Problems with 2002 Ford Focus EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Tail light connection melts due to bulb getting too hot. impossible to remove connector to replace bulb. have to replace entire lens. many, many reports online of this happening. ford denies and refuses to replace. expensive remedies for customers. this happens on focus wagons and many other fords.

While waiting at a construction site the engine died and would not start (the engine indicator lit). the brake lights, power windows, and rear hatch release also failed to function. the vehicle was towed and the personal mechanic reported the electrical harness to the rear hatch had failed where is passed between the body and the hatch door. the harness electrical insulation was cracked on the entire bundle of wires and shedding fragments causing some wires to short, the 15 amp fuse for the brake lights had evidence of heating, but did not blow, rather, wires leading to the brake pedal sensor, the 15 amp fuse, and along the harness back to the short in the rear wiring harness near the center brake light had discolored and were melted in some segments. ford customer service said to consult a ford service center to determine if there was a manufacturing defect. the ford service representative said he had seen this before and said it was not a manufacturing defect, rather it was a design defect that occurs after 10 years or more. *tr

Rear door wont latch right and driver side tail light wont work. *tr

Driver side tail light and brake light. the housing is shaped so that you can't take the lightbulb out w/o breaking it. i told them to do whatever to make it work can't afford $118.00 to replace a manuf defect part. *tr

Clutch assembly has a leak of fluid into the interior of the car (down the clutch armature to the clutch pad and to floor mat, if significant leakage) which has a) caused the clutch pedal pad to become slippery and fall off due to the fluid seeping behind the pad [after market replacements not available due to relative youth of car, therefore necessitating service at dealer], b) causes the brake light to come on sporadically due to a drop in brake fluid (clutch hydraulics share a reservoir with brake system), although no finding of corresponding brake trouble can be made [problem temporarily disappears when fluid level topped off] and c) causes sporadic clutch "softening" and decreased effectiveness. issue has been brought to the attention of both dealer and independent service providers several times, but none can find a fault with the braking system as indicated by the error light and therefore none indicate that a trouble exists. the leak is not obvious upon visual inspection of the braking system and the problem does not appear to have a negative impact on braking power (unless left too long and brake fluid levels drop significantly). unable to locate precise location of leak (suspect either reservoir or some associated line to clutch hydraulics) or to determine why only clutch system appears to be impacted. 1) no noticeable/known events leading to failure; uncertain how long condition existed prior to initial documented problem 2) see failure and consequences noted above 3) no correction in place yet as dealer service does not yet acknowledge problem and did not "find" problem at recent 60k service work-up (included total systems check and full brake inspection with fluid top offs) problem with brake light firing manifest approximately every two weeks (since first noted in november 2006) due to fluid loss, particularly when temperature drops below 30 degrees fahrenheit. issue is "resolved" by adding brake fluid to reservoir. *jb

A year ago, the driver's side turn signal light on my 2002 ford focus wagon burned out. in trying to replace it at a local auto parts place. the socket was so tight in the lens/reflector assembly that it could not be removed. i took it to my dealer, kain family ford in london. i learned that the problem was that the fitting for the socket had warped from excessive heat, apparently. the dealer searched to see if there was a technical bulletin and found one instance in which a pizza driver in a similar vehicle had a similar problem. they were able to pull the light out and with a pocket knife make the new socket fit in the assembly, and charged me the hourly rate for the work. i suspect this is a manufacturer's defect, because i've heard of two other instances in the same type of vehicle in this area with the same results. i recently replaced the passenger side headlamp and fount the same warping. i have yet to take it to my dealer, but will. is there a way to search repair records for this vehicle to determine if this is a defect and should be recalled? i learned of this site from click and clack on npr's cartalk. *nm

The housing on the left rear tail light melted which was caused by the light bulb overheating. this caused the brake light to fail. consumer informed other drivers that the vehicle was coming to stop, which could result in an accident.*ak

My car stalled when driving anywher from 20 - 70mph. the gauges go haywire the light cut off and on , the clock resets, the speedometer goes crazy, and i have a young daughter that rides in this car. this started in october and is still going on to date. my car is still under warranty. *ak

There is a line that went straight into the engine's intake that has been leaking fluid since 2,000 miles and was inspected by deler who told to me that it was nothing. but the engine case should not have a large leak of fluid that soon. finally now, they have done something on this and replaced the hose, as it was seen once more and knows of all the times reported. i hope this is just not a easy fix or this now hasn't caused any damange to the inside of the engine itself, as the engine has been in the shop for riding rough. they told me last time that the part of the transmission that was fixed would fix this. i think it is due to the oil leak on the top of the engine case since it was new. a new car should never have a oil leak on a engine case.

Transmission went out 2 times in 1 year. driver airbag shifted on its own. rear passenger door does not unlock/open. front ball joint cracked. gas cover/door fell off. the smell of gas inside car at all times. blinker would not turn off by itself. key chime goes off when the key is out. *jb

I have a 2002 ford focus zx5 4 dr hatchback my problems started on 7/21/03 when my brakes lights, headlights, turn signal and radio stopped working. i took it into the dealership and it was repaired however now the radio will no longer response to me turning the vol. up or down as well as i only only set the time on military time. now on 9/7 my brakes have started to grind. on 9/11 my car now vibrates when i accerate at 60 mph +. in the past week i have also noticed that my car will accellerate and hesitate when in motion. in the last three months my gas mileage has slowly declined as well. i am taking it into the dealership tonight - but thought i need to report. seems there are many others like me.