2001 Ford Focus Powertrain & Transmission Problems

THE CAR JERKS WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE. THE CARS STALLS WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. I HAVE TO TAKE OFF IN 2ND GEAR. THEN I CAN PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT TAKES OFF JUST FINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND CHANGING GEARS FROM SECOND TO THIRD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS LX WITH 199,871 MILES ON IT AND ITS MY FIRST FORD CAR. I HAVE OWNED MANY OF FORD TRUCKS IN MY LIFE AND ALWAYS FIXED PROBLEMS WITH THEM MYSELF. BUT WITH MY FOCUS, EVERY TIME IN THE PAST 4 YEARS WHEN I TURN A CORNER ROUGHLY AROUND 15 MPH OR OVER, IT CUTS OUT AND THE CAR BOGS OUT AND JUMPS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO JUMP OUT THEN I GET A BAD SMELL ALMOST LIKE SULFUR COMING FROM THE CAR. ALL FLUID LEVELS ARE GOOD WITH A FULL GAS TANK. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD. USUALLY I CAN JUST PUNCH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY GAIN RPM'S AGAIN AND GO WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I TURN SHARP AGAIN. I HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND CABLES, ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH PLATE, FUEL PUMP AND VARIOUS PCV VALVES AND HOSES. HAD THE FUEL PRESSURE TESTED AND IT WAS FINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSISTENT LIKE THIS FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD GURU BUT THIS CAR IS MAKING ME THINK TWICE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN THAT GO WITH ME ALMOST EVERYWHERE WITH ME AND JUST TODAY AS I TURNED A CORNER GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY RAMP, IT BOGGED OUT WORSE THEN EVER WITH MANY ANGRY DRIVERS ON MY TAIL. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH THE CAR INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I HIT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR LIKE I USUALLY DO AND IT STARTED GOING AGAIN, BUT IN FIFTH GEAR IT KEPT JUMPING AND CUTTING OUT. I TURNED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT RAN FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON MY MAKE AND MODEL AND TRIED MANY SOLUTIONS WITH NO LUCK. WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I SEE THIS PROBLEM ALLOT WITH FOCUS BUT NEVER ANY WORKING SOLUTIONS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I TURNED ON MY CRUISE CONTROL, I HAD TO BARELY BRAKE FOR A CAUTION WHEN A CAR WAS COMING IN MY LANE, ONCE I WENT AROUND THEM...I LEFT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF....BUT THE CAR SPED UP ON ITS OWN...APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MILES AN HOUR. MY BRAKES WERE WORKING JUST FINE. I CALLED MY DAD TO SEE WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DO....I DROVE ON TO WORK (APPROX 20 MORE MILES) AND DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE WHOLE TIME....THE CRUISE WAS OFF...THE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND THE CAR CONTINUED GOING 60 MILES PER HOUR....ONCE I CAME TO MY EXIT, I TOOK IT OUT OF 5TH GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND THE CAR REVVED UP HORRIBLY...I PULLED INTO WORK AND SHUT IT OFF. RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. THESE CARS NEED RECALLED!!!! *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I ENGAGED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR BEGAN TO CLANK AND JERK LOUDLY AND VIOLENTLY. I DROVE' THE CAR ABOUT TWO FEET BEFORE THE STEERING SEIZED UP, THE CAR COULD NOT BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL, DIED COMPLETELY, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONE OF THE PISTONS, CYLINDER # 1, WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED, DUE TO THE VALVE SEAT FAILURE WHICH SHATTERED THE PISTON, BROKE OFF PIECES OF THE PISTON SKIRT, AND BENT THE CONNECTING ROD. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CYLINDER WALL, BUT PIECES OF THE PISTON SKIRT WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PAN, AND PIECES OF THE PISTON CROWN WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. VALVE SEAT BREAKAGE IN THE OLDER MODEL FOCUS, IS SO COMMON THAT AERA ENGINE REBUILDERS ASSOCIATION ISSUED TWO BULLETINS (TB 1725 & TB 1939) TO ALERT THE INDUSTRY TO THIS ISSUE. THESE BULLETINS STATE THAT THE 'INTAKE VALVE SEATS ARE MADE OF A POWDERED METAL THAT SHATTERS EASILY'. ON OCTOBER 29, 2012, AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, I PHONED FORD TO REQUEST A REFUND FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS AND WAS INFORMED, THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL NO REFUND COULD BE ISSUED. THE VALVE SEATS HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE FAULTY POWDERED METAL TYPE, THIS SHOWS THAT FORD IS AND WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. INTERNET ENTRIES THAT OUTLINE THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2001 MODEL CAN BE FOUND AT NUMEROUS WEBSITES, INCLUDING: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2001/. *TR

SATURDAY MAY 04/2013 MY CAR KILLED OVER 30 TIMES DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES. THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR DOING 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT THIS SPEED. IN THIS CASE, I DROVE INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FORD OF BELLEVUE AND IT CONTINUED TO KILL WHILE THERE TRYING TO MOVE IT. THE SERVICE PERSON BLEW ME OFF WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME CHECK IT OUT OR EVEN LISTEN. AS I WAS DRIVING OUT IT KILLED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. THE SALES MANAGER SAID TO BRING IT IN MONDAY. SUNDAY IT STOPPED KILLING. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN MONDAY, I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE WENT TO FIND HIM & IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THAT WAS CURIOS AS THE PLACE WAS DESERTED. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER ARRIVED, HE REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER ONLY SAYING WE WERE BUSY. I HAD CONTACTED FORD AS WELL AS THE FRANCHISE HOLDER AUTO NATIONS PREVIOUSLY BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. LAST WEEK I SENT A LETTER TO THE CHIEF ENGINEER AT FORD BUT I SUSPECT NOTHING WILL BE DONE AT THAT LEVEL AGAIN. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TODAY THAT WAS POSTED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL " THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES DUE TO FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM/FUEL PUMP. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. I TALKED TO FORD, THEN I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY TOLD ME, AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST IT'S A FUEL PUMP ISSUE..." THERE IS MORE TO THIS POSTING BUT THE BOTTOM LINE FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND CHOSE TO IGNORE IT. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN & IT COULD BE A KILLER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCLERATE BEFORE STALLING WITHOUT WARING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, SECONDS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 137000.

I WAS DRIVING, AND WANTED TO SHIFT TO LOWER GEAR (FROM 5TH TO 4TH - MANUAL TRANSMISSION) FOR BRAKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN THE 5TH GEAR. I USED THE CLUTCH TO COAST TO A SAFE STOP AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE LOCATION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT DUE THE BROKEN CABLES FROM THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THESE CABLES AND THE CAR IS OK. WE DID NOT SAVE THE CABLES.*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVEL COULD ONLY BE PLACED IN DRIVE, AFTER SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL. ALSO THE REAR EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CV-JOINT MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CV-JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40100 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND JERKING. SHE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS. NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE YET, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AXLE SPLIT IN HALF. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,050.

TL*THE CONTACTS SON OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACTS SON NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED DUE TO FAILED/DEFECTIVE WELD, LEADING TO DAMAGE TO CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. WELD SHOWED INDICATION OF INSUFFICIENT HEAT PENETRATION. DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD HAVE NOT PASSED QUALITY INSPECTION. DEFECTIVE PART AVAILABLE. CAR STRANDED IN GEAR. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED THE DPFE SENSOR WENT OUT. SHE SAID IT WENT OUT 2 YEARS AGO AND SHE HAD IT REPLACED. SHE SAID IT CUT OUT WHILE SHE WAS GOING 40-60 MPH. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS JERKING. SHE NOTICED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD HER THAT IT WAS A WEAK SENSOR, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. *AK

DT: WHEN DRIVING A CERTAIN SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL JERK, USUALLY BETWEEN 35-45 MPH,. IT IS WORSE WHEN TRYING TO GO UP HILL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT REPLACED PARTS 2 DIFFERENT TIMES, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP, AND THEY REPLACE IT. THE DEALER THOUGHT THAT MAY SOLVE FPROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT. *AK

I FIRST NOTICED A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I TOOK MY CAR IN TODAY TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS NOR DO I THINK I DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE I REALIZED IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY IN MICHIGAN AND ASKED WHAT THEY DO ABOUT VEHICLES THAT ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I DID TELL THE GENTLEMAN ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAD SEEN ON THIS SITE AND AGAIN HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I GUESS IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED DUE TO THESE "UNSAFE" VEHICLES THEN SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT WHICH IS A SHAME.

DRIVESHAFT BROKE AFTER BRAKING AND SWERVING AT 50 MPH.*AK

CONSUMER WAS SHIFTING GEARS AND TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ITS OWN. TRANSMISSION WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY, AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO BACKWARDS IN REVERSE AFTER A LOT OF JERKING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BACK AT ALL. *TC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DRIVE THE SAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF ENTIRELY. THE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER WHENEVER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, OR AIR CONDITIONING WERE ACTIVATED. THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO SHORT AND, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS HAD TO BE ACTIVATED. THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SEAT WAS INOPERABLE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHILE THE IGNITION IS ON. FINALLY, NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE FUNCTIONAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.