2002 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
- 75
- 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 75 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 7 indicate fire
What owners report
- Ignition · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 15 |
| 100–150k mi | 14 |
| 30–60k mi | 12 |
| 1–30k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Ford focus zx5 2002 power cut out completely while i sat in vehicle with air conditioning running; smoke billowed out from under the hood. I turned off the ignition immediately and pulled the key out of the ignition. The car ignition turned the vehicle back on all by itself. The car began to rumble and smoke spewed from under the hood everywhere. I jumped out of the vehicle and grabbed my two dogs from the back…
Fire reported
ODI 10335650
Electrical System
I bought my 2002 ford focus just 5 months ago (december 2009). When trying to start my car at a restaurant the steering wheel was completely locked, and the key would not turn in the ignition. After a full hour of trying to fix it, i had to have the car towed to a ford dealer, who replaced the ignition with a ford part that i fear has the same problem. The replacement ignition cost me over $400, and does not appear…
ODI 10328678
Electrical System
We just recently bought this car (2002 ford focus) and so i do not know the history of it, however the car just started locking up out of nowhere. The first time it happened was with my husband and luckily he did not have any of our children with him. The ignition keeps locking and we have to keep on having it towed home. We have had this car for about 2 and 1/2 months and so far it has happened 4 times. So we have…
ODI 10330024
Electrical System
Having interminent electrical issues. Would start up and run fine for a period of time, then the 2002 ford focus would just stop running. As time passed the issue grew worse, now the focus will not run at all. The dealership coud not duplicate the problem and could not fix it. *tr
ODI 10508194
Electrical System
At 69,411 miles my 2002 ford focus battery cable was defective and had to be replaced. There were battery cable recalls on other ford focuses for this problem that caused fires. Of course ford would not pay for mine. *tr
ODI 10395405
Electrical System
2002 ford focus battery cables was burning i was smelling a burning scent when i stated the vehicle an well when i drove the car. I had to take it to the shop who informed me that the battery harness in this car frayed and it had to be replaced as well as the alternator. Ford said this was not a recall part. *tr
ODI 10294962
Electrical System
Parked my 2002 ford focus on the street, when i came back the key wouldn't turn in the ignition and the wheels were completely locked up. Called the ford dealer and they told me to yank on the wheel as hard as i could while turning the key, this worked after about 10 minutes, but after i turned it off, it happened again, yanking the wheel for 10 mins it worked. Now i have to leave the keys in the ignition so it wont…
ODI 10294099
Electrical System
Drove to the store, turned the car off but the key was stuck in the ignition. *tr
ODI 10272724
Electrical System
2002 ford focus wagon rear hatch wiring harness frayed wires and no brake lights. *tr
ODI 10287410
Electrical System
Upon insertion of the key into the ignition, the ignition switch fails to allow the key to turn, the steering wheel will not unlock, if it is locked. "tapping" the key into the ignition will allow the car to start and the steering wheel to unlock. Cursory internet searches reveal that this is a very common problem for owners of this make and model. Some owners report having had the switch replaced 4 to 5 times at…
ODI 10257806
Electrical System
The key would not turn in the ignition. I had to hit the side of the steering column then try and turn the key again. This no longer works and i have to hit the key in to the ignition further for it to turn. I am going to ford this week to get it fixed if it does not cost a fortune, but had to wait to get it fixed until my break from school. *tr
ODI 10253420
Electrical System
The key would not turn in the ignition at all. A locksmith was called out to see if he could fix the problem. He told me that this happens very frequently ford focuses. *tr
ODI 10251460
Electrical System
I was stranded when my key was inserted into the ignition and it would not turn. This was a serious incident because i needed to be home to get my 6 year old off the bus and let him in the house. I was unable to do so and my son was extremely distraught. And then i find out this is not an isolated incident but this vehicle has a history of this. Very disappointing. *tr
ODI 10246604
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the ignition appeared to be locked, but there was power. He attempted approximately 25 more times to start the vehicle and also disconnected the battery, but the failure persisted. The steering, transmission, and ignition switch locked. The dealer and manufacturer have not been notified. The current and failure mileages were…
ODI 10242516
Electrical System
With no prior warning signs, key will not turn ignition. I was unable to get to work and subsequently lost $96 in wages, minus taxes. I cannot afford $200-$500 to fix something that will be replaced with the same faulty part, thus having to fix it again in the future. I searched the internet and found thousands of references to this problem, which makes me wonder why there is no recall. If so many people are having…
ODI 10239036
Electrical System · Steering
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
ODI 10237952
Electrical System
I have only owned this car for four months. First the oxygen sensor failed after two days. Then a month later i began having different lights come off and on with loss of power. I took it in to dealership and to ford who could never repeat the codes. I replace the battery and this stopped for a month. It is now doing the same thing again. Stalling or acting as if it will. I have to pull over and restart it several…
ODI 10243490
Electrical System
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. *TR
ODI 10228835
Electrical System · Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. The contact stated that the gear would not shift out of park. The failure occurred twice in three weeks. He allowed the vehicle to run for over an hour; however, the gear would still not shift out of park. The vehicle can only be driven if an emergency button is engaged, which also does not allow the gear to shift out of park. An independent mechanic stated that the failure was…
ODI 10219431
Electrical System · Steering
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,…
ODI 10253447
Electrical System · Visibility
The motor on the sun roof went out while the vehicle was still under warranty i had it fixed then after the warranty expired it went out again and i couldn't afford to get it fixed, the motor for the rear windows went out (both passenger sides) the front passenger door does not lock because the motor went out, and know the drivers side window is starting to make a noise like it going to go out also and the door lock…
ODI 10439986
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
2002 ford focus se 4 cylinder shutting down while driving. Dash board goes out and then the engine shuts down. Battery was replaced and it is still doing it. Sometimes it starts back up if i let it sit for awhile, but sometimes i have to get it jumped. Very unsafe and scary when it shuts down while driving on the road. *tr
ODI 10199323
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the key would not turn inside the ignition. As a result, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ignition needed to be replaced. The contact did not notice any differences beforehand. The current mileage was 147,000 and failure mileage was 126,000.
ODI 10245575
Electrical System
Keys wont release from ignition , replaced ignition switch and still continues to not release key, its evidently an electronic problem since when i disconnect the electrical connection to steering column the keys release. *tr
ODI 10248220
Electrical System
Gauges have been surging along with the headlights. This time was different though as the gauges never returned to normal position and i drove all the way to work ( 13 miles) not knowing my speed ,mileage nor temp of my car. At the same time my radio was on and when i tried to turn down my heat from 4 to 3 it turned off any sound from the stereo. When i reached work i let my car set for a few more minutes when…
ODI 10179429
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2002 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.