2002 Ford Focus: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 11, 2007 · Electrical · 66,000 miles · MT

I had just gotten off work and went to leave. I tried to turn the key in the ignition and it wouldn't move. To make a long story short, it was my ignition switch. The guy at the ford dealership new exactly what I was talking about when I called, stating it has happened several times to the focuses. The tow truck driver stated that same thing. Ford says it is not a safety issue, but it definitely can be. I will never buy a ford again, especially not one from archie cochrane in billings, mt. They are a bunch of money hungry jerks who are unwilling to take responsibility for their wrong doings or have any sympathy for a customer.

Filed Jul 16, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · VA

2002 ford focus sedan manual transmission with 80,000 miles. With no warning the engine acts as if it is going to stall, vehicle hesitates, jerks and sputters. This literally causes the vehicle to jolt forwards and backwards and shakes the passengers inside the vehicle. This is a very scary event, especially at 70+ MPH speed or when in traffic. Highly concerned that the vehicle is going to simple shut off while on interstate 95 which could be deadly. The ford dealer where the vehicle was purchased and maintained has run a diagnostic test that showed no abnormalities. The following week the key would not turn and the vehicle had to be towed with ignition/steering repairs. The vehicle was re-examined while again in the shop and driven again by the service team and they were unable to provide a useful diagnosis of the engine hesitation problems. We need a resolution to this problem and it appears that no one can appropriately diagnose the problem.

Filed Jul 3, 2006 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · NC

Dt: the contact stated while driving 20-25 MPH on a major roadway, the vehicle began to jerk as if it were going to stall. The accelerator pedal was depressed causing the vehicle to travel through an intersection however it eventually completely stalled. The vehicle would not restart and all the lights on the dashboard were completely darkened. A new battery was installed by the contact and the vehicle driven home. About four hours later, the vehicle began to jerk again and stalled. The vehicle stalled four times throughout the day. When this occurred with the vehicle about a year ago, the vehicle was taken to a dealer who determined the cable wire was not connected properly. The contact expressed that the cable wire may not be the problem and will check to see if the alternator may be the source of the problem.

Filed Jun 8, 2006 · Fuel system · IL

My ford focus 2002 is starting to stall & hesitate while driving. I originally had believed it was bad fuel but it is recurring & once it stalls it is difficult to nearly impossible to keep running when putting it into drive. I have had it towed once & looked at by my mechanic, who is puzzled at this point (fuel additive, oil change, filters changed, spark plugs cleaned). It seems to be worse when the gas gage is @ or below a 1/4 of a tank. I have read that there was a similar problem with the 2000-2001 models & am inquiring if anyone with a 2002 is reporting such incidents. I bought the car used (from a ford dealer) with 12,000 (I think) miles on the speedometer & have been fairly happy until just the last 60 days. I can tell you that I had no problems until I ran very low on gas one night & stopped & filled up at a station that I normally do not use, but it is a station that does a great deal of business in the area where I work. I thought that I may have gotten some bad fuel or had run the tank so low that "gunk" from the bottom of the tank had gotten into the fuel. I used some "fuel additive" & I know that my mechanic (after towing it) also used a fuel additive...everything was fine for a couple of days but then it was hesitating/jerking while I was driving to work on a 1/4 of a tank of premium fuel (my mechanic suggested I only put in $10.00 of gas in case it was the fuel pump). My mechanic does not believe it is the fuel pump because once he got it to run & he had it running hot he had no problems...he feels I may need to just wait it out...stalling while in traffic is a bit too adventurous for me!!!

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Electrical · 45,116 miles · AZ

Battery cable failure identical to those recalled in 2000-2001 ford focus (02v288000) in a vehicle manufactured very early in 2002 model year. Failure initially caused engine to miss while driving, causing it to lurch severely with a loud 'bang'. Dealer (berge ford, mesa, az, 8/05/2005) had vehicle 3 days, found no problem. Vehicle became incapacitated 8/24/2005, cable was replaced at dealer (holmes-tuttle ford, tucson, az, $500 battery cable!), but not returned to us.

Filed Jun 24, 2005 · Engine · 89,000 miles · WI

The day was very hot, 90+ degrees. I had the air conditioning on while driving and had to take my husband to a dentist appointment. I left the car running with the air conditioning on for about 10 minutes, then shut the car off. After another 5 minutes, I restarted the car, with air conditoning on and waited for my husband to return. The car was running for a total of about 25 mintues while parked. My husband returned and we proceded to go over to the other side of town to get some dinner. It was 4:30 pm at this time. On our way, the car started to 'jerk' forward and backward and I had no acceleration at all. I stepped on the gas and absolutely nothing happened. I managed to get over to the side of the road when the engine just died. I tried to start it several times to no avail. We waited several minutes and I was able to restart the car. We drove on, with the air conditioner on for about 6 more miles when the same thing happened. I managed to get off the road, but not before the engine died. My husband called a local ford dealership and told them what had happened and we were told it sounded like the fuel pump might need replacing. We had the car towed to a local ford dealership, not the one we had called, and were told they would get to it that night yet. They called us at 8:30 pm and had not gotten around to doing the diagnostics as yet. They called back within 30 minutes and told us that the fuel pump will probably need replacing, but they will call us as soon as they knew for sure. At 11:30 pm, they called to say that the diagnostics had shown nothing and they could not replicate the problem. They had no idea what the cause may have been and were shocked that such a thing could even happen to such a new car. There was nothing they could do. We picked the car up this morning and are praying to god that we can get home this evening without the problem happening again.

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Acceleration · 12,393 miles · PA

On several separate occasions vehicle commenced to accelerate and lurch forward without warning. No incident occurred at this time. Vehicle has been to the dealer and they were unable to duplicate the problem.

Filed Apr 10, 2004 · Body · OH

Water leak into the trunk from bodyseam, and water leak into the passenger side front floor from cowl panel seams and fresh air vent::: fuel pump - electric ( in tank ) replace::: vehicle has a bad jerking problem, service dept. Can't correct problem::: lr window scratched replaced window::: rear view mirror door mount replaced::: premature tire wear::: ect.

Filed Nov 13, 2003 · Suspension · 19,700 miles · OH

Front end made a very loud clanging noise lasted about 10 minutes, pulled off highway looked under vehicle could not see anything wrong, on several occasions while driving between 55-65 MPH car would jerk very bad, dealer could not solve or find a problem, vehicle at repair shop now.

Filed Aug 28, 2002 · Suspension · NJ

While traveling at 45 to 50 MPH vehicle jerks back and forth. Took to dealer ,and they couldn't duplicate the problem. Please provide any further information.

Filed Jul 15, 2002 · Engine · CA

At approx three hours after purchasing our new focus, we where driving on the freeway. The vehicle began to jerk, and the speedometer went from 60 to 140, and returned to zero. The vehicle then came to a stall. We then noticed that the check engine light came on, the fuel cap, and the engine services soon. We were able to restart the vehicle, but approx 5 minutes later, the engine shut off. We then return the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. The services department stated that the causes was a loose grounds, and incomplete cir. The services department corrections were diag. Led to loose ground connections near battery. A few days later the vehicle did not want to start, and it took 2 attempt's to start the vehicle.