2001 Ford Focus acceleration problems

Filed Aug 2, 2017 · Acceleration · 114,000 miles · TX

This has happened several times. The vehicle accelerates to 2000-3000 RPM by itself. Sometimes while at idle and sometimes while driving at any speed in town or the highway. I have not been able to resolve the issue and have spent money on tps, throttle body, spark plugs and wires, coil pack, fuel pump and filter and it still does the same sudden acceleration. The local dealer said they have not been able to correct that issue with older ford focuses. Is there a fix to this issue available? Maybe a recall? I have been close to hitting a moving vehicle, after exiting ih 35 and coming unto a traffic light on the access road. I almost rear ended several vehicles stopped at the traffic light. Upon exiting the interstate I was approaching the intersection, my vehicle accelerated to about 3500 RPM and I could not stop it using the brakes even though I was practically standing on the brake pedal. I was able to put the gear in neural and thus did not hit the vehicles at the traffic light. The vehicle eventually idled down but it was very dangerous and an extremely scarry situation. I have not used the vehicle since even though I have spent a lot of money on repairs. I would probably not buy a ford again. I am going to sell the car but will tell the buyer that the issue has not been fixed. Thanks for any help available

Filed Aug 12, 2015 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 11,600 miles · MD

When vehicle has ideled or traveled at slow speeds for a long period, the vehicle will not accelerate. It will also stall has lost fuel efficiency and driver can smell fuel. Mechanic states the fuel rail pressor sensor is leaking. Mechanic states part is on national back order. One can only assume that back order is caused by same or simillar malfunction.

Filed Apr 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · WI · fire

2001 ford focus. Consumer writes in regards to electrical system failure. *smd the consumer stated the vehicle was a lemon. Over the past 2 years alone, he has spent $2,000 in non-routine repairs. Every time there was an issue, the vehicle was taken to the repair shop for the problem, but was never fully fixed. On one occasion, the vehicle started smoking and the wiring caught on fire.. The consumer was informed, the vehicle needed all new wiring, after the dash lights and tail lights went out 3 times. Also, the cruise control and all the lights inside the vehicle stopped working.

Filed Jul 22, 2013 · Acceleration · 88,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would randomly accelerate and decelerate independently as if it were going to stall. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer but was told that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The contact also stated that there were no warning lights when the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 88,000 and the current mileage was 90,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2012 · Acceleration · 115,500 miles · WI

Driving with cruise control set at 60 MPH when car accelerated gaining speeds over 75. I pulled over, shut down engine, lifted hood and saw accelerator linkage was stuck. I cleared linkage, started engine and car ran normally. This happened 3 more times on later dates with cruise control engaged. Car starts accelerating until I stop vehicle, shut off engine, and free up linkage/metal.

Filed Jul 12, 2012 · Acceleration · 109,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was a sudden up shift and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably on its own. The contact attempted to down shift into neutral to apply the brakes, but the vehicle failed to brake. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and it accelerated up to 40 and 60 MPH. The contact had to shut the vehicle off to stop acceleration. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or repair shop for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was made aware; however no further assistance was provided. The failure and current mileages were 109,000.

Filed Aug 21, 2011 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 192,247 miles · LA

While passing a car while driving down a two lane road, my accelerator pedal continued going down to the floor on its own. I tapped the brakes, checked to see if there were any obstructions by the pedal, tried everything I could to free the accelerator pedal but nothing worked. By this time the car was traveling in excess of 80 MPH and applying the brakes were not slowing the car down at all. Finally I put the car in neutral and while the engine kept racing at full throttle, I turned off the ignition and coasted to the side of the road. My husband returned to look at the car and found the accelerator cable disconnected and lodged between the mounting bracket and the throttle actuator, jamming the throttle at full throttle. Fortunately this happened about two miles from the house. He was able to reconnect the cable and drive the car home, but he said that while driving back, the throttle was slow to throttle down when he released the pedal. Once back home he found the cable had disconnected again. We are going to contact ford to see if there has been any recalls on this for the 2001. We found recalls on the 2000 model but none on the 2001. We also found one complaint that was described exactly as ours with the cable disconnecting and hanging up on the bracket.

Filed Jun 22, 2011 · Acceleration · 153,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact own a 2001 ford focus. When the contact applied the brakes and stopped the vehicle it accelerated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to have the throttle positioning sensor replaced. A year after the vehicle was repaired, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The transmission and the throttle positioning sensor were also replaced; yet, the vehicle continued to accelerate whenever the brakes were applied. The contact stated the throttle positioning sensor was defective and caused the vehicle to accelerate. The contact was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 153,000. The consumer also stated the vehicle went into neutral while driving. The mechanic stated it was due to a faulty tps sensor. The consumer stated the sudden acceleration would cease for abut six months and then return. The tps sensor was replaced three times. Updated 07/29/11

Filed Sep 30, 2010 · Acceleration, Lights · 107,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. The contact stated that she experienced numerous issues with the vehicle which included the passenger side struts which had to be replaced twice. The vehicle would sit sideways when parked. The back of the front passenger seat would not lock into place, so it slid forward while the vehicle was in motion. The headlights were too dim and did not provide adequate lighting on the road. The front driver's side seat belt alarm would ring although the seat belt was engaged and the latch would also pop open suddenly at times. The vehicle stalled while the contact was driving and would accelerate suddenly. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that the repairs would have to be performed at the contact's expense. The current and failure mileages were approximately 107,000.

Filed Jun 26, 2010 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 123,150 miles · WI

Sticking accelerator pedal 2001 ford focus se. 2.0l l4 dohc driving down the interstate heading to work and was going to set the cruise. I couldn't get it to activate tried speeding up and slowing down and setting - didn't operate. A few moments later a car merged in front of me from the on ramp. I slowed down let traffic on the left go by. I then merged to left lane and depressed the accelerator and it stuck at/near full throttle. I tapped the brakes to see if the cruise had engaged - no change, looked to see if there was an obstruction by the pedal - none found, tried pulling pedal back with my foot - no effect, tried stomping on accelerator to see if it would unstick - no change. I was now going over 80 MPH and close to rear ending a car in front of me I stepped on the brakes hard, it didn't slow down. At this point I turned the ignition off and merged to the right and off to the emergency lane. I opened the hood and inspected the accelerator linkage at the throttle plate. Found the cruise control cable had disconnected and got lodged between the cruise control cable mounting bracket and the throttle plate actuator keeping the throttle plate at or near full throttle. I reconnected the cruise cable went to work returned home and have set the car aside for further inspection.