2002 Ford Focus

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION APPEARED TO BE LOCKED, BUT THERE WAS POWER. HE ATTEMPTED APPROXIMATELY 25 MORE TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE AND ALSO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE STEERING, TRANSMISSION, AND IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT WHEN THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING GASKET AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON VARIOUS YEARS OF THE FOCUS AS VERIFIED BY THE COMMENTS OF THE FORD MOTOR CO. PARTS SALES PEOPLE IN SAYING THAT THEY SELL MANY OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS, AND ALSO BY BLOGS ON INTERNET CHAT LINES. THE RUBBER GASKET SWELLS WHEN IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH OIL AND BREAKS OFF THE INNER GASKET-SUPPORT RING, ALLOWING THE LEAK TO HAPPEN. IT IS A POOR DESIGN THAT CAN LEAD TO MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND ENGINE FAILURE. I WOULD BE GLAD TO MAIL THE AFFECTED PART TO YOU FOR YOUR EXAMINATION. IT IS AMAZING HOW COMPLETELY THE SUPPORT RING FAILED, AND THE CONDITION OF THE GASKET THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OIL WHICH LEAKS FROM THE VALVE COVER ABOVE. THE PART COULD EASILY BE REDESIGNED TO USE A STANDARD O-RING FOR THE SEAL, WHICH IS RESISTANT TO OIL, AND SEALS BETTER. THE CURRENT GASKET IS MORE LIKE A RUBBER BAND THAT IS HELD IN PLACE BY THE INSIDE RIM WHICH BREAKS OFF. *TR

1. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE HOLDING AIR. IT HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ALL THROUGH WARRANTY. I'VE BEEN PUTTING AIR IN IT WHICH HAS COST ME A SURMOUNTABLE AMT OF MONEY RANGING FROM 25 CENTS TO WHATEVER THE MARKET CHARGED COST OF PUTTING AIR IN IT TO THE CURRENT DATE. IT RUINED A GOOD TIRE AFTER 12,000 MILES OF USE; IT WAS ROTATED ALL THE NECESSARY TIMES; ONLY THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT SIDE TIRE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS ROTATED; THE SAME SIDE IS FAULTY; AUGUST 2008, A SERVICE CENTER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO EXAMINE THAT PARTICULAR WHEEL AND SEE IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM EXISTS. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL IS BENT IN 4 DIFFERENT PLACES. I'VE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY WORKPLACE; MY AUTO CLUB HAS HAD TO SEND A SERVICE SHOPOUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE OR PUMP IT UP. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER WARRANTY IT BECOMES THE OWNER'S PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE MFR AND DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AN OWNER OF A 2004, NEW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, ALSO HAS A CRACKED WHEEL. UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO COST PURCHASERS MORE MONIES AND ACCIDENTS IF DRIVEN OVER 30-40 MILES PER HR. THIS IS A MFR'S DEFECT. A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON LONG TRIPS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, SUCH AS ON THE EXPRESSWAYS AND INTERSTATES. IT IS DANGEROUS REGARDLESS OF SPEED. ONCE AIR IS PUT BACK INTO THE TIRE, WITHIN A DAY'S TIME, DRIVEN OR NOT DRIVEN, IT STARTS GOING DOWN. BASICALLY, JUST BEING PARKED, IT WILL GO DOWN ANYWAY. WITH THE ETHICS OF THE DEALERSHIP IN THIS AREA, THEY PROBABLY DID THE SAME THING AS I'VE BEEN DOING., ADDING AIR TO THE TIRE AND RETURNING IT BACK TO ME. THANK YOU. *TR

WE BOUGHT THIS TWO YRS AGO FROM FORD DEALERSHIP AND UP TO THE DATE IT BROKE DOWN NOT ONE PROBLEM . WE DO ALL THE MAINTENANCE PLUS SOME ALL BUY CERTIFIED MECHANICS . THIS WAS OUR ONLY CAR . THE ENGINE BLEW AT UNDER 200XXXKM . THESE ARE ALL HIGHWAY KM AS WE ARE COMMUTERS . THERE IS NO WAY THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN AT THAT MANY KM WITHOUT SOME KIND OF WARNING SIGN . BEFORE THE DAY IT BLEW THERE WERE NO KNOCKS NOTHING RAN LIKE A TOP . WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS CAR OVER 100KM ON THE HIGHWAY AS ITS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION . WE STILL OWE 140000 ON THIS HUNK OF CRAP . IM JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS THE NORM FOR THE FOCUS ENGINES . IM JUST BAFFLED BECAUSE LIKE I SAID THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGNS UP TILL THE MORNING IT HAPPENED IT STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER . THE MISSES DROPPED ME OFF AT WORK MADE IT TO THE SHOP BARELY AND ITS NEVER STARTED SINCE . THE MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS NO COMPRESSION IN NUMBER 4 CYLINDER AND IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR A TUNE UP MAYBE A MONTH TOPS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED . ANY HELP OR INFO WOULD HELP . THERE AREN'T THAT MANY OUT THERE THAT CARE ABOUT THE LITTLE MAN SO I'LL TAKE ANY HELP OR ADVISE I CAN GET . THX TANIA AND DERREK EBERLIE *TR

WITH NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS, KEY WILL NOT TURN IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO WORK AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST $96 IN WAGES, MINUS TAXES. I CANNOT AFFORD $200-$500 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME FAULTY PART, THUS HAVING TO FIX IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER WHY THERE IS NO RECALL. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WOULDN'T THAT INDICATE A FAULTY PART, INSTALLED BY FORD ITSELF. SOME PEOPLE REPORT HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THAT FORD HAS NOT REDESIGNED THIS PART, NOR HAVE THEY ADMITTED IT IS FAULTY OR OFFERED A RECALL. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS, WHICH SURELY WILL AFFECT FUTURE FORD SALES. WHEN WILL FORD OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM???*TR

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED. THE BOTTOM OF THE UPPER PIECE OF THE COIL CAME DOWN AND RESTED ON THE TOP OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND DESTROYED THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. BUT EVEN AT LOW SPEED, THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED IN ONLY A FEW FEET. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE NEAR SIMULTANEOUS PULL, SUSPENSION SAG, AND TIRE DESTRUCTION COULD EASILY CAUSED A WRECK. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THESE SPRINGS IN EARLY MY FOCI AND EXTENDS THE WARRANTY ON THESE SPRINGS. WHAT THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD FROM SUCH A SPRING FAILURE. *TR