2002 FORD FOCUS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

CYLINDER HEAD VALVE SEAT FAILURE. APPROX 1/2 OF THE VALVE SEAT FELL INTO COMBUSTION CHAMER (BETWEEN PISTON AND HEAD).. THIS CAUSED PISTON TO BREAK AND ROD TO GO THROUGH CYLINDER WALL BUT NOT THROUGH BLOCK OUTER WALL AND CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INTO OIL. BEING A FORD TECH, I HAVE SEEN DAMAGE CAUSED BY VALVE SEATS IN CYLINDERS 1,2,&4. IT'S ALWAYS A INTAKE VALVE SEAT. ALSO ALWAYS AND ONLY ON SOHC MOTOR. HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AND AS EARLY AS 60K MILES. *TT

WHILE IDLING, MY CAR IS TURNING OFF. IT ALSO DOES SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR FROM P TO D. INITIALLY THE GAS CAP LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNALED. I REPLACED THE CAP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. NOW, THE CAR IS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IDLING AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEW! I SERVICE MY AUTO LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO AND THIS HAPPENS. BY LOOKING ONLINE I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. TRY FINDING A ENGINE FOR THIS CAR IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT'S RIDICULOUS! THAT LET ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GOING RATE FOR THIS CAR'S ENGINE IS $1700! SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A PIECE OF JUNK COSTING ME $3500 TO GET IT FIXED ONLY TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT SHOE FALLS!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAILED TIMING BELT. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER COMPLETING A 30 MINUTE DRIVE AND BEING TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. CLICKING NOISES LIKE STARTER FAILING TO ENGAGE OR LOW BATTERY ENSUED. WHEN HOOD WAS LIFTED AND BATTERY COVER REMOVED AND CABLES AND CONNECTIONS WERE INSPECTED, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE POSITIVE CABLE OFF THE BACK OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY HARNESS WAS EXPOSED, THE INSULATION BEING ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED. THE EXPOSED WIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF FRAYING AND BURNING. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 TIMES AND WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MILES TO A SERVICE STATION AND INSPECTED BY THEIR MECHANICS. IT WAS DECIDED FOR SAFETY REASONS(FIRE HAZARD) TO LEAVE VEHICLE. IN 45 YEARS I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A BATTERY CABLE TO MELT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD BAD CONNECTIONS, CORRODED TERMINALS AND HARNESS TO THE BATTERY AND EVEN BAD STARTERS. ALL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN ONTO THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE MOUNT FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. THE CONTACT WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE VALVE SEAT HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE PISTON SKIRT TO FRACTURE ALONG WITH THE CONNECTING ROD. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE CAUSED CYLINDER SCORING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000. UPDATED 11/23/10*JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. IMMEDIATELY, I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE TECHNICIAN COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM , THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULDN'T COME ON. THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY. WITHIN IN WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS TIME THERE WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. NOW, THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD ME MY FOCUS SE HAD A DROPPED VALVE AND IN THE #4 CYLINDER. INORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO SEE IF THE DROPPING OF THE VALVE HAD CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. BECAUSE THE SCHEDULED REQUIRED MAINTENANCE,I.E OIL CHANGES, ACCORDING TO FORD INSTRUCTIONS FOR MY FORD FOCUS, I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WOULD LAST. AFTER THIS EVENT, I BECAME CURIOUS ABOUT FORD FOCUS' ENGINES. WAS THIS AN ISOLATED MECHANICAL...

2002 FORD FOCUS SE STATION WAGON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ENGINE HAS STRONG NOISE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK THREE TIMES TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. THE WINDOW REGULATORS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED TWICE WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE COVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *JB

ON 3/12/09, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON ON MAIN STREET (RI-3) IN ASHAWAY, RHODE ISLAND, AT ABOUT 35 MPH, HIT A SMALL BUMP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE IMMEDIATELY ENSUED. WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHIN A FEW FEET. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BOTH MOUNTING STUDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT FOR THE TRANSVERSELY MOUNTED ENGINE HAD BROKEN OFF ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO DROP DOWN ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXLE. THE CAR WAS FLATBED TOWED 5 MILES TO MY MECHANIC. HIS INSPECTION SHOWED THAT ONE OF THE STUDS HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME, WHILE THE SECOND SHOWED A FRESH BREAK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION, OR THAT THE STUDS HAD EVER BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, BUT THE TOW OPERATOR AND BOTH MECHANICS AT THE SHOP HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THE CONSEQUENCES...

I HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS TWICE IN APPROXIMATELY A 4 MONTH PERIOD DUE TO CRACKING AND COMPLETE BREAKING, A PARTIAL BREAK IN ONE AND GENERAL OVERALL WEAKENING. MY MECHANIC ONLY CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME FOR THE MOUNTS AND INSTALLATION (THE SECOND TIME WAS A FREE REPLACEMENT--AS THE MOUNTS FAILED, AND AS IT CAME ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT). MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLES DUE TO THE LACK OF STABILITY IN THE MOTOR MOUNT AREA. BASICALLY, HE SAID THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH STRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR THE ENGINE AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS GET STRESSED AS A RESULT OF THE VIBRATIONS AND CONSTANT TENSION ON THEM. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT SOME POINT. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME TYPE OF JURY RIG DEVICE TO REINFORCE THE STABILITY OF THE...

FORD FOCUS 2002, 69,000 MILES. ON 8/22/07 DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR STALL IT WAS TOWED AWAY. FORD CALLED ME AND TOLD ME IT COULD BE MY ENGINE THAT'S RUINED DUE TO THE TIME CHAIN. *TR

2002 FORD FOCUS SE 4 CYLINDER SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. DASH BOARD GOES OUT AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND IT IS STILL DOING IT. SOMETIMES IT STARTS BACK UP IF I LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE, BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GET IT JUMPED. VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. *TR

MY FORD FOCUS 2002 STALLS, SOMETIMES IT STOPS COMPLETELY. IT STALLED OUT ON A BRIDGE WHICH INTERFERED WITH TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO TIPTON FORD TWICE FOR REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM

TL*- ON DECEMBER 18TH OF 2006 WHILE COMING OUT A DRIVE-THRU, CONTACT STATES THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WENT ABOVE NORMAL . THE GAUGE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE TOP OF THE REGISTER. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR HER ENGINE NOT TO OVER HEAT SHE HAD TO DRIVE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE COOLING HAD BURNED OUT AND PART OF THE HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND THERE ARE 24 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IF THE INVOICE FOR REPAIR IS NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE.

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING ON OCCASION. ALSO, THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. *JB

THE FIRST WEEK OF ME PURCHASING MY CAR AT GARNET FORD IN CHADDSFORD, PA, I NOTICED I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. THIS HAS ONLY CONTINUED TO HAPPEN MORE. ALSO, MY CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. THE CAR WILL START RIDING ROUGH AND SHAKING INDICATING THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION ON MANY OCCASIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT IT. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT STARTED DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF ME OWNING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME THIS WAY AND GARNET FORD IS SAYING THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY IAC AND THROTTLE BODY STICKING BUT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE AGE RELATED PROBLEMS AND I ADVISED THEM THAT...

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING ON OCCASION. ALSO, THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT TIMES UPON SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN I'M STOPPED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BATTERY CABLE MELTED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. A WEEK PRIOR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FOURTH GEAR WENT OUT BECAUSE IT'S WIRE CONNECTION MELTED. THE CONSUMER FELT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE ENGINE MISPLACED CABLE PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 02V288000. *AK *SC *JB

VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE AIR INTAKE VALVE TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE PA TURNPIKE WHEN SCALDING WATER FROM UP UNDER THE DASH POURED OUT ONTO MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. I SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO MY RIGHT FOOT. THE WRECKER TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER IN EMMAUS, PA FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THAT THE EVAPORATOR LINE WAS PLUGGED, BUT WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE NARRATIVE ON THE SERVICE FORM SAID THAT THE LINE WAS NOT PLUGGED. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR WHICH I UNDERSTAND ENTAILED REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK

THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE AT 55 MPH WITH NO WARNING SIGN. IT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. SUNROOF WAS STUCK IN OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY UNLESS MANIPULATED BY HAND. DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM THE FOLLOWING DAY.

HEATING/VENT PRODUCES A DISGUSTING SMELL. REPAIRS INDICATED OIL LEAK NEAR HEATER - UNKNOWN ORIGIN. SMELL ABATED BUT STILL IT PRODUCES ANNOYING SMELLS THAT REQUIRES WINDOWS TO BE KEPT OPEN. WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO SELLING DEALERSHIP 4TH TIME FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. IS THERE A BETTER WAY AND ANOTHER SHOP IN CLEVELAND, OH THAT CAN MAKE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM? THANKS.

ON NOVEMBER 9, 2002 WHILE DOING ERRANDS I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF 2002 FORD FOCUS (5 MONTHS OLD). IT WAS A WET AND RAINY DAY AND THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGING-UP. I HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO DEFROST THE LIGHT MIST ON THE WINDOWS, AS THE DEFROST BUTTON WOULD NOT WORK. THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK I DECIDED TO PULLED OVER AND CALL FOR FORD ROAD SERVICE. BY THE TIME I WAS GIVING THE REP. MY LOCATION PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FROM THIER HOMES TO MOVE THIER CARS. I TOLD THE REP. THE CAR IS ON FIRE. I HUNG-UP AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I RAN BACK TO MY NEW CAR AND WATCHED AS IT BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTEMENT SAID THE ENGINE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I PULLED OVER...

THE CAR IS A 2002 SVT FOCUS. THE ENGINE HAS A SEVERE MISS/SURGE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LAST TICKET ON THE VEHICLE STATES THAT THERE IS NO FIX AT THIS TIME. OCTOBER 27, 2003 UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER. FORD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK, REFUNDED ALL OF THE PAYMENTS MADE, AND COMPENSATED ME FOR ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS I HAD THE RECEIPT FOR. FORD WENT OUT OF ITS WAY TO MAKE ME HAPPY. THANK YOU.

PROBLEM I'M STILL HAVING AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP IS CAR PULLS TO LEFT, ( NOT CORRECTED) BACK END OF CAR OR TIRES BOUNCE ON ROAD AND ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP, CANNOT STAY ON ROAD IN SLUSH OR SNOW, BACK END IS ALL OVER ROAD, ( NOTHING DONE) TIRES ARE COMPLETELY GROVED IN MANY SPOTS ON THE TIRES, CAUSED BY REAR END BOUNCING ON ROAD, FIRESTONE WON'T REPLACE THEY SAY IT IS FOCAS'S REAR END AND IT WEARS OUT THE TIRES, DEALER OR FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT REAR END OR TIRES, CAR VIBRATES BADLY, REAR DOORS BARLEY OPEN ARE SO STIFF, LOOKS LIKE DOOR LOCKS ARE COROADED NOTHING WAS DONE BY DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY LUBRICATED, NOTHING IS ON THE LOCKS TO SHOW LUBRICATION OF LOCKS.

THERE IS A LINE THAT WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE ENGINE'S INTAKE THAT HAS BEEN LEAKING FLUID SINCE 2,000 MILES AND WAS INSPECTED BY DELER WHO TOLD TO ME THAT IT WAS NOTHING. BUT THE ENGINE CASE SHOULD NOT HAVE A LARGE LEAK OF FLUID THAT SOON. FINALLY NOW, THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING ON THIS AND REPLACED THE HOSE, AS IT WAS SEEN ONCE MORE AND KNOWS OF ALL THE TIMES REPORTED. I HOPE THIS IS JUST NOT A EASY FIX OR THIS NOW HASN'T CAUSED ANY DAMANGE TO THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE ITSELF, AS THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR RIDING ROUGH. THEY TOLD ME LAST TIME THAT THE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS FIXED WOULD FIX THIS. I THINK IT IS DUE TO THE OIL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CASE SINCE IT WAS NEW. A NEW CAR SHOULD NEVER HAVE A OIL...

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON OCT 29, 2002. SINCE DAY ONE THE CAR HAS CONSUMED WAY TOO MUCH GAS. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS! IT HAS BECOME A MORTGAGE PMT! MY CAR PMT IS $344 A MONTH I PAY THE SAME IN GAS A MONTH. I USE TO OWN A 1993 FORD ESCORT,STICK,4 CYC AND NEVER DID I EVER SPEND SO MUCH GAS. I AM 49 YRS OLD, DON?T SPEED, AND KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. I HAVE ALSO OWNED MANY STICK,4 CYL CARS AND NONE HAVE EVER SPEND SO MUCH GAS. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IN THAT RESPECT. SECOND: A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, EVER SINCE THEN, MY CAR WON'T START IN THE MORNINGS, AND WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A AWHILE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES ALREADY, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP 3...

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE LOST POWER, NEARLY RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE TACHOMETER WOULD SUDDENLY RACE UP TO 7000 AND THE WHEELS LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, AFTER 15-30 SECONDS OR DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR, THE VEHICLE RE-ENGAGES AND THE WHEEL POWER WAS RESTORED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FORD WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS INSTALLED TWICE. THE ENGINEERS REVEALED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE SPEED SENSORS AND INPUT SHAFT SENSORS. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE LOSS LASTED 10 SECONDS, THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO 2ND GEAR, THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ACTIVE. THIS PROBLEM RETURNED TWO MORE TIMES....

INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE HESITATED AND TOOK A DIP FORWARD AND DOWN TO THE GROUND. THEN, IT ACCELERATED AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH LANDED IN A DITCH. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. CONSUMER WORE SEAT BELTS. HOWEVER, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK