was related to a remote starter that had been installed. Took it to another dealer and it was found to be a problem with the wiring. Also having transmission problems and problems with the lock on the trunk.

- Mcdonald, PA, USA

problem #2

Dec 122003

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,452 miles
2002 Ford Focus ZX5 hatchback model was purchased new from lafres Ford. The check engine light keeps coming on and stays on. Various electrical problems have occurred and various parts have been replaced (documented on all service reports) the check engine light has been a problem from day one and I have experienced other parts burned and replaced in the past, ie cooling fan harness and resistor burnt, burn smell when A/C is in use or the heator, replacement of battery. (car is still under warranty) I continually take the car back and forth to the dealer to have the check engine light corrected. (no reimbursement of toll/bridges and days off from work to have this car properly serviced, no reimbursement of rental cars) when I get the car back the check engine light is off and two days later it is back on again. I periodically call my service advisor at the service department telling him that I just picked up the car and within 24 hours the check engine light came on again. My service advisor tells me that the check engine light does not mean anything and I could drive around with the light onindefinetly althought the light is a nuisance. On 12/11/03 while driving, the check engine light which was already on, the battery light indicator came on, I immediately called the dealer service department and explained to my service advisor of the problem, it was late Friday afternoon, he stated that was not a good sign and advised me to seek service at a Ford service station. Took car to universal Ford. The car began to emit a burning smell I arrived at the dealer service stations and was told that my alternator was no good and that the harness hand burned and all the wires had melted. That is truly an unsafe car, this problem could have caused the car catch on fire and I could have been seriously injured, or become a fatality or others could have gotten hurt. The car is currently at the universal Ford dealer service station.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #1

Apr 182002

Focus

  • 6,800 miles
The Ford tech found a short in the cable from the tank pressure transducer. The wire was rubbing against the frame and finally shorted out the PCM and everything went brain dead. They replaced the PCM and rerouted a new fuel tank sensor wire away from the frame. So far so good. My car was in the shop for four weeks total. *dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis*762059

- Jackson, MI, USA

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