2003 Ford Focus: engine stalls while driving

Filed Aug 17, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 117,000 miles · CT

Car starts but when put in gear, stalls out. Engine will run with foot on gas pedal but stalls our when placed in gear. **happens only in very hot weather temperatures. Search web for ford focus stalling out in hot weather. Hundreds and hundreds are reporting this problem but no solutions from anyone including ford. Very dangerous to have car quit running at stop signs, intersections etc. No answer from ford in spite of numerous complaints on the web. Must use two feet with one on gas pedal and one on the brake. Ford has no bulletin on this problem that effects so many ford focus owners.

Filed Apr 1, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · OH

The car stalls randomly while driving. All power is lost for steering and brakes. Highly dangerous situation and I don't feel safe driving the car. Happens in all conditions and unexpectedly. Car will restart. Appears to be a current "recall" of ford cars for the same issues. Dealer has no idea what to fix and claims to have no knowledge of the problem. However, this appears to be a never ending problem with fords based on the information I see online. Have already replaced air hose, spark plugs, valve cover gasket, wires. It has been suggested by others online to clean the maf sensor and throttle body, but the dealer doesn't really know if that is the problem or will fix the problem. To them there is no problem. I can see from information posted by others along with the recent recall that this is not a new problem for ford. I have almost been hit and have almost hit others when the car stalls. The problem has been occurring for more than 1 year. Recently stalled 2 times in a week while driving.

Filed Mar 7, 2016 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. The failure occurred on six occasions where the battery and alternator were replaced each time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Dec 26, 2014 · Engine · 114,000 miles · UT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the valve seat fractured which caused the engine block to crack. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

Filed Sep 19, 2014 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that the positive battery cable became extremely hot and melted. When the air conditioning was activated, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who diagnosed that the positive battery cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 100,000 miles · WV · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact lost all control of the vehicle and crashed into a guard rail. The front passenger was thrown into the windshield and as a result of the impact, the contact's hip was dislocated and she sustained severe bruising and a laceration that required thirteen stitches. A police report was filed of the incident. The manufacturer and the dealer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jan 2, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 84,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was restarted and began to function normally. The contact also stated that the trunk latch failed to function correctly and the ignition failed; however the ignition switch was replaced. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 93,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Mar 27, 2012 · Fuel system · 57,375 miles · CT

Having an ongoing stalling problem starting on 5/20/11. Situation usually happens in the afternoon after doing just a couple of local, short distance errands. The car will start but immediately stall after taking foot off the gas. Usually starts after waiting @ 45 minutes/amount of time it takes tow truck to arrive (towed 5x, 1 time was able to drive after 45 minutes). Replaced fuel filter, fuel pump, oxygen sensors (twice), fuel pump driver by regular mechanic. Has happened three times in past two weeks: brought it to local ford dealership to see if they can diagnose the problem. The latest time this has happened, after the fuel pump driver was replaced, I was able to do four errands before the stalling occurred. Also, I was able to put the car in drive by keeping one foot on the gas while the other foot was on the brake and continue moving until braking for a stop sign/traffic signal, at which point it would stall. Nine "stalls" later I made it home; an "improvement" over being stranded at the post office or the mall but certainly not acceptable. The dealership has called to say they think it is the fuel pump and want to replace it with a "genuine ford part," as opposed to aftermarket part my regular mechanic probably used. I hope this is the end of the "replacing parts" routine but am not optimistic due to other complaints I have read concerning this problem.

Filed Mar 23, 2011 · Electrical, Locks · 56,000 miles · DE

Key would not turn the ignition, stalled the car and then could not turn the car back on in the middle of rush hour traffic, on christmas eve none the less.

Filed Mar 22, 2011 · Engine · 120,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the engine stalled without prior warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they informed the contact that the timing belt fractured and resulted in complete engine failure. The technician stated that the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Sep 5, 2010 · Fuel system · 75,000 miles · AZ

Car stalls without warning when stopped at a stop light or when driving down the road at 40 miles per an hour. Car taken to shop a number times. No codes found in computer. Car passes electrical check. Spark plugs and fuel filter replaced. , throttle body cleaned car stalled less often after air control motor replaced. Car has 75,000 miles on it and all scheduled maintenance has been performed as suggested by ford.

Filed Jun 1, 2010 · Engine · 81,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated when starting the vehicle and attempting to reverse, the vehicle would not respond and would intermittently stall. The vehicle would sporadically start and would operate as normal until the failure would recur. The contact replaced the battery but to no avail. The dealer was not contacted nor was the vehicle taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure mileage was 81,000 and the current mileage was 82,007.