In 2002 I bought a used 2000 Ford Focus se with 32000 miles on it. I purchased an extended warranty to cover it to 100000 miles. Thank the lord I traded the car in 2 days ago after I got it running normal. I use my car for work so I maintain it very well. Oil changes every 3000 miles, which is usually every 4 to 6 weeks. Rotate tires, maintain fluid levels, change plugs, filters the whole 9 yards.
Between the time I bought it and 100000 miles there were 4 recall notices and I had to pay the deductible on my warranty to have the front passenger wheel hub replaced, the ignition cylinder replaced which would lock up and not let you start the car. After 100000 miles the vehicle started to stall. The first time the check engine light comes on and I take it to a local Auto Zone and they hook up the reader and it says there is an oxygen problem and was told I needed a new oxygen sensor which I bought and replaced. Then it starts to stall again but no check engine light comes on.
I took it to the local Ford dealer, which had done all of the other repairs on it. The first time they said it was vacuum leaks which for the labor and parts I was charged $126.91. I brought it back two days later for the same problem. They said they road tested it and there was no noticeable problem. Meanwhile as weeks go by the car hesitates and I have to keep pressure on the gas pedal to try and keep it from stalling. It had stalled out on me at least 4 times while driving and the car was in motion. So a month after the last repair it looses power and starts hesitating even more. I take it back to them and this time I am told it was the ignition coil and that the #2 plug they pulled out was fouled.
I was charged $173.44 for parts and labor and it states on the bill they replaced the #2 plug. I was told that I should have the spark plugs and plug wires replaced and that would be an about an extra $175.00 more, this was the estimate given by them to me. Not even 24 hours later the car is stalling again. I go and buy the plugs and wires and change them myself $34.00 parts took me less than an hour. The #2 plug had not been replaced it was in the same condition as the other 3.
Ford Motor company has had several complaints on the ignition cylinder locking up but has yet to issue a recall. I got the car running with out stalling and traded it in on a car other than a ford. One of the recalls ford issued was for the fuel pump and the problem it had was stalling. I did have mine replaced last year under the recall at the time of the recall but the repair shop said they did not check it again during this problem because it did not show up as a problem during the diagnostic check.
Ford knows they are having problems with this and are not doing anything about it. The Ford dealer/repair shop had 3 looks at it and could not fix it. Thiis is more of a complaint on the Ford Focus that the repair shop. It is tough to fix junk and keep it running I guess.
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