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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.

7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$440
Average Mileage:
76,900 miles
Total Complaints:
25 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
  2. replace regulator (4 reports)
  3. complain to ford motor company (2 reports)
  4. dealer replaced the regulator (2 reports)
  5. replace power window motor (2 reports)
  6. replace window regulator carriage (2 reports)
2002 Ford Focus windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2002 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Dec 202013

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 164,318 miles

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

This happened on both back passage windows, first one I believe came off track and as we were trying to get it back up, we could hear something sound like glass. Now just recently the other one as we were rolling down (power windows) wouldn't go back up, we had to also pull up by hand, sounds like this window is still intact. I have read a couple of complaints that mine is NOT the only one that this has happened to..

- Kathy T., San Jose, CA, US

problem #24

Mar 072007

Focus ZXS 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Only the front two windows will roll down on their own switches, the passenger rear side only works with the drivers switch the drivers rear side doesn't work at all.

- Natasha C., Mead, OK, US

problem #23

Oct 162012

Focus SE 2.0L Zetec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,270 miles

Attempted to let the back seat drivers side window down to see traffic on a foggy morning. Heard a loud pop. Window was one half way down would not go up. I was in traffic and to find somewhere to stop and check the window and try to close it. Put hand on each side and pulled it up. It stayed a while but fell back down.in traffic. It will stay up if car sits. Window will not go up or down. I believe this to be the second time the window has been lowered since I bought the car new. IT WORKED ONE TIME, I GUESS IT WILL COST ME $300 PER USE.

- William S., Orlando, FL, US

problem #22

Mar 142012

Focus SE Wagon

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,478 miles

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

REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPPED AND WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN GOT IT PULED BACK UP AND WEDGED WITH A PIECE OF WOOD.JUST ABOUT AS BAD AS IGNITION ON THIS FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO RANK THE ENGINE AND COST A TON OF MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND WILL GO OUT AGAIN.

- Thomas C., Marion, AL, US

problem #21

May 142012

Focus LX 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

I am a big Ford Fan! Have a 1952 for F1, F100 flairside, and a focus and I must say that for really dropped the ball on the window issue here! Seems like there shoould be a free recall on the Plastic clips that get brittle and breaks. So Many people have registered complaints and I am sure there have been a ton of warranty claims that ford has taken on this matter. They need to do the right thing and step up and recall this problem!

- Tim P., Charleston, SC, US

problem #20

Aug 152011

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

My car is a 2002 Focus SE 4-door with electric windows. My left rear window regulator failed to raise and keep up my window. After disassembly, I found that the plastic clip (carriage) that the window rests in, and the cables that raise and lower the window are attached to, had broken. All the other parts of the regulator including the rail, motor, gears, cables, etc. were fine. The carriage is a molded plastic part and failed due to developing a stress crack at a sharp inside corner of the molded plastic part. It is well known that stress cracks always start at stress raisers (stress concentrations). Sharp corners cause stress concentration. Had the corner been designed with a slight curvature to it, the stress would have been much less and failure much less likely. To summarize: The part failed because it was designed wrong (not following well known design practices). After not being able to buy the carriage at my local Ford dealer, I corresponded directly with Ford. Ford confirmed that Ford does not sell the carriage (the part needed to fix the window problem) alone. They only provide it as part of the complete regulator. So to fix the window you have to buy the complete regulator (rail, motor, gears, cables, carriage, etc.) for about $170. The carriage is the only part that is needed and is about an estimated $5 to $10 part, but Ford won't sell it to you.

So my complaint is two part. The part (carriage)fails because of poor design. Ford won't sell the part unless you buy it along with many parts you don't need.

Inducing someone to buy something they otherwise would not is commonly referred to a coercion or extortion. In other words Ford is acting criminally by forcing you to buy parts you don't need.

- rabbitdog, Stow, OH, US

problem #19

Sep 012011

Focus ZTS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 141,050 miles

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

okay so i see a lot of people have had the same problem as me...in July the rear drivers side window fell down into the door and i could not get it to stay up again. I had a friend of mine prop it up with pieces of wood so it would stay up...since i rarely have more than one other person in my car it was not that big of a deal. But then around a week ago the front passenger side window fell into the door as well. I took the door panel off and saw that one of the plastic sliders had shattered...so i called the dealership and they told me that to look at it to diagnose the problem would be 60 bucks...and if it turned out to be the regulator it would be $120...i bought the car second hand in December...i as i need a cheap, good, easy fix as im kinda strapped for cash at the moment because i also just had to replace the brakes...HELP!

- Emily C., Seaford, DE, US

problem #18

Jan 282010

Focus SE 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Ridiculous and this is just the first time it happened. Never had any mechanical problems with this car, but this. Window rolls down and a loud cracking noise ensues. The window must be held up by some exterior force such as tape or cardboard. Problem was broken window regulator, more than $500 to fix at the dealership. I like this car, but this is unacceptable. Now just yesterday a few days more than a year later the same window regulator failed again! Parents were pissed and blamed it on me and not the poor mechanical quality of the part as they should have. I have never been in an accident an am a good driver the part just sucked. Beware 2002 focus owners, ford may be stepping it up on their new products, but their older ones still haunt them with their inconviences.

- Nathan C., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #17

Feb 012011

Focus SE 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

This is the second time in about a year this has happened on the same window. Ford replaced the first part for $500 and I wont be taking it to ford again. The dealership will just have you without Vaseline on cost and then give you a sh*tty part in return. Ford has made significant progress with their vehicles in the past few years, many of them superior to their import competitors, but their older vehicles and their hit and miss quality haunt the company's reputation to this day.

- Nathan C., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #16

Sep 152009

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

The rear passenger window regulator broke. I had opened the window and when I went to close it I heard a crunching noise and then the window wouldn't work at all. I was able to push the glass up and close it but when I drove around it would fall open again half way. I bought a replacement regulator from a focus in a junk yard for $55. My dad replaced the part but it wasn't that easy. Just annoying.

- b from ny, Pleasant Valley, NY, US

problem #15

Oct 282009

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

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

So, my window is being rolled down, and it just keeps going all by itself. Right, so, my window is broken, life sucks whatever I will fix it.. so I did; it was about 150 because the regulator didn't work anymore. Then, the other back window goes out (driver's side)! WHAT? Ok, it's getting ridiculous, whatever I fixed it, and it ended up being the same problem. SO NATURALLY the same window breaks 2 months later, and there is not warranty or anything so I am not giving anymore of my money to Ford they can go bankrupt for all I care, so I stuck a piece of cardboard in it to keep it up, or it will just fall on its own.. I have to push it up occaisonally and it sucks.

So whatever it's ghetto. NOW THE FRONT ONE BREAKS. WTF FORD? This one will roll down, but it has to be rolled up using the driver's buttons. I am living with this, but now the drivers side is making a weird noise.

I am so sick of hearing these car companies whine to the government. Sorry, you guys suck, and when things like this break, things that the owners can not prevent (it's one thing when your not changing your oil, but windows?), then your product sucks. Sorry. I will never buy your product ever again, and I will recommend to others to stay as far away from the Ford company as possible. (I have also had electrical, emissions, coolant, and A/C problems.)

Found. On. Road. Dead.

- Erin C., Slidell, LA, US

problem #14

Nov 122008

Focus ZX5

  • Manual transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Had both rear windows stop working within a month. The first time I had it fixed at the dealer for around $300. The second time, I bough the regulator from the dealer (or was it Ebay?) for about $150 and did the install myself. The hardest part of the install is getting the door panel off. If you know how to do that, it is a 30 minute task. All this b/c a lame little plastic tab breaks off the window carriage.

- Matt H., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #13

Jan 302003

Focus 2002

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

Okay. I have a 2002 ford focus zx5. i have been thru a total of 6 window regulators!!!!! the first 2 broke when it was still under warranty, but the last four have all broken in the past year!!!!! i have called Ford Motor Company and they said that there was nothing that they can do. They said that it is not an important enough problem to fix. but yet fixing the hatches on the hatchbacks are??!?!?!?!! that is just stupid!!!! i think that if you are driving down the road and your window falls down that would be a driving hazard. i will never drive another ford ever ever again. it is the worst company that i have ever gotten a car from. you think if they want return customers they would help you fix you problems. Well i think that if enough people tell them about the window regulator problems we could maybe get a recall out of them. Just a thought.

- Brittany H., Raleigh, NC, US

problem #12

Mar 202007

Focus SE

  • Manual transmission
  • 63,000 miles

The window regulators went out on both rear passenger windows. Will be replacing them myself when I get the time to avoid paying the 90/hour they charge at the dealer.

- Robert T., Covington, GA, US

problem #11

Jan 012005

Focus LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

The first passenger side rear window went out a few years ago.. just jammed it with some cardboard to stay up.. when it would come out put more in it no big deal... that was in 05 some time.. nov 07 the rear driver side went out.. went to roll it up and all i heard was cracking sounds.. so would have to push the window up and stick more cardboard/paper/anything that would hold it up.. THEN a few months later... my driver side has gone down now this one i cant push up every time i close my door i hear it moving around.. i have asked a parts store how much it cost to replace the motor.. i really don't think it is the motor it still makes noise so its not out but its over 100 bucks for the front door.. now the rear doors you cant buy the part at all.. so pretty much it HAS TO be taken to someone to have fixed,, So Im looking at paying out close to 1000 bucks for windows that STRANGELY all messed up.. I really dont understand why this is not on a recall list.. I think that there is no reason for a car thats not but 5 years old to have all the 3/4 of the windows not working.. and it sat for around 2 years out of those 5 years so WTF... its bullshit.. thats what it is..

- suzyfukinhomemaker, Lawton, OK, US

problem #10

May 172007

(reported on)

Focus SE 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,800 miles

Last month, I went to close a rear window. I heard a grinding noise and window would not go up. This week the same thing happened to the window on the other side. Again the dealer says it's the regulator. I'm having it fixed tomorrow. I'm glad to find this site to see I'm not the only one having this problem.

- Nancy M., Winona, MN, US

problem #9

Nov 252007

Focus 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,121 miles

My passenger's rear window came off track yesterday, 3 months ago the rear drivers passenger window came off track too. The ignition key gets stuck. The back door has locking issues along with the trunk. The radio comes off and on. FORD is living up to it's name "FIXED ON ROAD DAILY"!

- sheree, Newark, CA, US

problem #8

Sep 122007

Focus 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

In September the rear driver/passengers window fell off track and yesterday the other rear passenger window came off track. The radio turns off and on and I have the ignition problem everyone else seems to have. My Ford Focus is falling apart!

- sheree, Newark, CA, US

problem #7

May 142007

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

A Bloody Nuisance (literally!)

Our window motor stopped working and the window began to slip on a trip to Oklahoma. My Okie father-in-law helped me to "fix" the window with some scientific application of duct tape. This solution made our ride back to Wyoming much quieter, but the tape only held for about a month. Once the window started slipping again, I routinely had to pull it back up and try to re-tape it into place. As it turned out, this wasn't a good idea.

One evening as I was pulling up the window, it exploded in my hands. I felt the glass hitting my eyelids, my cheeks, my chest, but the pain was in my hands: I knew I'd been cut. I rushed into the house so I could rinse my cuts immediately. My wife, who had been talking with a neighbor, followed my blood trail into the house.

As it turns out, I was lucky. I only had seven stitches on one hand, but most of the people I spoke with were shocked that the glass would explode like that.

Naturally, we had to buy a new window, but the cost of the window motor was just too steep. I asked the window installer to block the window so it wouldn't slip again. If your windows are slipping, blocks may be a good middling solution -- not as expensive as a new motor and better than duct tape. But if you have to pull up the window with your hands, I'd recommend a good pair of gloves.

- Pat A., Casper, WY, US

problem #6

Nov 212007

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

Both rear windows quit working the same day. I was finally able to get the left window to catch & roll back up with a little help, but the the right rear window fell all the way down. We got it back up part way, but had to put a wedge in to keep it all the way up. After reading the other reports on this site, I think I will just go trade the car in. It sounds like it will cost me more than the car is worth to fix the silly windows.

- cdtx, La Porte, TX, US

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