2001 FORD FOCUS Complaints

ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND I STRUGGLED FOR AN HOUR OR MORE TO GET IT TO TURN. VERY FRUSTRATED AT THAT POINT THAT I FINALLY HAVE RESIDED TO KEEPING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD IDEA,BUT AFRAID OF BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE. *TR

RECENTLY THE IGNITION LOCK ON MY FORD FOCUS JAMS UP. I PLACE THE KEY IN THE LOCK, WHICH IS A BIT STICKY, AND THEN THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. AFTER 15-30 MINUTES OF TRYING TO TURN IT, IT WILL START, OTHER TIMES NO. WE ARE STILL RESEARCHING ON THE WEB HOW TO REPLACE THIS PART. *TR

2001 FORD FOCUS ZTS - IGNITION WOULDN'T START DURING SUMMER MONTHS (NOT PREDICTABLE); HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD A FEW TIMES UNTIL ENGINE COOLED DOWN (30 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR) BEFORE WOULD START AGAIN. LAST WEEK, WHEN KEY INSERTED INTO CAR, STEERING WHEEL WOULD BE LOCKED UP AND KEY WOULDN'T TURN. FINALLY FAILED ON ME TWO DAYS AGO; LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 2-YEAR-OLD IN ZERO-DEGREE WEATHER! DEALER SAID IT WAS FAULTY SOLENOID SWITCH IN STARTER. HAVE READ THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT REPEATS ITSELF! I HOPE TO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. *TR

AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP FOR 30 MINUTES APPROX. IT RESTARTS AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF BUT WILL NOT IDLE ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER MUST KEEP THERE FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL TIMES, EXCEPT WHEN CAR IS MOVING AND ENGINE IS ENGAGED. THE CAR HAS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME. BUT AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP AND HAS HAD THE ENGINE TURNED OFF 2 OR 3 TIMES THIS ACCORES. IF THE ENGINE IS ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN FOR 15 MIN. TO 45 MIN. THE CAR WILL IDLE AGAIN. THE TIME IS DEPENDENT ON THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. *TR

AS THE OWNER OF A FORD FOCUS 2001 - I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT - HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PROBLEM IS CHRONIC IN FORD FOCUS - YET FORD IS NOT RECALLING OR ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS IN ANY WAY TO REMEDY THE FLAW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER ADDING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 15, 2003 AND RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO. THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $433 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE FIRST REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER THREE YEARS. THE FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,474 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,732.

BROUGHT 2001 FORD FOCUS IN FOR RECALL ON REAR DOOR LATCH, CAMPAIGN ID: 05V030000. DEALER AT ENFEILD, CT FORD WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL FOR THE REAR LATCH DOOR WHICH HAD THE SAME FAILURE AND FAILED OPEN WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THEY CLAIMED THE RECALL ONLY COVERED THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS AND NOT THE REAR HATCH OF A WAGON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES, STALLS, AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD AT LEAST 12 TIMES; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

BRAKES HAVE BEEN FAILING FREQUENTLY. AFTER TAKING IT TO BE REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR WAS NEARLY II THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE BRAKES WORKED. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF THE BRAKES CAN NOT BE REPAIRED PROPERLY BY EVEN THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING. FOUND INTERNAL SEAL WALL CRACKED/WASHED OUT ALLOWING LEAKAGE PAST SEAL RING. STEADY DRIP OF COOLANT FROM THERMOSTAT HOUSING EVEN AFTER REPLACING SEAL RING. FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM IN DISCUSSION THREADS ON INTERNET. COOLANT PUDDLED UNDER CAR WHERE PETS CAN DRINK IT AND LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSING OVERHEATING. *TR