2000 Ford Focus: engine failure

Filed Dec 16, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 146,000 miles · CA

We purchased a vehicle on 09/03/2016 from grass valley auto wholesale brokers, grass valley, ca. The vehicle was making a ticking noise and seemed to have a power issue, it kept losing it. The next day I called the lot and told them. They said they had it checked out and not to worry. I did. It kept happening sporadically. I had a 3 month/3k miles warranty. After calling the lot again, I relayed the same symptoms the car was having. I wanted to know did they think if it could be a transmission issue, could be, was the answer I got.. In november I took the vehicle into jr's transmission, came recommended. They serviced the transmission, it was good. It was still happening. Two days ago, coming off a stoplight, I put the gas down and it made a loud knock . I hobbled to the corner, approx 100 yards. It was towed to the auto lot suggested mechanic, who probably worked on the vehicle in the beginning. He told me it needs a new engine. When I called grass valley wholesale auto brokers, the owners son, who is also a salesman there, told me we will work something out. Maybe my dad could take care of half of (referring to the anticipated cost of repairs). Today, the owner would not talk to me, nor answer the phone. I left a message with the owners son. I haven't heard back. I sought out help to remedy this issue straight away from the dealer and repair but the dealer brushed me off. That was when my warranty was in effect. Now im two weeks out of warranty. They should had checked the vehicle when I had originally wanted answers about what was causing it. As according to the owner, his mechanic knows his cars inside and out.

Filed Apr 29, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 142,000 miles · PA

I have owned this car since december of 2003 and it has been a very large money pit. This time the car just stopped running. I had taken it to autozone and they told me it need an egr sensor or hosing for it. When I was turning at a light the car just stopped running when I had just turned onto a main highway. There has been major electrical problems with it since day one. This car has had 5 clutches in it and I have complained about that all in itself because a car should never need that many clutches within 100,000 miles. That is ridiculous and very expensive and I have gotten no where with that even though there are other 2000 ford focus's with the same issue. My one head light is not right it never has been there is corrosion on the inside of the headlamp. The rear door latch does not work on the passenger side of the vehicle. The passenger side front door also does not latch correctly and no longer locks at all. The trunk latch is not right either. It will not always unlatch and then close again. It often requires several more times of pushing the trunk release and it will finally unlock after several attempts. I have put thousands of dollars into this lemon. I have all the repair paperwork, it has a brand new breaking system, brand new transmission, brand new engine, brand new clutch, battery. We have replaced everything in this car and here we go again....this car has sat more than it has been driven!!! I honestly feel that we should be reimbursed for the money we spent on buying the car because it was and is still a lemon since day one......

Filed Apr 10, 2012 · Steering · 132,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning while driving on the highway. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 132,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Engine · 130,000 miles · OK

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving approximately 25 MPH there was knocking sound coming in the engine. There was also hesitation while accelerating. The contact stated that the engine light also illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice and the engine was replaced. The failure continued to occur after the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage 130,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2009 · Engine · 114,000 miles · CO

The early years ford focus, 2000 - 2002 are experiencing a catastrophic engine failure that can occur at any time. This problem involves the valve seat on the intake valve of the cylinder head. The valve seat cracks, breaks apart and falls into the cylinder destroying the piston, head and block cylinder wall on the single over head cam (sohc) 2.0 liter engines - VIN 'p'. It is such a wide spread problem that ford motor company is running out of parts. Auto part stores know of this problem. Piston ring manufacturers know of this problem. Both of which are selling parts at very high volumes related to the engine failure. Machine shops all know about this problem and state that it goes further back to the ford escort model also. Salvage yards know about this problem and are getting 10 phone calls a day for used sohc engines. Salvage yards are selling any and all sohc engine as soon as they get them in in vehicles. Owners who choose to replace their engines with 'used' salvaged engines are encountering the dropped valve seat problem again as the replacement engines fail at approximately 100k miles also - just as the original had failed. Ford motor company knows of this problem and is providing the option of installing a salvaged engine. Cost for installing a salvaged engine with unverifiable miles has been quoted at $1250 for the engine, $2500 to $3000 total for installation. This problem is greater and larger than the 'fuel pump' safety issue and the 'brake' issue. The valve seat can and does break at any time - this problem is showing up in later years also, 2003.

Filed Mar 22, 2009 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MO

It started with a ticking noise I could hear when it just idled, then I got home started it back up and it made a loud noise like something had fallen into the engine. I shut the car off and then we had somebody look at it they said there was no compression in the # 4 piston. They had said something had fallen off the piston and made a bunch of dents and dangs so now we have to replace the engine. It is in my driveway now waiting to be repaired.

Filed Mar 7, 2009 · Wheels · 68,000 miles · 00

Left rear wheel bearing disintegrated at 109,563 kilometers (68,000 miles). Luckily stopped immediately and checked cause of noise. Wheel was wobbling, and would have shortly fallen off, or seized, potentially causing car to serve into oncoming traffic. Removed wheel and replaced bearing myself. Roller bearings in pieces, wheel hub very hot. There is a recall for this defect but apparently my car was not included as I never received a notice. Recall should be extended. 2000 ford focus se sedan.

Filed Jul 19, 2008 · Electrical · 59,383 miles · CA

2000 ford focus: ignition seized up and key would not turn. Aaa roadside assistance banged and jiggled to free it up but it seized three times again -- every time turned off the ignition, it won't turn again. I've read many descriptions of complaints about the same occurrence; plan to follow advise of going to locksmith for replacement ignition cylinder because apparently ford is using same problematic cylinder for replacements.

Filed Feb 17, 2007 · Electrical · 74,000 miles · NY

I parked my car and took the key out as usual. When I got back in a few minutes later and tried to start it the ignition cylinder was inexplicably seized up. This left me stranded, in a snow storm, several miles from my home late at night. In researching the problem I'm seeing it's a common problem for my model of vehicle. If I had been made aware of the problem, as an owner, I could have been aware of the possibility of it happening.

Filed Nov 2, 2006 · Engine · 130,000 miles · NY

The engine blew on my 2000 ford focus. A connecting rod broke and cracked the oil pan. Engine fluids, including oil and anti-freeze poured out of the engine. While there are 130,000 miles on the vehicle, it was well-maintained. We did not expect it to fail after 6 years.

Filed Oct 16, 2006 · Wheels · 10,305 miles · CO

I've had this happen three times now. I get a flat tire. Pull over, jack up the car, take off the lug nuts, then find myself unable to remove the wheel. It is like the wheel rim has frozen or seized onto the hub. This happened most recently just yesterday night. I was driving on a dark highway when front driver's side tire went flat (nail in the tire). I was alone, and I'm a female - with good upper body strength. It was very scary when, after 30 minutes of trying with all my strength to pull the wheel off so I could put on the spare, a truck pulled over and a strange man offered to help. This guy was big, like arnold schwarzenneger, but even he was unable to pull the wheel off! Thank god he was a nice person and not some freak rapist or murderer. He called a tow company for me, who towed me to a service station where they had to use a small jack-hammer like thing to remove the wheel. This should not happen! And this is the third time I've had this problem in the three years I've owned it.

Filed Oct 14, 2006 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · IL

I purchased a 2000 ford focus se new in 2000. Since then I have been minimally satisfied with its performance despite a string of recalls. This week, I went to start my car and the ignition lock seized. I tried to turn it multiple times, bumping the steering wheel to release the lock, and eventually the key broke off in the ignition. I had to tow the car to a dealer, who could not get the lock cylinder removed without drilling it out. The dealer installed an aftermarket ignition as per ford's service bulletin on this problem. The total repair, including tow, cost me $500. I am very upset that this problem happened to me despite the federal safety agency and ford's knowledge of its prevalence (bulletins and complaints). I ask ford to initiate a recall and reimburse me for my repair expense. In the least, I ask the federal safety agency to investigate this problem and force a mandatory recall. Thank you for your time. Tudor hampton chicago, il. * nm