Problems with 2001 Ford Focus ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. the contact was traveling 30 mph when the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was restarted shortly thereafter. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vin failed to qualify under nhtsa campaign id number:03v482000 ( fuel system, gasoline). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 157,000...updated 01/30/13 *bf the consumer stated the dealership found pcv hose at the back of the engine collapsed (repaired), performed fuel induction sytem flush, aaa replaced entire cooling system. the vehicle has been repaired as a whole. updated 2/5/2013 *js

On 7/27/2012, the car caught on fire while being driven. the smoke started coming into the interior through the vents. when attempting to pull over,there was no brake (my guess is that the brake line had melted.). my husband used the e brake and park to stop and someone yelled...get out of the car.my husband and son jumped out and the car became engulfed. there is nothing left. he told me that just before that it started hesitating some,like it was going to cut off, but didn't. for a more detailed statement please contact him. i am so thankful that they got out... thank you, *tr

Engine suddenly had no oil in it. in turn, the engine is now blown. *tr

This vehicle has suddenly died dozens of times since april of 2011. it dies when applying the brakes on the interstate, it dies when braking in a parking area. there is no specific speed when this occurs. the vehicle starts back up after two or three times while giving it gas. it happens when the gas tank is full or low and our very reputable mechanic can find no cause. this is extremely dangerous, especially in high traffic areas and i have seen where numerous complaints have been filed online and i hope reporting this will show a pattern with these vehicles. *kb

After purchasing car with 62k miles on it, i discovered a coolant leak the next day. this leak has gotten worse over the last week. a search of different internet sites found at least 15 reports of the thermostat housing coming loose/breaking loose from its position against the engine block. this is where the leak is coming from on my car, and the description in at least one other case appears to be identical to my own leak. the descriptions found online range from nearly immediately after purchase to approximately 1 year after purchase. this leak is severe enough to generate a 2ft wide by 4ft long puddle of coolant in approximately 12hours. continuous leak even after car has sat for greater than 12 hours rules out a failure only while under pressure. *tr

I've had numerous problems with my ford focus and despite regular maintenance i've been stranded on the side of a highway countless times.thus far i've replaced the engine twice. twice i've had to replace the alternator. my throttle does not return to idle and has unexpected moments of acceleration and i've had to replace the engine throttle sensor. both of my front coil springs have broken and were very close to puncturing my tires. after taking my vehicle to numerous mechanics none of them have been able to diagnose why my car shakes so badly. i have very poor visibility at night with the exterior lighting which is significantly less compared to other vehicles. my fan has had to be replaced since it was malfunctioning and my car was having problems overheating as well. during the course of all of these car malfunctions, i've been in dangerous situations on the side of the highway and in risky neighborhoods at night. this car has proven to be very unreliable and unsafe. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving at approximately 10 mph, the engine stalled. the contact tried to restart the vehicle after a minute it would not start up. the contact then noticed smoke emitting from the hood which soon became a fire. the fire department extinguished the fire and a fire report was filed. the vehicle was totaled. the current and failure mileages were approximately 93,000. updated 6/21/10 *cn updated 06/24/10.*jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. the contact pulled over and when he restarted it, the vehicle functioned properly. the dealer, when contacted, stated that they were unaware of such a problem. the failure continued to occur intermittently. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls related to the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 129,000. the current mileage was 130,275.

I have had a ford focus 2001 for two years and in those years i have had to replace the engine and engine mounts. i have found out that this i common place in almost all ford focus's. i fear that this car might leave me anywhere, now one week ago the ignition cylinder has broken. this is not wear and tear. i demand that these cars of 1998 threw 2003 be labeled as lemons and have ford issue a recall or reimbursements on them. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. she received a recall notice for the rear door handles which were repaired at the manufacturer's expense (see nhtsa campaign id 05v030000). the front passenger door came open due to a defective door handle while the contact was driving. the manufacturer was contacted and advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer where they would further investigate the defect. repairs to the passenger door were scheduled with the dealer at the owner's expense. she also stated that the engine failed and was replaced per the extended warranty. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage was 124,000.

My main complaints are the power windows, air conditioning, fuel system issue 3 of the 4 power window mechanism in my car have broken and two are wedged up, which wasn't a huge safety concern to me because i rarely have people in the rear seats. now, i have to decide if i should fix my driver window or wedge it. it is a safety concern for me because if i get into an accident and cannot open my window then i might make it out alive. my a/c is broken as well so in the summer months, i need to choose to either fix my a/c or fix my power window so that i can have ventilation. also, i have been trying to get an issue fixed with the fuel system as it sometimes lurches in the middle of driving. it hasn't stalled on me yet in the middle of an intersection like it has for some people, but i am worried it will happen soon. i am hopeful ford will fix my window issues as this is a direct cause of cheap parts. *tr

The connecting rod broke in the engine. our mechanic said that almost all 2001 ford focus has this problem. i know i have 130,000 miles on the vehicle but i kept up with all recalls and maintenance. just lucky we made it home safe. if there is such a problem with most focus why wasn't it fixed by ford before a break down and lost of my vehicle. *tfr

Our daughters 2001 ford focus caught on fire from the engine, burned into the cabin. the car was off and parked in a lot. we purchased the car from a ford dealership when it was 3 years old, and have never been told of this problem. the car has been totaled. we are so fortunate that our daughter was not injured, nor that anyone else or property was damaged. she had only been out of the car for about 4-6 minutes before it erupted in flames. prior to that the car appeared to drive fine. no smells, no warning lights. very scary. i felt that i need to tell someone, as the insurance company, appears to want to just settle the claim, with no investigation. how are we to make cars safer, if the insurance companies, the last line of defense, don't notify anyone? *tr

Ignition sticks and moves around, horn fell completely out from under the car and hit someone's car, the fan box and all fell completely off and down, backfiring stalling rattling vibrates front right side around tire area rattles horribly, check eng. light stays on mass air flow sensor is bad transmission sensor is bad lighter stopped working car completely goes dead spits sputters, manifold pipe broke so now its loud. its all day long non stop period we have replace several sensors and tubes and wires for it doesn't work not getting the gas mileage i should and i have had it 11 months but hardly dove it 3 total all together i cant afford any thing else to fix these problems 3 days after i bought it its been pure ?!@#$%. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while purchasing the vehicle, the contact was informed that the motor mounts, which hold the engine in place, needed to be replaced. she was instructed to bring the vehicle to the dealer the following day for repair. when she arrived at the dealer, she was informed to leave the vehicle. when the contact arrived to retrieve the vehicle two days later, the dealer refused to provide paperwork stating that the vehicle was repaired. one week later, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and a loud rattling sound was heard coming from the engine. she called the dealer to return the vehicle for repair, but they refused to take her calls. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and a mechanic stated that the motor mounts were never replaced and would cost $3,000. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 127,923 and current mileage was 128,000.

The engine snaped and now the car is no longer working. however prior to that it would idle acting as if it was stalling out and making noises. *tr

Noticed coolant leaking onto pavement for several days. for fear of overheating took it into a pep boys as was closest repair facility. they found the thermostat housing (plastic i might add) was faulty and with parts and labor it came to $455 for the job. the nearest ford dealer said they would need 2 days to even look at the problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions, the engine began to idle excessively high. on a separate occasion, the vehicle stalled without warning and lost power steering. the driver experienced extreme difficulty steering the vehicle and had to use excessive force to turn the steering wheel. the vehicle was able to resume normal operation. the failures occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they wanted to charge the contact for a diagnostic; however, the contact refused due to the cost. the technician refused to repair the vehicle unless the aftermarket parts were replaced by the manufacturer. the parts consisted of the pcv valve and fuel filter. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer conducted a campaign (03v-482) to address the stalling in the vehicles. the contact experienced the identical failures mentioned in the campaign, but the vin was excluded. the failure mileage was 118,000 and current mileage was 119,000.

On hot days after the car has been brought up to operating temperature and is restarted it goes into a mode where it consistently stalls at idle and low rpm. it has a manual transmission. this is an intermittent problem and only occurs some of the time. nether ford or independent mechanics have been able to diagnose and fix the problem. intermittent and unexpected stalling is a significant safety problem. *tr

Thermostat housing has started leaking coolant. this is reportedly a common failure on focus with 2.0l dohc engine (zetec). the thermostat housing failure may or may not be a connection to the valve cover leaking oil onto the thermostat housing and hot exhaust manifold which produces a faintly noticeable burning smell when driving. *tr

Engine failed at 109,000. it threw a rod and destroyed the engine with no warning. *tr

The valve cover gasket leaks prematurely, which causes oil to drip onto the exhaust manifold. the burning oil creates fumes. the poorly designed seals around intake air box allow fumes from the engine compartment to enter the passenger compartment. these two design failures combine with each other to expose passengers to burning oil fumes. now, i have to replace the valve cover gasket to avoid exposing myself to burning oil fumes. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. the contact started the ignition and the vehicle made a strange noise. the engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle could not be driven. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic. the current and failure mileages were 125,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving at any speed, the vehicle would begin to stall and then shut off. the vehicle would also stall and then regain power. the vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. the failure mileage was 86,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving approximately 25 mph and approaching a traffic light, the battery light illuminated. the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood and then flames appeared. she stopped and exited the vehicle when it became completely engulfed in flames. the police and fire departments arrived and a report was filed. the vin, engine size, and powertrain were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 52,899. updated 04/11/08 *bf the dealer stated consumer had vehicle in a pinch bolt torqued and a zetec engine cable routing. the dealer also replaced both front coil springs. updated 04/11/08 *tr

I bought this car in jul07. in dec07 started having problems with car surging/jolting while driving on highway (55-65 mph) then car would just stall, completely die. engine light would come on, no power steering no lights. i would manage to get it over to the side of the road narrowly avoiding accident and car would not start. after sat for about 10 mins it would start. it would drive ok for about 10-20 miles and then surge and die. it happens periodically and in between the car may drive fine for weeks. service center can't find anything wrong with it. it just happened again 3-18-08 while i was driving on interstate at 65mph, jolted twice and completely died. i was nearly killed as a semi was behind me and another beside me. i had to fight the car to get it off the side of the road and narrowly missed the semi running up over the top of me. after sitting for 10 min it started again but would not reach full power. i could only get it up to about 50 mph, then started jolting and died again after about 6 miles this continued for 30 miles. engine light was on. i had that read by adv auto later and it was two codes one for mass airflow sensor. it has been in service garage since then. they can't find anything wrong with it. i did notice that this seems to only be happening when it rains. they sprayed water today on the front of the car while it was running and it died in their shop. they still have no idea what is wrong with it. it also has a loud vibration/noise in front end. motor mounts have been changed, new alternator, new battery, new belt replaced dec 27,07. the vehicle died again feb 5, 2008 6 times. it dies at all speeds and sometimes stalls at stop lights/signs. i am extremely frustrated with it and need a reliable car to get to work and am making car payments on a car that has been in the shop 36 days in the last 90. also very concerned about causing an accident or killing myself, my kids or someone else. *tr

My daughter was driving around 30 to 40 mph and when she hit or tap the brake the car would vibrate and try to cut off. the car did cut off and would not start . i towed the car to a shop and found that the valve seat came loose and fell on the pinions, therefore, destroying the engine. the valve seat was totally gone and went through the exhaust. ford mechanic recommended replacing with new motor and manifold plenum since they would not be able to get all the metal from the valve seat out of the plenum. i could get a used motor but found other on the internet that had the same problem, therefore the problem could happen again. *tr

I am the second owner of this vehicle the day after i purchased the 2001 ford focus the engine light came on and i had loss of power. i took it back to the dealership and they replaced some parts and also had replaced a few recalled parts. the engine at that time had 78,000 miles on it. i have owned the car for a year and a half it currently has 128,000 miles on it now and had to replace serveral parts which are oxygen sensors catalyc converter, struts, shocks and idle pulley. i get my oil changes and tune ups on a regular basis. one morning went to start my car to go to work and it would not start. it was acting as if it had run out of gas but i had over a half of tank of gas in it. after trying to start it it finally started and was making a horrible rattling noise in the engine. it ran for about 15 seconds then died. i left it alone then called a tow truck to take it to an autorepair shop and had a diagnostic test done on it. i was told that a bearing had broke off and hit my third cylinder and smashed my spark plug. it also hit the piston and the piston was cracked. there were no warning signs and i would not have had a clue that there was anything wrong with my car. the auto repair place said the i was lucky that it happened at home and not while i was driving because it could have been very dangerous. i am now having to get a remanufactured engine costing me $3,300. which i have to have financed. is there any thing that i can do?*cn

Thermostat housing is leaking. found internal seal wall cracked/washed out allowing leakage past seal ring. steady drip of coolant from thermostat housing even after replacing seal ring. found many other complaints of same problem in discussion threads on internet. coolant puddled under car where pets can drink it and loss of coolant causing overheating. *tr

2001 ford focus. original owner. maintained. spark plug blew out of cylinder. dealer suggested most expensive fix - new cylinder head and spark plugs. not covered by warranty. will instead just get spark plugs rethreaded and trade in car asap before any other major issues. car lost power. was at a stop light and then made a right turn. lost power and loud explosive noises resulted on freeway access road. police had to come out until tow. dangerous situation. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while attempting to accelerate at any speed, the vehicle hesitates for several seconds before eventually accelerating. the failure occurs everytime the vehicle is driven. the vehicle has not been in any crashes due to the failure and has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current mileage was 107,000 and failure mileage was 100,000

Bought new in '01 ford focus. noticed right off brakes would make a grinding noise and squeak. tires were worn real bad on inside on one front size since we bought it. repeated alignments with no improvement. still experience this problem. started experiencing problems with it missing during acceleration. check engine light came on in february 2005 and took it to the dealership. they replaced sensors that had recall,was recall code p0401. engine light stayed on. they said that we were using gas that was dirty and waiting too late to put gas into the car and that was why it was stalling. we paid $272.98 for them to replace this whole section that had to do with the fuel being filtered. car loses power and stutters going around curves with even over a half a tank of gas. stalling to the point we must pull over into the emergency lane afraid of accident! i own car i bought brand new and it jerks and sputters like some piece of crap from jd byrider! everytime we start the car you smell oil burning for15 minutes afterwards. had it checked no leaks or anything could be found. april of 2005 noticed when the car idled at a traffic light the thermostat would show shoot up showing it was running hot! took it in to the dealership and they found anti-freeze leaking. was told the thermostat housing and thermostat had to be replaced. retested it and was told problem solved. our bill was $375.00. this was first brand new car and was taken well care of, it only has around 78,000 miles on the odometer. i was told there was a silent recall on these for the engine problems and they were being fixed for no cost to the owner. we were not notified of a recall and paid for all of this out of pocket .car is paid off now and cannot enjoy having a paid off car with low mileage because we are scared to drive it and bought a new car that was safe to drive around with our kids! time goes on and it is getting worse. sometimes not wanting to start at all! engine still stalls despite all these repairs. *tr

While driving on an interstate highway the car began to surge and loose power. eventually the car stalled completely. this happened while traveling in normal conditions at ~65mph. the date given is the most recent occurrence. this same situation occurred once before ~1 year ago under the exact same conditions. engine surge has been a persistent problem with the vehicle since it was new (~6 years). *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle began to make a loud rattling noise. there were no warning indicators or prior failures. the contact drove approximately 1/2 mile to her residence. the mechanic stated that the bottom piston failed in the engine. the current and failure mileages were 93,000.

Puddle of coolant on daily basis. slow but continuous leak. had to have thermostat housing replaced. part made of plastic rather than metal. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. while driving 5 mph, the contact heard a popping noise coming from under the hood. she then noticed steam rising from the engine and the vehicle shut off. approximately 5 minutes later, she was able to restart the vehicle. the dealer stated that the egr valve caused the failure and they replaced the valve and the hose assembly. the contact stated that the vehicle drove roughly after the egr replacement. she returned to the dealer and they stated that the engine caused the failure. as of september 5, 2007, the dealer had not replaced the engine. the failure and current mileages were 141,000.

I own a ford focus 2001,zx3 for 59,000. the check engine light came on 6 times now! 2 for a dpfe sensor out, 2 for egr presser valve. also started to stall,buck and surge at 35,000 miles, and found out the fdm had to be replaced. that lasted for a short time which the symptoms came back, and the fdm was replaced again. i have had to deal with inconvenience and the last repair which was dpfe sensor which ford picked up 50% of cost but this car is a lemon! i also had to replace the ignition switch when the key would no longer go in.now the check engine light is on yet again and i have to go back to bob baker ford. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. the engine light would illuminate and the vehicle would stall, stutter, skip, and not run when the tank reached a quarter tank. initially, the contact was informed that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. then she was informed that the timing belt, gear, pulley, and tensioner needed to be replaced. the components were replaced. finally, the contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. ford stated that the vehicle was manufactured too late to be included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline). the purchase date and speed were unknown. the current mileage was 88,000 and failure mileage was 83,073. updated 03-04-08 *bf\the fuel pump was replaced.

Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 ford focus zx3. the contact purchased the vehicle ,and two weeks later the heat stopped working. the contact stated that she took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs, and they did an incomplete repair job. the dealer got the heat to work but it only worked when the contact turned the heat on high. the contact stated that on a really bad snow day she smelled rubber burning and turned the heat off and opened the window. she had to shut the window and turn the heat back on, and when she did fumes began to gather in the vehicle, and the entire vehicl was filled with smoke. the contact continued to drive home when the car shut down entirely. ford and toyota gave her the run around concerning replacing the vehicle and a trade in. the contact was instructed to continue using the vehicle while a trade in was being negotiated. when the contact went to sign negotiation papers she was declined. *ak the consumer stated after picking up the vehicle, all the lights illuminated, the consumer was told it was fixed. the salesman test drove the vehicle and it cut off in the middle of the steet. updated 03/30/07. *jb

At seemingly random time my 2001 ford focus zx3 stalls. so far the stall has only happened when at a stop, but sputtering and loss of power randomly at highway speeds has me worried about an eminent stall. i have had the fuel filter changed as well as the egr valve and egr pressure flow sensor and nothing has solved this problem. *mn

Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 ford focus with a current and failure mileage of 140,000. the contact stated that she was driving 55 mph on a hot day and the vehicle would sputter and lose acceleration , then lost power. the contact stated that the engine would stall, but the car would still be driving until the contact applied the brakes. the contact had the mechanic changed the spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter, but the problem persisted. the contact called the manufacturer, and they told him to take it to the ford dealer to get it diagnosed. the mechanic stated that it was a failure in the fuel distribution system, but the parts were on nationwide back order. *ak

I have had my ford focus wagon for three years now. i had to repair a alot of things on this car! tranny, alternator, fuel pump, timing belt, and the only door that opens from the outside is the passenger right front, which my kids have to climb through to get to the back because both back doors broke not even four months from the day i bought it. also the driver door only opens from the inside because of the companies defected car door handles. my friend has the same car, and its the same way. not mentioning how everytime i stop it dies out and i have to try and keep starting it. it seems there is always something wrong with it. *tr

Cracked thermostat housing. i recently needed to have the plastic thermostat housing replaced on my focus, as it was cracked and leaking. i have been researching on the web and found numerous other entries regarding the problem. i have not seen a recall or any info regarding if there is a systematic failure of the part. i have the part if needed for research. *nm

Dt: the contact stated while driving 35 - 40 mph, the check engine light and battery light illuminated. while pulling the vehicle into a parking lot all the dashboard lights darkened and the vehicle hesitated as if it was going to stall. it was parked for about 3 minutes and the vehicle would not restart. the vehicle was observed by an independent mechanic who determined that a barren came out of one of the pulleys however that would not cause the vehicle to stall. the vehicle was left at the scene of the incident. two days later the contact returned to the vehicle and the vehicle was burned. the insurance investigator observed a security video which identified the vehicle smoking and a window had fallen.

2001 ford focus - 23,000 miles. engine stalls without warning. i have taken the vehicle to 4 different mechanics and the problem is not located. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at any speed and without warning the vehicle stalls. after one hour the vehicle restarts. the dealer replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, cam, oxygen sensor, fuel sensor, fuel line, coil tech, and vacuum hose; however this did not remedy the problem.

Brakes had to be replaced at less than 24,000 miles; continues grinding and squeaking continue even following brake replacement and turning of rotors; at have replaced all four tires two times, with less than 20,000 miles on each set of tires; ignition switch malfunctioned - i could get the key into the ignition, but it would not rotate; now at only 41,000 miles, the engine attempts to stall in idle - the whole car shudders - and has stalled twice while i was stopped at traffic lights. this presents a dangerous situation, not only for myself, but for my two children and others on the roadway. in reviewing this site, i am obviously not the only one experiencing these same problems. why doesn't the nhtsa issue recalls on ford focus for these and other problems? ford should recall the whole line and issue refunds to customers or cancel their remaining loan payments. i am a single mother with two children, who cannot afford costly repairs. the attitude of the service personnel at the ford dealership here is awful, and they have treated me badly every time i have gone in there, so that i don't even want to take the car in with this latest problem.*ak

2001 ford focus engine stalling. *jb

I was driving my 2001 ford focus i just bought from an independent dealer and 3 or 4 days later the engine started stalling out of the blue. i didn't think anything of it until my engine light came on while driving. i got it tested and it said cylinder 2 misfire. i got the spark plugs and wires changed and it didn't do it anymore. then a week later it started doing it again. this time with my wife driving the kids to a doctor appt. everything seems to be ok with the car except the stalling. when i turn the ac on the stalling seems worse. i have had the car for 4 months and have tried everything i can to get the problem fixed. but, no one can seem to figure it out. there have been a lot of close calls with accidents. *nm