2000 Ford Focus: jerking or lurching

Filed Mar 14, 2011 · Fuel system · 165,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving approximately 30-35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to jerk abnormally as the speedometer failed. The vehicle later stalled yet the contact was able to restart the vehicle and it was taken to an authorized dealer. The dealer performed a diagnostic and advised that the fuel delivery modular would need replacing. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline) and was advised by the dealer that the recall had expired. She called the manufacturer and was advised that the recall was only effective for ten years and the vehicle was outside of the ten year limitation. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 165,000 and the current mileage was 167,913.

Filed Aug 26, 2010 · Fuel system · 111,512 miles · AR

Everytime I try to merge into traffic my car loses power and sometimes dies. I have tried to keep my gas tank above half a tank bc it seems to run better when it is. But I cant always do that and as soon as it hits around a fourth of a tank it struts to mess up bad.. It feels kinda like a miss. It will start messing up and eventually start losing power. It has jerking movements when I push on the accelerator. I have tried to figure out why it has been doing this.. At first I thought it was the plus so I got those change and the plug wires that didn't help so the next guess was the catalytic converter got that taken off and checked it wasn't that.. I research and research and then discovered this website.

Filed Jul 16, 2009 · Electrical · 107,560 miles · TX

After stalling out the engine of my 5 speed transmission in 1st gear, the car wouldn't start again and in fact lost all power. It was jump started, but in 1st and 2nd gear, it sputtered and lurched forward, then died again. We had to have the car towed to the shop as it was undrivable. Lucky we were just in a parking lot and not out on the road or it could have been disastrous. Even the emergency flashers would not turn on due to no power. The repair shop said that the battery is completely dead and that the battery cables were melted.

Filed Nov 1, 2007 · Acceleration, Brakes · 12,500 miles · FL

On 10/23/07 I inserted key into ignition of my ford focus and immediatley the lights and gauges went haywire-vehicle failed to start. To make a long story short ,after unpluging the battery cables and going back to the stranded car the next evening, it started . 2 days later my wipers came on by themselves and would not stop until I turned the car off and restarted. On 10/31/07 while driving my daughter home, the vehicle began accelerating and deccelertaing uncontrollably. I pulled of the highway and when I opened the drivers door, the seatbelt light began blinking and making a loud ticking noise. This had happened the night prior, but I thought maybe the button was depressed. My dome lights make a screeching noise and blink on and off. This is a serious problem that needs to be looked into. Whenever something like this happens I am driving home late at night and of course the dealer is not open to help me . My car is almost paid off and I will not invest more than what it is worth, which is only about $2,500.too bad I have paid about $18,000 for it. I would also like to know why I have not received recalls for the following problems: 1. 1st month after purchase, electrical system running airbags, mirrors, doors etc. Failed. 2. 37,000 miles- transmission failed 3. 42,000 miles- power door locks failed and soon after passenger doors stuck in the lock position. 4. All window tracks have failed. 5. Wheel bearings replaced. 6. Trunk latch failed 7. Ignition failed and was replaced and is going again. 8. Brought in for 1 recall (fuel filter) and still didn't correct problem with vibration and lurching. This is a vehicle that exceeds highway saftey ratings? Something will be done about this if I must hire an attorney- I am out a lot of money and no vehicle.

Filed Feb 1, 2007 · Electrical · 51,000 miles · VA

The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus, tend to stick and you cannot remove the key without jerking hard on the key to remove . Now the key is stuck in the switch and will not turn on. It stranded me 5 miles from home.

Filed Aug 9, 2006 · Acceleration · 180,000 miles · MO · crash

Dt*: the contact stated while placing the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle lurched backwards and struck a concrete pillar in a parking lot. The contact was wearing a seat belt, but no injuries were sustained. There was minor damage to the rear of the vehicle. The police was not contacted. Additionally, the engine revved while driving various speeds. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted.

Filed Feb 26, 2006 · Fuel system · 39,880 miles · KY

I bought a used 2000 ford focus and I will be driving about 50-55 MPH and go to slow down or stop and when I go to give it gas and it hesitates and jerks and my mechanic said there was a concern with this vehicle about the fuel pump and I was just wondering if the dealer is doing anything to prevent this. I still have about 4000 till my initial warranty runs out and purchased the extended warranty for the vehicle please help me out eric peters.

Filed Feb 12, 2006 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · GA

My idle speed control valve I was told was not working properly and the RPM's would shoot up whenever I would have the car in neutral. However this posed as a high danger risk because it would jerk forward because of the car idling and such a high point. This almost caused me several accidents and is seeming to be hurting the engine. However the danger of keeping my car like this is why I am writing. I think this posed as a driving risk b/c of how unsafe it made the car after this started to act up.

Filed Aug 5, 2005 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA · fire

While driving my 2000 ford focus, I came to a four way stop and the car ceased to work, as if I had turned off the key...no sputtering, just stopped. I restarted the vehicle and it lurched forward, died again, just as before. As I looked out the front windshield, I observed smoke coming from the hood of the car. I exited the car and flames were coming from the wheel wells. I immediately called 911. People began spraying water on the car from garden hoses, two people stopped with fire extinguishers and nothing put out the flames. When the fire department arrived, within 10 minutes, the entire front of the car was destroyed. Pieces in the engine compartment were melting and falling off the engine onto the ground. Police arrived to direct traffic. The car was towed to wendle ford, and my insurance company removed the vehicle to their premises the next day. I still have no idea what could have caused this problem in a five year old vehicle with no prior problems. As I have seen several other incidents of fire in this vehicle, the government should make ford motor company investigate why this is happening before someone gets killed!

Filed Jun 24, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · GA

The consumer had numerous repairs performed on her 2000 ford focus. *jb recall campaign#02v288000 & 00v411000. Repairs that have taken place within one year: 14 new tires because of a problem with the wheels, engine, transmission jerking, re-wired, battery, overheating and muffler.

Filed Feb 15, 2005 · Acceleration · IL

Vehicle lurched forward, and owner had to take out the key from ignition in order to stop the vehicle. Manufacturer will be contacted by consumer.

Filed Nov 27, 2004 · Electrical · 68,000 miles · VA

I recently encountered a problem with my ignition. When I attempted to insert my key into the ignition, the key would not insert entirely and would not turn to start the car. The steering wheel was completely locked while in park. Initially, I thought this was an "easy fix", so I tried to jerk the steering wheel to the extreme left or right, but it refused to cooperate. After over an hour of attempting to insert my key with failure, I called a locksmith. The locksmith told me "this is a common problem in ford focuses". I'm curious as to why ford has not issued a recall on this particular matter. I've read numerous statements online from other ford focus owners with the same problem (see http://www.automotiveforums.com/t158426.html and http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/messages/27215.html). The locksmith had to uninstall the old ingnition switch and recode and install a new ignition switch for $190. Since my purchase, ford focus has issued three recalls (upcoming fourth recall) and I'm surprised this problem is not one of them with the large number of complaints from others. Hopefully, further investigation will take place to repair this problem and not leave any future owners stranded when they attempt to start their car.