2001 Ford Focus Electrical Problems

KEEPS SHUT OFF N OVER HEATING

NHTSA ID

11407527

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

ON 9/2/2020 AROUND 10 PM IN MICHIGAN I WAS MAKING A PIZZA DELIVERY, I PULLED INTO THE SUBDIVISION WHERE I HAD TO MAKE THE DELIVERY, ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. I GOT MY CAR FO SAFTEY AWAY FROM THE HOUSES BECAUSE MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS SAFETY. I GRAB MY PHONE TO CALL MY BOSS, I THOUGHT MY CAR JUAT BROKE DOWN. THEN I SAW SMOKE AND SPARKS. I CALLED THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE CARS SMOKE GOT DARKER AND THE FLAMES GOT BIGGER. I WAS VERY SCARED. ALL MY WINDOWS EXPLODED AND THE CAR MELTED TO GROUND. BY THE LOOKS OF MY PHOTO THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE BATTERY AND CABLES. EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT, I'VE BEEN SCARED OF FIRES, HOT SURFACES, AND WEARY AROUND CARS. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE BUT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE FLAMES REACHED ABOUT 10 FEET HIGH. LUCKILY IT DID NOT CATCH ANYTHING NEAR BY ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11355484

Incident

Sep 2, 2020

Mileage

108,000 mi

THERE ARE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY REAR LIGHTS. MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ANYTIME AND SOMETIMES NONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11343641

Incident

May 27, 2020

Mileage

68,000 mi

KEEPS OVER HEATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328839

Incident

Jun 13, 2020

Mileage

91 mi

WAS ON MY WAY TO THE VA HOSPITAL 04/04/2018 STARTED CAR, IT WOULD SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL FUEL LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND OFF. HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP. GOING TO THE VA HOSPITAL ON 4/16/2018 START CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. HAD INNER TIRE RODS REPLACED. GOING TO A VA APPT, ON 05/10/2018 START CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAM ON, CV VALVES REPLACED. 5/30/2018 ON MY WAY AGAIN TO THE VA HOSPITAL, START CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. PLEASE ADVISE, SINCE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MISS AND RESCHEDULE APPTS AT THE VA HOSPITAL. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11098857

Incident

Apr 4, 2018

THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES,THE DASH AND TAG LIGHTS FLICKER,THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING WITH MY SON IN THE CAR OVER 3 TIMES NOW,ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON MAIN STREET,ITS SO SCARY I'VE HAD PANIC ATTACKS AND GOT A STRESS RASH ON MY FACE. IM SO SCARED THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT,I'VE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED,SPARK PLUGS,MOTOR FILTER.I JUST TRY TO KEEP GETTING IT REPAIRED COSTING ME MY BILLS MONEY BEING A SINGLE PARENT. I'M OVERWHELMED AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ID

11064238

Incident

Dec 25, 2017

Mileage

147,725 mi

NO DASH LIGHT TAIL LIGHTS OR MARKRR LIGHTS

NHTSA ID

10966416

Incident

Mar 14, 2017

Mileage

25 mi

IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT TURN. FORD HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ID

10925434

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

Mileage

94,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AS THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED AND STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10716473

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10703526

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

IT START WITH DOOR BUSTING ALL THE TIME ,THEN I SWITCH IT OFF ..NOW IT WANT CRANK ,JUST BUST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664556

Incident

Dec 2, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE WARNING INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 162,600.

NHTSA ID

10619398

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

162,600 mi

KEY DOES NOT TURN PROPERLY IN IGNITION CYLINDER AND DOOR LOCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609734

Incident

Dec 21, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

BOUGHT VEHICLE 2ND HAND, CASH, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. NOW, I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS, & MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK ON THE REMOTE, OR THE "ALL LOCK/UNLOCK" BUTTON, & NOW MY TRUNK LATCH IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE SELF LOCKING (MEANING THAT THEY LOCK AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHENEVER THEY PLEASE.) THE BRAKE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, ALL BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED & REPLACED, FUSES KEEP GETTING BLOWN. CANNOT LOCATE FUSE FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. FORD HAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE YEAR 2000 FOR A DOOR LATCH ISSUE, CAMPAIGN #05S27 NHTSA ID# 05V-030. ALSO, CAMPAIGN #05S50 NHTSA ID #00V-411 FOR A TAIL LAMP ISSUE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS YET AFTER DOING WEEKS OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2000 TO CURRENT. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL DEALERS, NONE OF THEM WOULD TELL ME ANYTHING, & THAT "THEY DIDN'T RECALL ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE FROM ANYONE ELSE". HOW IS IT THAT I CAN FIND THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET BUT THE DEALERS "NEVER HEARD OF IT"? WHY IS THERE NO CHANGE IN THE INDICATED ISSUE OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY? WOULDN'T THIS BE A HAZARD? I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WEREN'T WORKING UNTIL I GOT PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO, THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN!!! THEREFORE, A DILIGENT OWNER WHO CHECKS THEIR LIGHTS REGULARLY WILL NOT KNOW IT HAPPENS UNTIL (A) SAID PERSON GETS HIT FROM BEHIND, OR (B) GETS PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. HERE ARE A FEW LINKS FOR YOUR REFERENCE: LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T574_DS546293. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=2146E9390BE4CC339AE4F6438BAF3812&T=104972. LINK: HTTP://WWW.DIYNOT.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?P=1250643. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=149053. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=268411. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=206427 *JS

NHTSA ID

10579548

Incident

Mar 26, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

2001 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS ALONE, HE HAS SPENT $2,000 IN NON-ROUTINE REPAIRS. EVERY TIME THERE WAS AN ISSUE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER FULLY FIXED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE.. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE NEEDED ALL NEW WIRING, AFTER THE DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT 3 TIMES. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10575595

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

SUNDAY 05 JAN 2014 I HAD RECENTLY PARKED MY CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND WAS OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE (2001 FORD FOCUS) WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS CONFUSED AT FIRST, AS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ANY PROBLEMS BEGAN. WITHIN A MATTER OF TWO MINUTES THE SMOKE HAD INCREASED, THICKENED, AND BEGAN TO SMELL. MY FRIEND WAS NEARBY AND HAD NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. HE CAME OVER AND WE BOTH TOOK A COUPLE STEPS TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. IMMEDIATELY FLAMES BURST UP FROM THE HOOD. AT THIS POINT WE INSTANTLY RAN FROM THE VEHICLE, DIALING 911. THE FLAMES GOT WORSE AS WE WAITED FROM A DISTANCE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ARRIVE. AT THIS POINT I WAS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY BLOW UP OR NOT, AS THE FLAMES BECAME WORSE WITH EVERY MINUTE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW AND THEN PRY THE HOOD OPEN IN ORDER TO DO SO. AFTER THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT AND THE SCENE WAS SAFE I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE FIREMEN. THEY SHOWED ME UNDER THE HOOD AND SAID THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL AND LOOKED AS IF IT HAD STARTED NEAR THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD (SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT). THEY ALSO EXPLAINED, AS I HAD ALREADY ASSUMED, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSALVAGEABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559724

Incident

Jan 5, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT TURN. MY WIFE IS A DIABETIC AND HAS NUMEROUS HEALTH COMPLICATIONS DUE TO HER DIABETES. IF WE WERE OUT AND BECAME STRANDED IT COULD HAVE COST US HER LIFE. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD FOR NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558413

Incident

Jan 3, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND IT WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES.. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000. ...UPDATED 12-24-13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10546244

Incident

Sep 23, 2013

Mileage

143,000 mi

I'VE HAD MY 2001 FORD FOCUS FOR YEARS NOW AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION (GOT THAT REPLACED) AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN EVER THEY WANT TO AND WILL SOMETIMES TURN ON ITS OWN. ALSO MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. I'VE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT PLACES TO GET IT FIXED AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO OPEN IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE SO THAT I COULD SAVE ON GAS BUT ALL I'M DOING IS WASTING A CRAP LOAD OF MONEY ON JUST REPAIRING EVERYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531608

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522045

Incident

Jun 22, 2013

Mileage

186,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT BECAME WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONDENSER BOX TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512897

Incident

Sep 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND HE WOULD OFTEN JUMP START THE VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10511152

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK IS JAMMED OR STUCK, I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE,THE OTHER 3 DOOR LOCKS WORK FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502216

Incident

Mar 9, 2013

Mileage

67,014 mi

HEADLIGHT FAILURE. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE HEADLIGHTS (BOTH) DO NOT ALWAYS GO ON. ALSO, AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE (OFTEN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, ALMOST ALWAYS WITHIN 20 MINUTES), BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND OTHER OUTSIDE LIGHTS, REMAIN ON. WHEN THE SWITCH IS ON, BUT HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF, IF THE HIGH BEAMS ARE TOGGLED ON AND THEN OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO ON (FOR A WHILE). THIS SEQUENCE OCCURS REPEATEDLY. UNLESS IT IS DARK (E.G. IF IN TWILIGHT OR IN DAYTIME RAIN), OR UNLESS I CAN SEE THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIONS, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE STATUS OF MY HEADLIGHTS. DEALERSHIP INITIALLY REPLACED A RELAY, WITHOUT SOLVING PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" CONTROLLING TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAMS, WITH SEEMING SUCCESS. I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED ORIGINAL-EQUIPMENT "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH". DEALERSHIP WAS UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL, BUT WOULD NOT TREAT THIS INTERMITTENT, SUDDEN, REPEATED HEADLIGHT FAILURE AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO GAS PUMP FAILURE, AND TO FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE, WHICH WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. [NOTE ALSO THAT CAR DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW HEADLIGHTS TO TURN ON OR STAY ON WHEN ENGINE IS OFF - THIS MAY SAVE ACCIDENTAL BATTERY DRAIN, BUT DEPRIVES OPERATOR OF ILLUMINATION OR SIGNALING ABILITY THAT MAY BE NEEDED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.]

NHTSA ID

10489621

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

65,850 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR JUST AS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES REDUCED TO ZERO ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10487148

Incident

Nov 9, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi