2003 Ford Focus: fuel pump failure

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 126,000 miles · IL

I purchased a 2003 ford focus in february of 2012. Immediately after purchasing it, I had to spend $700.00 to fix the motor mounts, bearings in the front wheel, something regarding a cover for the tail pipe/muffler area, A/C, (twice repaired, and went out). Fuel pump, door jams in front (2 door), locks on the doors would automatically lock whether you wanted them locked or not. Door on passenger side refuses to open from the outside. Spent over $4,000 in fixing, replacing, engine & body parts.etc. Just when I bought a second set of new tires last week and did the 3 month oil change, it konked out on me, after a shrilling, high-pitched noise. Just got off the expressway. Found out from a repair shop that this model, especially the 2003 is known for transmission, shoddy parts, and is a safety hazard! The pump inside the transmission broke. This car came with 124,000 miles and over 2 years, spent $4,000.00 on top of the used private purchase of $2,400.00. Car repair shop wants $2,400 (what I paid for it) to put a new transmission in. One thing after the other went wrong. I plaint experienced, and it has cost me so much money, I feel ford needs to replace every penny us consumers paid on this model. Never again need to recall the whole car, it is a death trap.

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 Dec 14, 2005 · Engine · NC

For the past 3 months I have had a problem with the engine of my 2003 ford focus zts stalling and sometimes cutting off completely. This happens under normal driving conditions and happens infrequently. It is very dangerous because the car can shut off while attempting to pull out across traffic or while in fast-moving traffic lanes. I have taken the car to my local ford dealer where they have experienced the problem first-hand but been unable to fix it. It has been there a total of 4 times, and this one with be the fifth. Every time they have seemed to isolate the problem but it always seems to resurface within 48 hours. So far, the dealer has replaced: oxygen sensor, fuel pump, fuel modulator, and a transmission sensor. Jiffy lube has also replaced the fuel filter. Although none of these parts have been covered by my extended warranty, the dealer has been kind enough to compensate me for approximately the last three repairs from them. The car is still not fixed and I plan to take it back today. I am very frustrated because this is a car with 40,000 miles on it and rated very good by consumer reports. I have also checked several online forums and people are having the same problems but no one seems to know how to fix it. I feel like I have purchased a "lemon", but the nc law does not apply since I bought it in virginia. The virginia lemon law does not help either because it applies if the vehicle was serviced at the dealer it was originally purchased. I also feel like this vehicle should be part of a recall but ford has failed to acknowledge the problem (there was a recall on 2001 models for the same issue). Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Filed Jun 22, 2004 · Fuel system · 16,633 miles · TX

While driving at any speed vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced and he replaced it. However, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer six times. *ak

Filed Jul 7, 2003 · Fuel system · 2,000 miles · UT

I currently have 7000 miles on my focus. The fuel pump has been replaced 3 times the fuel rail pressure sensor has been replaced. Its in the shop again. Car stalls constantly. Lots of excuses, no solutions. Currently researching lemon law.