2002 Ford Focus Steering Problems

OK SO I'VE HAD MY FORD FOCUS FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS LITTLE THING RECENTLY GOT STRUTS CHANGED IN FRONT AND BALL JOINTS BUSHINGS AND TIRES SO I KNEW IT WOULD NEED AN ALIGNMENT SO GOT THAT DONE NOW AT SPEEDS FROM 50-60 MPH THIS CAR STARTS FISHTAILING OUT OF CONTROL I DONT HAVE ALOT OF MONEY I AM NOT WORKIN AT PRESENT SO I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE MY USED CAR TO DEALER MUCH LESS TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP. I TRAVEL 50 -70 MILES EACH DAY TO WORK AND I'M SCARED ITS GONNA FISHTAIL ME INTO A WRECK. MILEAGE 134000 APPLKE VALLEY CALIF.

NHTSA ID

10905560

Incident

Sep 7, 2016

Mileage

134,000 mi

THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR DRIVING THIS FOCUS IN THE SNOW, WE BOUGHT IT IN 2011. WE HAD A SNOW FALL ON 11/1/2012 AND WE TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE. ANY SPEED ABOVE 35 MPH AND THE REAR OF THE CAR FLOATS (WIGGLES) BACK AND FORTH UP TO A FOOT. IT IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE ON SNOW OR ICE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS THE PROBLEM,: DEFECTIVE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SINCE THEY DID A SILENT RECALL ON THESE IN 2006. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS SINCE THERE ARE MANY MORE FOCUS OUT THERE LIKE OURS, AND FORD SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS ON ALL OF THESE UNITS FROM 2000-2004. I HAVE OVER 35 YEARS OF WINTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE (EVEN THE OLD REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS) BEHAVE SO DANGEROUSLY ON SNOW AND ICE, EVEN WITH ALL SEASON TIRES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY HAVE TO DO SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HERE IS AN ATTACHED ARTICLE I FOUND ON LINE. OCTOBER 03, 2006 FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD DEALERS THAT THEY MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON FORD FOCUS MODELS. THE MODELS INCLUDE: 2000 THROUGH 2004 FOCUS SEDAN, WAGON, ZX3 AND ZX5 SERIES. FORD WILL CHECK THE REAR CAMBER AND, IF POSSIBLE, MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. IF AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE VEHICLE'S REAR CAMBER IS NECESSARY BEYOND THE NEGATIVE END OF SPECIFICATION, THEN THE DEALERSHIP WILL NEED TO SOURCE REPLACEMENT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM(S)." THIS IS CONSIDERED A "SILENT RECALL" WHERE UPON FORD MAY NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS CONDITION. . *TR

NHTSA ID

10489494

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

30,422 mi

THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT WORK AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE ALSO. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND UNABLE TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT DESTINATION. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IT IS UNRELIABLE. I WORK FOR A FIRE AND RESCUE AGENCY WHICH REQUIRES ME TO MAKE QUICK RESPONSE AND WITH THIS DEFECT I CANNOT. IMAGINE IF A FEMALE IS IN A DOMESTIC ISSUE AND NEED TO GET AWAY OR IS OUT SHOPPING LATE AND NEED TO LEAVE THE AREA SHE IS LEFT VULNERABLE AND ALONE WITH NO WAY OF LEAVING. THIS DEFECT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTED PART YOU STILL WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336112

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

Mileage

124,000 mi

DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED. CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BELT, AND ADDED MORE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS RUBBING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR, AND RUB OPEN CAUSING A LEAK IN THE LINE. THIS STOPPED THE POWER STEERING FROM WORKING. WE TOOK THE LINE OUT, WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, AND TIME. THEN BOUGHT A NEW PART FOR $55 AND THEN HAD TO PUT IT IN. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT GOT THE PART YET, BUT IT SEEMS AS IF PUTTING IT BACK IN WILL NOT BE EASY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275391

Incident

Jun 29, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. NO AMOUNT OF JIGGLING CAN FIX IT. SO CAR IS UNABLE TO START. (4 TIMES IN A ROW - FINAL TIME, NOT STARTED AFTER HOURS OF TRYING). *TR

NHTSA ID

10265055

Incident

Apr 11, 2009

Mileage

82,333 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING BEGAN TO WANDER AND FAILED TO RESPOND NORMALLY. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW AND RE-TIGHTENED THE LOCK NUTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10263832

Incident

Mar 31, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

IT WAS 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT IN FREEZING WEATHER WHEN I HAD GOTTEN INTO MY CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY.(WHICH I HAD STARTED WITH EASE 13 HOURS BEFORE) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH FOR AN HOUR BEFORE MY BOYFRIEND'S MOM CAME TO PICK ME UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING. IF SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WALK 10 MILES IN DANGEROUS COLD TO GET HOME, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY ON ME FOR A CAB. I PAID $450 TO TOW THE CAR 4 MILES TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE PART IS UNDER A ONE YEAR WARRANTY. SINCE DECEMBER 20, 2008, MY IGNITION CYLINDER HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY WITH MY KEY. I INSERT THE KEY AND I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO TURN, INSERT, AND REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION. I WILL BE VISITING THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD IT REPLACED LAST YEAR THIS WEEK. AT LEAST THIS TIME IT SHOWED SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION PROBABILITY. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STALLS ON A RAILROAD TRACK (OR ANY OTHER HAZARDOUS LOCATION) AND CANNOT RESTART OR MOVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE IGNITION WON'T TURN. THERE COULD BE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS CLOSE BY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253447

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY CAR HAS FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, IGNITION LOCKING WHICH BECAME PROBLEMATIC WHEN I STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND NEARLY CAUSED A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT START THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237952

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

44,586 mi

I COULD NOT BUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED UP. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN THE START POSITION. SO NOW I HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED. *CN

NHTSA ID

10213702

Incident

Jan 3, 2008

HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN. LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE CAR. THIS TIME NO SUCH LUCK. RIGHT NOW IT'S SITTING IN THE PARKING GARAGE AT WORK. GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CALL SAM PACKS FORD TO COME FIX $$$$$. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205556

Incident

Oct 12, 2007

Mileage

74,500 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS IINVOLVED IN A CRASH ON 03/2006, WHICH HAD THE PASSENGER FRONT STRUT PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE NOW HAD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL TIRE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE TIE ROD HAD BACKED ITSELF OUT OF ITS POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE ROD TO SLIP. HE DID HAVE THE STABILIZING LINK REPAIRED AFTER THE CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186753

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON HAS HAD INNUMERABLE PROBLEMS. FIRSTLY..MELTING BATTERY CABLES DUE TO POOR AND FAULTY WIRING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION OF THE BATTERY HAD I NOT HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED ALONG WITH PURCHASE OF TWO NEW BATTERIES THANKS TO THE MELTING BATTERY CABLES CAUSING A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. IT SUBSEQUENTLY KILLED THE ALTERNATOR WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT ALSO SUBSEQUENTLY KILLED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE SOLENOID SWITCH WHICH CAUSED OVERHEATING AND DYING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AND WAS CAUSING DRIVING PROBLEMS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR. NOW MORE RECENTLY, IT HAD TO HAVE A FAULTY TIE ROD PLACED WHICH NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. AND AS OF LAST FRIDAY, ITS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN THIS TIME FOR ENGINE STALLING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHICH NEARLY CAUSED YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR AND MINE SUDDENLY BEGAN VIBRATING SO BAD AND THEN LOST POWER AND I HAD TO STRUGGLE MY WAY TO THE MEDIAN. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND FORD REFUSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE PAID OUT NEARLY 2000.00 ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS WHICH WERE SIMILAR TO ISSUES ALREADY RECALLED AND YES I AM MAD. I HAVE CALLED FORD AND COMPLAINED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164860

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

Mileage

47,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE PHYSICALLY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL REPLACED THE REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AS WELL AS THE HUB AND DRUM OF THE SUSPENSION. *NM THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC CALLED FORD BEFOREHE DID WORK ON VEHICLE. IT WAS A METAL TO METAL SOUND. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DEADLY. HOWEVER, CONTACT WAS IN RIGHT SLOW LANE AN DWAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10148033

Incident

Nov 18, 2005

Mileage

40,500 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED ACROSS THE ROAD AND STRUCK A MAIL BOX. AT SOME POINT DURING THE SKID OR IMPACT WITH THE MAIL BOX, BOTH REAR WHEELS DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR SEAT DISMEMBERED AND THE REAR SEAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND ANOTHER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147692

Incident

May 14, 2004

Mileage

34,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS A CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR LINK WORE OUT, AND THE TIE ROD ENDS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINK AND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10147443

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

26,000 mi

TIE ROD BOLT FRACTURED CAUSED THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN A 2002 FORD FOCUS AS DESCRIBED IN ODI EA02-023.

NHTSA ID

10126554

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

Mileage

5 mi

LOCKING DEVICE LOCKED UP ON THE STREERING COLUMN FOR THE SECOND TIME IT WAS NECESSARY TO TOW THE CAR AND DAMAGE OCCURED BECAUSE TOWING CO TOWED INCORRECTLY.PARTS WERE REPLACED AND TECHS IN THE VEHICLE SHOP SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS FREQUENTLY . *AK

NHTSA ID

10116329

Incident

Oct 15, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER LOCKED UP, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR.THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN THE LOCK.IF THE CAR IS TOWED IN IT CREATES A PROBLEM IN THAT THE CAR STAYS IN PARK AND IF TOWED INCORRECTLY WILL DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION.FORD MOTOR VIEWS THIS AS NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116325

Incident

Nov 13, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE IN A CIRCULAR MOTION, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10103468

Incident

Dec 9, 2004

STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097898

Incident

Oct 27, 2004

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK THIS MORNING, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE FOCUS MODEL. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET THEREFORE, THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT AND SHOULD BE FIXED. THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING $450 TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WASN'T OUR FAULT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096446

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FROZE. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR $300. APPARENTLY THE LOCKSMITH IS MAKING A FORTUNE OFF THE FORD FOCUS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096426

Incident

Oct 24, 2004

AFTER WORK ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2004, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY AS TO START THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE FUNNY SO I WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE KEY AND STILL NOTHING. I FELT SICK BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. LUCKILY THERE WERE STILL CO-WORKERS IN THE BANK WHERE I WORK SO I WAS ABLE TO USE THE PHONE. FIRST I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THEY SAID THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WOULD BE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $400.00. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST DIE. I AM A SINGLE PARENT ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET. I HAVE VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR SUCH REPAIRS BEING THAT I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR I BOUGHT NEW TO TRY AND AVOID REPAIRS ON AN OLD VEHICLE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A FRIEND OF MINE TO DRIVE OUT FROM IRVINE, CA (ABOUT 70 MILES AWAY) TO HELP ME. HE HAD AUTO CLUB SO I WAS ABLE TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DRIVER OF THE TOW TRUCK INFORMED ME THAT HE TOWS AROUND 12 TO 15 OF THE SAME CARS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ONCE A MONTH. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO NOT WORK ON IT IF IT WAS GOING TO COST ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HOLD OFF TO SEE WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. OVER THE WEEKEND I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEMS OTHERS WERE HAVING WITH THEIR FORD FOCUS. THERE ARE COUNTLESS WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WRITING WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. YOU CAN CALL ANY FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND INQUIRE ABOUT THE IGNITION PROBLEM AND BEFORE YOU CAN FINISH THEY TELL YOU HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS AND THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $300.00 TO $400.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093736

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

Mileage

47,700 mi

I HAD TO MAKE A SHARP MANEUVER TO AVOID A CAR CHANGING LANES. MY CAR A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WENT INTO WILD OSCILLATIONS ACROSS 3 LANES. BACK AND FORTH. IT TOOK 3/4 OF A MILE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY CAT I EVER DROVE BEFORE. IT WAS ONLY LUCK THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080821

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080207

Incident

Jun 17, 2004