2002 Ford Focus: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 24, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 73,000 miles · VT · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford focus. While driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle started to smoke from the back seat. Within a short time, the inside of the vehicle was completely filled with smoke. The engine shut off without warning. There were no flames and no injuries. The vehicle was placed in neutral and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the oil pump burned up and the engine was completely destroyed. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure six months later and gave the contact a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. Updated 04/12/17 lj

Filed Dec 3, 2013 · Engine · 136,000 miles · MA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine ignited in flames without warning. The contact was able to exit the vehicle without injury. The fire department and the police department were called and both a police and fire report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was ruled as destroyed and was towed to the contact's insurance agency for further investigation of the failure. The contact also mentioned that upon further research, he discovered that the cruise control wiring remained hot at all times and could have possibly been the cause of the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2012 · Electrical · 135,000 miles · OH · fire

I drove my ford focus about 6 miles to a stop light. When it turned green, I pressed the gas. The car stalled like it was out of gas, regained partial power, and displayed the airbag light. It made it to the next stoplight, and I pulled it over to the side and turned it off and removed the key. At that point a plume of white smoke shot out of the driver's side hood. I told my son to get out because I knew the car was on fire. We walked away, and as we did, the amount of smoke increased exponentially. Within minutes, the front end of the car was totally engulfed in flames. The windshield shattered and melted, the hood was charred and black, the plastic parts of the fenders and bumpers melted away, and part of the body metal burned away on the hood and the fenders. Everything under the hood was melted, distorted, or otherwise destroyed. I kept the car very well maintained, making sure to fix everything that was ever wrong with it immediately upon discovery. I kept up on all oil changes. It is perplexing that a car which is so well kept would spontaneously self-ignite, however there have been accounts of fires in the ford focus since 2000, and many since. Now I have added one more. The car, obviously, is a total loss.

Filed Dec 13, 2011 · Electrical · 96,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. While parked, the vehicle ignited into flames. The fire department extinguished the massive flames and informed the contact that the fire originated within the battery. The vehicle was declared as destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Jun 10, 2010 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · MI · fire

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 seat. I ran into the lawn care business and announced "my car is on fire -- call 911." two employees came out, one with a fire extinguisher; the other asked me for the ignition key who jumped in the vehicle and tried to turn the car ignition off--the car ignition went off but turned on again even after the key had been removed. He pulled the hood latch so the other employee with the extinguisher could use the fire extinguisher. When that person opened the hood, flames shot everywhere. The fire department and police came. The fire department said that the car would have exploded within 2 minutes had the employees not used the fire extinguisher. The fire department sprayed the vehicle with additional fire retardant and stated that the vehicle is "totaled."

Filed Feb 4, 2009 · Transmission · 78,450 miles · VA

While driving at freeway speeds sudden loss of acceleration and smell of burning fluid. Car would not shift beyond 2nd gear. Took to dealer and was told that the 3rd and 4th gears were burnt up. Req'd replacement of transmission at cost of $4,000. Vehicle mileage was 78k and well maintained.

Filed Sep 6, 2007 · Engine · 37,000 miles · NJ

The car was running hot had to use A/C to keep the fans to cool car I took car to my mechanic and he found that the switches for the fans and the rest of the car was burned out and would have cause a fire if I had not brought the car for a checkup it would have caught on fire and I am 3 months pregnant. 2002 ford focus .the mechanic had to replace the switch and the whole wire system it cost me $225.00 I am scared if I did not take the car for a checkup to see why the fans were not working I don't want to know what would have happened.

Filed Aug 19, 2005 · Electrical · 62,100 miles · TX

Dt: the contact owns a 2002 ford focus and she was having problems with the electrical system . Horn failed three times in one year, but the main problem was that on 8-18-05, when she started the car, it was slow to start then it just would not start at all. She thought the battery was bad, but it was good and the alternator was good. She took it to a mechanic and they told her the wire that connected the battery on the left side was burned out. They would not let her drive the car because they said the car could catch on fire. She had it towed to ford. Who told her that there are no recalls. The contact cited recall 02v288000; regarding the electrical system/ battery cables.

Filed May 12, 2005 · Electrical · NJ · fire

Vehicle was parked at state employee's residence for about 10 hours when it suddenly caught fire. Fire dept. Responded and extinguished fire. Vehicle is a total lose.

Filed Aug 26, 2004 · Electrical · 36,124 miles · IL · fire

1. Car stalled 1 day while going around a right corner. Car also stalled another day. On aug. 25 car stalled while driving down the road. Everything electrical went out. When pulled over noticed smoke coming from hood then through the air vents. Car was towed to a ford dealer and the battery, the battery cover and the battery cables were replaced at no charge.

Filed Mar 17, 2004 · Engine · 60,000 miles · NY · fire

While driving on thruway engine quit, and car was on fire. Courtesy ford checked car and found piston went through block causing oil to catch fire under car and melting fuel lines. Vehicle has 60k and has been serviced regularly. Quoted over $6000.00 and was told warranty ended at 36k. This incident could have been very serious.

Filed Mar 17, 2004 · Electrical · NY · fire

While driving 70 MPH smoke was coming in to vehicle through the vents. Vehicle caught on fire. Police and fire departments were called, no injuries reported. Vehicle was towed.