FaultScore

2002 Ford Focus fuel system problems

68 of the 1,198 complaints about the 2002 Ford Focus are about the fuel system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,560 miles.

A

68

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel System, Gasoline 27 39.7%
Fuel Pump 25 36.8%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 4 5.9%
Fuel/Propulsion System 4 5.9%
Delivery 3 4.4%
Delivery 2 2.9%
Fuel Pump 2 2.9%
Tank Assembly 1 1.5%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Ford Focus year

2000 445 16.4%
2001 337 12.4%
2002 68 2.5%
2003 16 0.6%
2004 14 0.5%
2005 27 1.0%
2006 18 0.7%
2007 17 0.6%
2009 17 0.6%
2010 32 1.2%
2012 340 12.5%
2013 263 9.7%
2014 351 12.9%
2015 169 6.2%
2016 229 8.4%
2017 177 6.5%
2018 195 7.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 73,000 miles Morrisville, VT Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE BACK SEAT. WITHIN A SHORT TIME, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO FLAMES AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP BURNED UP AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE SIX MONTHS LATER AND GAVE THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 04/12/17 LJ

NHTSA complaint #10956772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Worth, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY TO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. ENGINE FUEL LIGHT WOULD APPEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10681874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Woodbine, NJ

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IN TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT FAILED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP DEAD. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER HAD NOT AS YET ENTERED THE MOVING TRAFFIC LANE! FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS FUEL PUMP AND YET WOULD RATHER SPEND MILLIONS IN TV ADS THEN REPAIR OR REPLACE FAULTY SAFETY HAZARD ITEMS IN THEIR PRODUCTS! JUST TAKE A COUNT OF ALL THE AUTOS MADE BY FORD WITH THIS FAULTY FUEL PUMP AT AN AVERAGE DOLLAR COST ( SO FAR NO LOST OR CRIPPLED LIVES) OF $1000 PER AND DETERMINE THAT BY NOT RUNNING ONE PRIME TIME HALFTIME NATIONAL FOOTBALL GAME AD THEY COULD EASILY REPAIR ALL THOSE VEHICLES, HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR PRODUCT USERS AND GAIN PRICELESS VALUE WORTH MAYBE 10 TIMES THE COST OF THE SINGLE AD? THEY DID IN FACT ALLEGEDLY ISSUE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY 2002 FORD FOCUS THAT STATED REPLACE ON FAILURE UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT ALAS THEY NOW DENY THIS. I ALSO WONDER WHY AN ELECTRIC ITEM WOULD BE SUBMERGED IN A FUEL CELL AND WONDER WHY THEY HAVE BEEN SO LUCKILY AS TO NOT HAVE ANY FUEL TANKS EXPLODE AS OF NOW? " MY POINT" DRIVING AN AUTO THAT MAY STOP RUNNING (WITHOUT WARNING) DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE (AT THE VERY LEAST) REPAIRED AT COMPANY COST NOT PASSED ON THE OWNER WHO MAY HAVE ALREADY SURVIVED A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN THEIR CAR DIED AT 60 MPH WITH SEMI TRUCKS ALL AROUND? NOT OUR CASE BUT NEXT TO WORST CASE AFTER TANK EXPLOSION! JUST BECAUSE IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. NO PART ON ANY MODERN AUTO (DUE TO NORMAL USE) SHOULD FAIL ( AS IF IT HAD A CLOCK BUILT IN) JUST PAST THE 60,000 MILE MARK EVEN IF IT TOOK 12 YEARS TO REACH THE MILES UNDER THE 36 MONTH 60,000 MILE SO CALLED FACTORY WARRANTY?

NHTSA complaint #10640189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Windisor, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,804.

NHTSA complaint #10514798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,500 miles Commerce Township, MI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE RUNS FINE WHEN WE GO INTO SCHOOL/BUSINESS OR WHAT EVER WE PARK AND COME OUT AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START, AFTER 1/2 HOUR TO AN HOUR THE VEHICLE STARTS AND NO PROBLEMS. IT TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOT FIRE. NEW BATTERY DID NOT CHANGE IT. TUNE UP BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DID NOT FIX ISSUE, PLUG IT INTO A TEST MACHINE NO CODES GIVEN. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. ISSUE IS THAT A YOUNG LADY DRIVES THE VEHICLE, IF SHE IS STUCK IN THE WRONG PARKING LOT WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN. GOD FORBID.

NHTSA complaint #10490542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Wilmington, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

BLEW THE FUSE FROM MY FUEL PUMP UPON START UP OF CAR, NEEDED FUSE REPLACED AND GOT THE CAR TO START. HOWEVER, THE FUSE WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW, THEREFORE NEED NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. TRIED TO REPLACE THE PUMP WITH AN AFTER MARKET PART AND IT WOULDN'T FIT PROPERLY, MEANING I NEED A NEW EXPENSIVE PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10437602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Wilmington, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BLEW THE FUSE FROM MY FUEL PUMP UPON START UP OF CAR, NEEDED FUSE REPLACED AND GOT THE CAR TO START. HOWEVER, THE FUSE WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW, THEREFORE NEED NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. TRIED TO REPLACE THE PUMP WITH AN AFTER MARKET PART AND IT WOULDN'T FIT PROPERLY, MEANING I NEED A NEW EXPENSIVE PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10437602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Overland Park, KS

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE IDLING, MY CAR IS TURNING OFF. IT ALSO DOES SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR FROM P TO D. INITIALLY THE GAS CAP LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNALED. I REPLACED THE CAP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. NOW, THE CAR IS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IDLING AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT.

NHTSA complaint #10437382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,524 miles Talladega, AL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL PUMP STARTED TO CAUSE CAR TO STUTTER, STALL, COMPLETELY DIE. HAS STALLED OUT ON INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY AFTERNOON 4-LANE TRAFFIC; BOTH TIMES BARELY MAKING IT OF TRAFFIC AND BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC W/CHILDREN IN THE CAR! CAR MANUFACTURE DATE IS 09/01 IN MEXICO. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACE AND HAS FAILED BOTH TIMES, COST IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME! ALREADY PAID OVER$1000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR! NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP!!! I HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE OF THESE 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE EARLY FORD FOCUS, WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE YET???????

NHTSA complaint #10435238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,000 miles Mount Juliet, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CAR WAS RUNNING FUNNY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. LEAVING A STORE PARKING LOT. I PULLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAR STARTED MISSING REAL BAD AND STALLED. WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT THAT IT NEEDED A NEW FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM OR FUEL PUMP AND STUFF. ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY,BUT NOT FOR MY FORD FOCUS. THE GUY I PULLED OUT ON PROBABLY THOUGHT IDIOT.

NHTSA complaint #10434912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,728 miles Tacoma, WA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT WHERE THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECURRED; ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,728.

NHTSA complaint #10420942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,000 miles Welbourbne, FL Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP STARTED TO MELT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MELTING WIRES WERE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #10419958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE STALLING WAS DUE TO A CLOGGED FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 06/15/11

NHTSA complaint #10400778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,800 miles ST Paul, MN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON MARCH 17, 2011, MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AS I WAS ACCELERATING UPHILL, TURNING RIGHT ON A RAMP TO ENTER A BUSY HIGHWAY. FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT . I RESTARTED THE ENGINE A COUPLE TIMES, BUT IT STALLED OUT AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. IT WAS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL THE CAR BACK DOWNHILL TO A SAFER LOCATION. (LATER I LEARNED THAT AN IDENTICAL SCENARIO IS DESCRIBED IN FORD DEALER LETTER 03N01, IN WHICH FORD AGREES TO REPLACE FUEL DELIVERY MODULES FOR 2000 AND 2001 MODELS, BUT NOT 2002.) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL THE NEXT MORNING, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR STARTED FINE. FORD RAN MANY TESTS, INCLUDING ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL, TOOK IT OUT FOR 3 ' 4 TEST DRIVES AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED $150 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC LABOR. THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS EVERY YEAR NOW FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. SIMILAR, BUT NOT IDENTICAL, STALLS OCCURRED ON MARCH 16, 2009, MARCH 10, 2010 AND MARCH 17, 2010. EACH TIME, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. LOCATIONS WERE DIFFERENT, SO IT WAS ALWAYS A DIFFERENT SHOP. NONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT RIGHT AWAY, AND BY THE TIME THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EACH ONE CHARGED ABOUT $150 LABOR. THOSE 3 INCIDENTS ALSO REQUIRED A NEW 15 AMP FUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE REPEATED UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER IT STALLED. THIS YEAR, I STOPPED TRYING TO RESTART AFTER 4 UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS. THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW THIS YEAR. IN BETWEEN THESE STALLOUTS, USUALLY EXACTLY ONE YEAR APART, THE ENGINE HAS STARTED AND RUN SMOOTHLY, WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS. EACH TIME A STALL HAS HAPPENED, THE CAR HAS WORKED FINE THE NEXT DAY, WITHOUT ANY ADDITION OF FUEL. THIS INDICATES THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT I CAN SEE FOR THESE UNPREDICTABLE FAILURES IS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10392402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,889 miles Frederick, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2002 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING AND REPAIR EXPENSES RELATED TO PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF UNDER RECALL. *TGW THE CONSUMER MENTIONED RECALL #03V482000 THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10321962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Grosse ILE, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL PUMP IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS FAILED SUDDENLY AS I WAS MERGING ONTO A 50MPH HIGHWAY IN JANUARY 2010. THE CAR JUST LITERALLY DIED, WITHOUT WARNING. FUEL INTAKE STOPPED AND SO DID THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS SUDDEN FAILURE WOULD HAVE POSED A GRAVE SAFETY RISK. THE REPAIR COST $700. FORD REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF IT. IN A SEARCH OF INTERNET ARTICLES AND YOUR WEB SITE, I FOUND THIS FUEL PUMP FAILURE TO BE A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM IN 2000 - 2002 FORD FOCUS'. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PUMP WITH AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL PUMP, EXPOSING ME TO CONTINUED DANGER.

NHTSA complaint #10312539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Pennsauken, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE CAR STARTED TO PUTT PUTT AND THEN IT STALLED OUT I HAD A HAFL OF TANK OF GAS WHEN I HAD TO GET THIS TOWED COME TO FINE OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WAS CLOGGED.

NHTSA complaint #10287235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Allegany, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2002 FORD FOCUS EXHIBITS ENGINE HESITATION WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS BELOW 1/4 FULL. THERE ARE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN WITH 80,000KM ON THE CAR AND NOW ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH ONLY 1/4 TANK OF GAS. COMPLAINTS TO FORD ABOUT HOW THIS IS THE EXACT SAME CONDITION THAT CAUSED THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL ON 2000 AND 2001 FOCUSES (03N01) HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY OFFER TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR FREE.

NHTSA complaint #10285647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Bixby, OK

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2002 FORD FOCUS BOUGHT THE END OF MARCH 2009, NOW SITS IN DRIVEWAY, BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT FIX FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FAILURE, BECAUSE OF VIN# NOT ON LIST AS BEING ONE OF THE 671000 UNITS AFFECTED. THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AS ALL THE OTHER 671000 THAT WERE AFFECTED, SURGING, LOSS OF POWER, STALLING, HESITATION. WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, CHANGED LANES AND IT STARTED DOING THIS, NOW I HAVE HAD 3 MECHANICS WORK ON THIS CAR, NO HELP REPLACED FUEL PUMP, BATTERY, FUEL FILTER ETC, NO LUCK. IT STARTS WHEN IT WANTS WILL RUN THEN IT STARTS LOSING POWER, STALLS. WE DID EXPECT PROBLEMS WITH USED CAR, BUT NOT ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND FIXED. IF ACCIDENT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM FORD WILL BE AT FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #10268787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS SUDDENLY STALLED IN HEAVY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO WRESTLE THE CAR TO THE CURB WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME AVOIDING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST ESTIMATE IS NEARLY $800. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2001 AND 2000 MODELS AND THIS PART IS EVEN COVERED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THOSE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE 2002 IS NOT COVERED. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFELY CONCERN FOR FORD BUT I THINK THEY ARE DOING THE BARE MINIMUM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. NO WONDER THEY ARE HAVING SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES AT FORD!

NHTSA complaint #10266858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,640 miles Manhattan, KS

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK, FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD IT REPLACED 12/15/07 AND IT IS NOW DEFECTIVE AGAIN ON 4/6/09. I HAD IT FIXED LAST TIME FOR $200, BUT IT CAN COST UP TO $400. HOW THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. THEN AGAIN THE PINTO'S EXPLODING GAS TANK WASN'T DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" BY FORD, EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #10264290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rutledge, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD FOCUS IN FL. WHILE DRIVING IT TO MY HOME IN TN, I EXPERIENCED STALLING AT HWY SPEEDS. I CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER AND CONTINUED ON MY TRIP. IT STALLED AGAIN AND WOULDN'T RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. I REPLACED THEM BOTH. THE CAR STARTED AND I BEGAN MY TRAVEL BACK HOME. UPON MY RETURN HOME, WHEN I WOULD UTILIZE THE CAR, I WOULD EXPERIENCE STALLING UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND THAT PROBLEM, BUT DID REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT. TYPICALLY THE CAR WOULD RUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE STALLING WOULD BEGIN. I COULD USUALLY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES AND THE CAR WOULD START. I COULD DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. MY LATEST EXPERIENCE HAPPENED AT HWY SPEEDS. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRAVEL THE CAR STALLED AND HAS NOT RESTARTED SINCE. I CONTACTED FORD WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THEIR "RECALL (S)" DUE TO WHERE IT WAS ASSEMBLED. I FIND IT VERY "COINCIDENTAL" THAT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEMS THAT THE "RECALLED" CARS EXPERIENCED. IS THERE A COURSE ON ACTION THAT I SHOULD TAKE?

NHTSA complaint #10256624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,600 miles Denver, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENDER AND FUEL PUMP FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $540. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BFTHE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,700. UPDATED 01/26/09.

NHTSA complaint #10251487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,578 miles Richfield, MN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I DRIVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS WAGON, MILEAGE 85,578. TWO DAYS AGO I HAD TROUBLE STARTING IT. I DID GET IT STARTED BUT EVERYTIME I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE STALL. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING PRIOR TO THIS OR DURING THE EVENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME, BUT HAD TO RESTART IT EACH TIME I HAD TO STOP. THE NEXT MORNING IT DROVE FINE BUT I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE AND IT COST ME OVER A $1000 FOR REPAIR. (PARTS LISTER WERE SENDER, GASKET, KIT, TUBE, GASKET, FILTER). IN RESEARCHING RECALLS I FOUND THAT MODEL YEARS 2000-2001 WERE HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AND A RECALL WAS DETERMINED FOR THIS. I DO NORMAL DRIVING - 70% HIGHWAY, 30% IN TOWN. MY CAR IS JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR SHOULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL PART OR ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #10233124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,900 miles Metairie, LA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE (~65 MILES PER HOUR), A COOLING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON (2002 FORD FOCUS, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 46,000 MILES), AND INSTANTANEOUSLY, THE CAR STALLED. IT ALMOST THREW ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR RECOVERED AND DID NOT DIE, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN (~20 MILES PER HOUR). I BROUGHT IT TO PEP BOYS, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT STALLED AND DIED TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM PEP BOYS, SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK ON ANY RECALLS BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY FOCUSES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE THERMOSTAT , THERMOSTAT HOUSING ASSEMBLY AND O RING, AND I NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE (WHICH WAS DONE AT PEP BOYS ONE WEEK EARLIER). THEY WANTED $1100.00 TO FIX IT, SO I TOOK MY CAR HOME. TODAY, I DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC, AND IT KILLED TWICE, AND STALLED THREE TIMES (DRIVING NO MORE THAN 30 MPH). THE HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC JUST CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS BAD, AND THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STALLING. IT IS A SHAME THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS CAR, AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR FAULTY FUEL PUMPS.

NHTSA complaint #10220163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Champaign, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, AND HAD JUST TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD HAS TOLD US THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10211452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,180 miles MAY, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING , SURGING, AND THEN LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION (EA02022) THAT WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,380 UPDATED 3/4/08

NHTSA complaint #10205883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,855 miles ABQ, NM

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

2002 FORD FOCUS ZTW WAGON. DIVING ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED FROM HIGHWAY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER. REPAIR FACILITY REPLACED FUEL FILTER EXPLAINING SYMPTOMS WERE CONSISTENT WITH RESTRICTED FUEL SYSTEM. THREE DAYS LATER VEHICLE EXHIBITS SAME PROBLEM. TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER WHERE A PLUGGED/CLOGGED FUEL PUMP SCREEN WAS FOUND. REPAIR FACILITY STATED THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE ON PRIOR YEAR (2000 - 2001) FOCUS. RECEIPTS AND USED PARTS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10197909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHILE IDLING. WAS FINE WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHEN GAS WAS NOT APPLIED IT WOULD SHAKE AND DIE. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $80 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR FREE COMPUTER ANALYSIS, WHICH SAID OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED REPLACED. I REPLACED IT, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. A RANDOM GENTLEMAN AT AUTO ZONE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN AIR LEAK. I USED STARTER FLUID TO LIGHTLY SPRAY ON HOSES IN ENGINE TO FIND A LEAK (ENGINE REVS WHEN YOU HIT A HOSE WITH A HOLE). I SPENT 4 DOLLARS REPLACING A SMALL RUBBER ELBOW AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE EXISTING ELBOW RIGHT IN THE BACK CENTER OF THE ENGINE WAS BURNT COMPLETELY THROUGH WITH ABOUT A 2 INCH HOLE.

NHTSA complaint #10196665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Chandler, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 80,000 STALLED ON FREEWAY AT SPEED OF 60 MPH WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. WE ARE TRYING TO GET FORD TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AS A WARRANTY, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED THUS FAR.

NHTSA complaint #10185040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Ford Focus problems

← Full 2002 Ford Focus report