2002 Ford Focus: won't start

Filed Dec 14, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 60,000 miles · MD

Vehicle towed to ford dealer because it would not start. Upon inspection, dealership found front sub frame completely rusted through. Said it is "one pothole away from the engine falling out; totally unsafe to drive." rusting also caused corrosion in wires from ignition to starter, resulting in car not starting. This car was purchased brand new, has been garage kept, only driven 5,000 miles per year by elderly couple. Obviously the metal used in sub frame was not properly coated. Will cost thousands of dollars to fix, if it is deemed worth fixing! Someone could have been seriously hurt or killed if this engine had indeed fallen out while in motion!

Filed Sep 9, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 132,000 miles · OR

While waiting at a construction site the engine died and would not start (the engine indicator lit). The brake lights, power windows, and rear hatch release also failed to function. The vehicle was towed and the personal mechanic reported the electrical harness to the rear hatch had failed where is passed between the body and the hatch door. The harness electrical insulation was cracked on the entire bundle of wires and shedding fragments causing some wires to short, the 15 amp fuse for the brake lights had evidence of heating, but did not blow, rather, wires leading to the brake pedal sensor, the 15 amp fuse, and along the harness back to the short in the rear wiring harness near the center brake light had discolored and were melted in some segments. Ford customer service said to consult a ford service center to determine if there was a manufacturing defect. The ford service representative said he had seen this before and said it was not a manufacturing defect, rather it was a design defect that occurs after 10 years or more.

Filed Dec 31, 2012 · Electrical, Fuel system · 132,500 miles · MI

Vehicle runs fine when we go into school/business or what ever we park and come out and the vehicle does not start, after 1/2 hour to an hour the vehicle starts and no problems. It turns over but does not fire. New battery did not change it. Tune up by a certified mechanic did not fix issue, plug it into a test machine no codes given. This does not happen all the time, every once in a while. Issue is that a young lady drives the vehicle, if she is stuck in the wrong parking lot who knows what can happen. God forbid.

Filed Aug 8, 2012 · 90,000 miles · LA

Ignition key will not turn - car will not start.

Filed Nov 8, 2011 · Fuel system · 114,000 miles · TN

Car was running funny for about a week. Leaving a store parking lot. I pulled out on the highway and car started missing real bad and stalled. Would not start back up. I had it towed to the garage and was told after they looked at it that it needed a new fuel delivery system or fuel pump and stuff. Another known issue by ford motor company,but not for my ford focus. The guy I pulled out on probably thought idiot.

Filed Dec 1, 2010 · Electrical · 82,000 miles · CA

On nov 12, 2010 my car would not start. I had to have my vehicle towed on nov 13,2010. Per the tow truck driver the reason why my vehicle would not start was because of a defective ignition part. Later that night on nov 13, 2010 my vehicle once again began to work. I called the local ford dealership service department to inquire if the was any recalls pertaining to this part. They told me no. Again on nov 17, 2010 the problem began again. I did not drive the car for several days until nov 20, 2010. Today dec 1, 2010 I was left stranded due to my car not starting again. This is a safety concern for me because I have spoken with several mechanics as well as tow truck drivers who all have informed me that recently many ford focus vehicles they have either worked on or towed have all had the same problem as mine. As of now I will have to pay all costs out of pocket for these repairs for a well known defective part that the ford company refuses to put a recall on the vehicles that are affected by this problem. This company needs to own up to this problem that is a huge safety concern!!!

Filed Jul 26, 2010 · Electrical, Locks · 67,500 miles · UT

I own a 2002 ford focus se and for the past three weeks we've been forced to "entice" our key into the ignition and to turn in the ignition to start the car. Finally, today, 07/25/2010, we had to leave it while visiting a friend because it would not start, no matter what we did. We will be towing it and fixing the problem and, through research, we have came to the conclusion that it would cost $300+ to do so.

Filed Jun 10, 2010 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · NY

Key is stuck in ignition, vehicle will not start. My son was stranded.

Filed May 11, 2010 · Electrical · CA

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 had to pay $160 in towing costs. We have a friend that somehow fixed it and my husband spends hours outside messing with it to get it working. This time is wont start at all and its the worst timing ever we have a premature baby and 4 other children that need to get to school and daycare.

Filed Oct 12, 2009 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · MS

I own a 2002 ford focus wagon, the key will not turn the ignition, therefore the car will not start. This has been going on for about a month. Today oct 12, 2009 the key would not turn the ignition and the car would not start so my child missed school today because of this. This is getting frustrating I have only had the car since april of 2009 and this is causing me grief. I will not buy another ford focus due to this frustration.

Filed Mar 11, 2009 · Electrical · 85,000 miles · WI

The key does not turn in the ignition so the car won't start. My teenage daughter drives this vehicle which can be very dangerous if it occurs in an remote area especially on a cold day/night such as tonight. Fortunately, the car is in our driveway but it was pure luck that it happened there instead of somewhere else that could have left her stranded indefinitely in sub-freezing temperatures or in a secluded area.

Filed Jan 30, 2009 · Engine · 00

Ford focus 2002 would not start the ignition.