8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$220
Average Mileage:
84,750 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
  2. replace engine (3 reports)
  3. clean or replace heat sensor (1 reports)
  4. replace computer (1 reports)
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problem #18

Dec 102012

Focus SE 2.0L Sohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,712 miles

I took my Focus into the local Ford dealer because of a slight vibration and intermittent rough idle. I was told that I needed a new cylinder head as there was a buildup of carbon on the # 4 exhaust valve. They were talking about a $3,000 repair bill. 2 days later, I was making plans to have a new head installed when the engine made a loud noise and just quit in the parking lot. The noise was described very well by many posts to this site. Looks like I too was a victim of Fords shoddy product (2.0 liter SOHC engine). I had about 123,000 well cared for miles on the engine when this happened. I had been thinking about a new Ford Focus this spring but not now!

- Tony F., St. Paul, MN, US

problem #17

May 012006

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I'd be driving down the interstate and my car would start sputtering like it was out of gas, and then in just enough time for me to get to the shoulder, it'd die. I'd wait for about 15 minutes and then re-start it. Never knew how far it would go. sometimes it went for another two miles and other times it'd go for 60 miles until it died again. I took it to the Ford Dealer, who charged me $140 for engine diagnostic and they couldn't find the problem, and wanted to charge me $80/hour for another day of diagnosis. Forget it! I paid the $140 and walked away with no answers. I did this with SEVERAL mechanics, and finally found one that said it could be my computer. he replaced my computer and it ran for another $80,000 miles or so. Then it started dying again, this time it didn't sound like I was out of gas, but there was a knocking sound. I had to replace my engine. My mechanic did a 'temporary fix', which got me another year out of it. Now it needs another engine replacement... let bygones be bygones.

- Nichole B., Lorton, VA, US

problem #16

Oct 012010

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,000 miles

I bought the car, put money into the car to make sure that it would be safe for myself and my children. (approx $3000). I noticed that the car started to do funny things - yet when I took to the mechanics they would always tell me it was a sensor or some other odd job that needed to be done. When I would start up the vehicle it would jolt as if there was not enough gas or air going into the engine....as a putt putt sound. I put a little more gas to it...and eventually that putt putt sound and vibration would stop. One day while driving down a main street in my town, the car just completely died. I was able to get it to start within minutes later, returned to the mechanics and within moments a loud bang came from my engine. I then was told that I would need to replace the engine. *$2700 for used $4000 for new. Two weeks later the mechanic told me that this is a common problem and I might think about not fixing this car.

I am pissed, I bought the car for $4000 - put easily $3000 in it....and only in a matter of months...I now have no car...and being told that its not worth fixing. I think FORD should foot this bill...since its apparent that its a common problem for the 2001 Focuses. Consumers are being ripped off!

- harlequinn, Tracy, CA, US

problem #15

Nov 052010

Focus 4 Door Sedan 2.0

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

estimate price for replacing the engine $2800 and $1000 for labor total cost $3800.

- pughnc, Ahoskie, NC, US

problem #14

Jul 092008

Focus SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Driving Stone Mountain Hugh Howel Rd. Hill in my 2001 Focus and the car just cut off.

- Delphine A., Mobile, AL, US

problem #13

Jun 292009

Focus SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

The first time, I was on the interstate and I was driving at about 70 mph. All of a sudden, my car stalled out, it sounded like it was in neutral. Then my gauges went up and down and I had to pull over to the side. I had my sister and my newborn niece in the car, we were all terrified! We started the car back up and it ran fine. The second time, I was going to a friend's house and I had the exact same problem but this time the car COMPLETELY shut off in the middle of the road! I turned it off and it started back up. I don't know what to do! Please, someone help, This is the only car that I have.

- calikat911, Perry, GA, US

problem #12

Jun 152009

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Has stopped twice in the last 2 months: seems the engine is starved of fuel and just dies. Turns over fine, electrical fine, but no gas getting to motor. After a delay of 10 minutes both times, car started up just fine.

- Dave W., Mountain View, Alberta, Canada

problem #11

Jun 102008

Focus S2 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

The car just stalled as my daughter was driving it. This is the 3rd time this has happened in about 3 weeks. We have replaced the main fuse because it keeps getting hot and burning out but this is not the problem apparently. You will be driving down the road and it will just stop working and it only happens during the day when it is hot out. I have driven it at night to work and haven't had the problem, but as soon as we drive it during the day when its hot outside it stops working. When we replace the main engine fuse it works again for about two days then............ back to the drawing board. I looked on the web and found that the fuel system/engine has a recall on it for this year. it has something to do with the fuel delivery module (FDM). So this week I maybe on my way to the dealer to see if it will be free to replace. I don't know if that is the problem or not?! If it fixes the problem i will be getting rid of this piece of crap.

- Shelly A., Buckeye, AZ, US

problem #10

Jan 082008

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

Car dies randomly, mostly on freeways. Restarts and runs okay for awhile. Replaced plugs, wires, cleaned fuel system, nothing helps. Any ideas?

- Doug F., Lacey, WA, US

problem #9

Nov 242007

Focus LX 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

while driving on the freeway car died ,able to restart but it would only drive 20 miles an hour.Had to pull over and get towed home.I had two of my young children in the car very scary.

- Kerriann T., Kirkland, WA, US

problem #8

Sep 072007

(reported on)

Focus ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Hey!!! I had this exact same issue, my Ford focus wagon died turning the corner out of my daughter's daycare with a semi coming straight at us! No good. I took it into a local mechanic that i use through my place of employment - they said that they checked everything out and it was a heat sensor. Cleaning the heat sensor kept the car from dying since then. It cost me about $150 to have it all evaluated and cleaned. Worth the cost. Other mechanics kept trying to make me change my alternator, pfft - fat chance. Hope this helps!

- eddessa, Hartford, WI, US

problem #7

Jul 022003

(reported on)

Focus SE

  • 47,000 miles

driving in heavy traffic on freeway, speed up to change to get into other lane, engine revs cut out at 4000, engine would faulter at 4000 for rest of trip, this limited power considerably. next day car fine. no further problem until 8 months later when engine cut out again except this time quit completly. and after ten attempts when it would start then stall, it finally did go and then no more problem, until 6 months later engine quit again in heavy traffic with no warning. in all three gases weather was quite warm and humid. Did nothing as felt it was water or bad fuel???. have now contacted dealer as found out this is a real problem with ford focus. I am very concerned for my safety.

- Don N., Whitby, Ontario, Canada

problem #6

Aug 092006

(reported on)

Focus SE

  • 89,000 miles

My car will engine will shut down at random times for no apparent reason. I've spent $350 thus far having mechanics looking at it but have found nothing. The car will simply hesitate around 40 mph; engine, oil, and battery light will come on, the car will shut down and the power steering locks up. Very scarry when driving on a freeway or in busy traffic ... Someone please tell me how I can get this fixed.

- sboras, Tempe, AZ, US

problem #5

Sep 302006

(reported on)

Focus SE

  • 80,000 miles

My focus has had stopped twice while i was on the highway. It shut down and i don't drive it anymore. just in case it stalls on highway and i got into an accident

- Joe D., Shelton, CT, US

problem #4

Feb 142006

(reported on)

Focus ZX3

  • 56,000 miles

My car stall as I was going 30 mph down a hill. First the battery, oil, then engine light went out. I lost power steering too. The weird thing is that my radio kept going. This really scared me cause it was in the middle of traffic. I thought I was going to cause a wreck.

- jmo, Kansas City, MO, US

problem #3

Jan 022006

(reported on)

Focus SE

  • 99,000 miles

i had to fix the car several times and its always the same and the windows break down every so often and im tired of it.

- Jaimie R., Clermont, FL, US

problem #2

Jul 212002

(reported on)

Focus SE

  • 30,000 miles

I have had it in the shop 2 other times telling the Ford dealers that it was hesitating while accelerating, and also that it had stalled a few time going 35 mph and then also on the highway while trying to merge and just driving. They did not find anything wrong. Now it's doing it again and it's out of warranty. I don't know what to do.

- Kim D., Howell, MI, US

problem #1

Oct 132001

(reported on)

Focus

  • 12,000 miles

Engine suddenly stopped while driving at 65 mph with no warning. Car started after 5 min. with no repeat of incident in 2 weeks. Dealer could find nothing wrong. This chance of this happening again makes me very nervous.

- Bob E., Santa Cruz, CA, US