2001 Ford Focus Engine Problems
- 29
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 29 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 5 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 7 records
- valve seat · 6 records
- failure failure · 5 records
- check engine · 4 records
- engine light · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 12 |
| 150–400k mi | 7 |
| 60–100k mi | 4 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Car was driving fine running a few errands. Stopped at a store for about five minutes , when i got back in and started the engine all i heard was a loud clanking noise and the idle was rough. Did a little research about the car and discovered all the complaints about engine failure . So thats what happened to mine . Dropped valve seat.
ODI 11121189
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
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/[redacted] again…
ODI 11098857
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 11064238
Engine
My car is 2001. I started to have problems when turning on. I thiught it was starter. But mines thats still good. I thought alternator or bttery but they are new. So they checked with camera and valve pistns not working. I looked up reviews about car make and year. Many comments read valve bent. Pistons gone bad. Now im another owner with same problem. This car in reviews is considered a lemon. Good thing it didnt…
ODI 11021395
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
NO DASH LIGHT TAIL LIGHTS OR MARKRR LIGHTS
ODI 10966416
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While driving 40 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle restarted normally after some time. The failure recurred several other times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,333.
ODI 10969261
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
ODI 10855126
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stop accelerating and responding when depressing the accelerator pedal.the speed of the vehicle would not increase past 30 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the spark plugs, but the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10745194
Engine
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 ford focus. While driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the salvage yard. The cause of the failure was unknown. The manufacturer was notified. The vin was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10722287
Electrical System · Engine
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…
Fire reported
ODI 10716473
Electrical System · Engine
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.
ODI 10703526
Engine
After a 2~ hour drive, engine was turned off and restarted 5min later. An intake valve seat dropped and it instantly smacked the piston on the first turn of the engine, it hit hard enuf to blow the piston apart and the connecting rod put a hole thru the piston liner. Putting coolant in to the crank case, as it was no longer connected to the piston any more. Needless to say it was not able to drive. I repaired the…
ODI 10764226
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
1.engine fades or loses power rapidly during execution of freeway- speed turns (off ramps for example) without braking; i have gone from 50 to 20 mph within 1-2 seconds while in front of another vehicle and semi (very dangerous). The vehicle was tuned and typical parts replaced for smog check a few months ago and passed smog check without comments. This problem started around 100k and has happened to other drivers…
ODI 10648392
Engine
I was driving on interstate 5 in portland or. My engine just stopped!! Right in the middle lane of traffic. Luckily it was early rush hour so it was stop and go traffic. But, was very scary and difficult to get my car off the freeway. I was told that 2001 ford focus's have a fuel line problem that has been recalled. I purchased this car in 2008. There was only 1 previous owner. This recall was not repaired on this…
ODI 10625750
Engine
As i was driving home after dropping my daughter off the car just stopped. I let it roll to a complete stop and then put it in park. I tried to crank the car and i got nothing. All the lights, horn, and all still works by the engine does nothing. *tr
ODI 10620927
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
Was driving my car at 55 mph at 11:[redacted] home from work car made jerk lost all power no brakes no steering black smoke coming through vents to inside of car and flames coming from under hood car fully engulfed in flames blew up. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10607140
Body · Electrical System · Engine
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…
Fire reported
ODI 10559724
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that while parked, she heard a loud grinding noise as oil and radiator fluid leaked from under the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated that the engine would have to be replaced because the valve stem had fractured, causing the piston to detach from the engine. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
ODI 10536032
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that the engine exploded while sitting idle at a traffic stop. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and the current mileages were 197,000. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10520669
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
I have a 2001 ford focus lx with 199,871 miles on it and its my first ford car. I have owned many of ford trucks in my life and always fixed problems with them myself. But with my focus, every time in the past 4 years when i turn a corner roughly around 15 mph or over, it cuts out and the car bogs out and jumps like the engine is going to jump out then i get a bad smell almost like sulfur coming from the car. All…
ODI 10516174
Engine
I was at the gas station filling up the car when i was finished i went to start the car only to hear a sound that reminded me of running over coins with a vacuum and then all of a sudden the vehicle turned off and would not restart. I had the car towed to my place of residence and my father-in-law later on had it towed to a mechanic shop. The mechanic there said that the valve seat broke off and messed up the head…
ODI 10523709
Engine
Ford motor company knew and has know for years about bad valve seats in their 2000-2004 focus's with 2.0l split port injection engine. Where ever these heads were made , the quality control for this part was not evaluated properly. The engine drops a 'pressed in' steel valve seat that falls into the cylinder and puts too much stress on the piston, bore, and connecting rods of the engine. Under this stress it…
ODI 10520557
Engine · Power Train
I was stopped at a red light, when the light turned green and i engaged the gas pedal the car began to clank and jerk loudly and violently. I drove' the car about two feet before the steering seized up, the car could not be put into neutral, died completely, and had to be pushed to the side of the road. One of the pistons, cylinder # 1, was extensively damaged, due to the valve seat failure which shattered the…
ODI 10489042
Engine
2001 ford focus. Consumer request reimbursement for repairs and investigation for possible recall. *smd the consumer is requesting an investigation into the common problem of valve seat breakage in fords older engines. The breakage was due to intake valve seats that were made of a powered metal that shattered easily. The consumer wrote to ford requesting reimbursement for the damage caused to her engine. On…
ODI 10489761
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle overheated without any warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 92,000 and the current mileage was 93,000.
ODI 10477445