2002 Ford Focus steering problems

“OK SO I'VE HAD MY FORD FOCUS FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS LITTLE THING RECENTLY GOT STRUTS CHANGED IN FRONT AND BALL JOINTS BUSHINGS AND TIRES SO I KNEW IT WOULD NEED AN ALIGNMENT SO GOT THAT DONE NOW AT SPEEDS FROM 50-60 MPH THIS CAR STARTS FISHTAILING OUT OF CONTROL I DONT HAVE ALOT OF MONEY I AM NOT WORKIN AT PRESENT SO I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE MY USED CAR TO DEALER MUCH LESS TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP. I TRAVEL 50 -70 MILES EACH DAY TO WORK AND I'M SCARED ITS GONNA FISHTAIL ME INTO A WRECK. MILEAGE 134000 APPLKE VALLEY CALIF.”

“THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR DRIVING THIS FOCUS IN THE SNOW, WE BOUGHT IT IN 2011. WE HAD A SNOW FALL ON 11/1/2012 AND WE TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE. ANY SPEED ABOVE 35 MPH AND THE REAR OF THE CAR FLOATS (WIGGLES) BACK AND FORTH UP TO A FOOT. IT IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE ON SNOW OR ICE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS THE PROBLEM,: DEFECTIVE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SINCE THEY DID A SILENT RECALL ON THESE IN 2006. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS SINCE THERE ARE MANY MORE FOCUS OUT THERE LIKE OURS, AND FORD SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS ON ALL OF THESE UNITS FROM 2000-2004. I HAVE OVER 35 YEARS OF WINTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE (EVEN THE OLD REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS) BEHAVE SO DANGEROUSLY ON SNOW AND ICE, EVEN WITH ALL SEASON TIRES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY HAVE TO DO SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HERE IS AN ATTACHED ARTICLE I FOUND ON LINE. OCTOBER 03, 2006 FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD DEALERS THAT THEY MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON FORD FOCUS MODELS. THE MODELS INCLUDE: 2000 THROUGH 2004 FOCUS SEDAN, WAGON, ZX3 AND ZX5 SERIES. FORD…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS SVT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE BOLT LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE AIR BAG THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE DISENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY, AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND THE BOLT TO BE LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.”

“THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT WORK AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE ALSO. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND UNABLE TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT DESTINATION. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IT IS UNRELIABLE. I WORK FOR A FIRE AND RESCUE AGENCY WHICH REQUIRES ME TO MAKE QUICK RESPONSE AND WITH THIS DEFECT I CANNOT. IMAGINE IF A FEMALE IS IN A DOMESTIC ISSUE AND NEED TO GET AWAY OR IS OUT SHOPPING LATE AND NEED TO LEAVE THE AREA SHE IS LEFT VULNERABLE AND ALONE WITH NO WAY OF LEAVING. THIS DEFECT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTED PART YOU STILL WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR”

“DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED. CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BELT, AND ADDED MORE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS RUBBING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR, AND RUB OPEN CAUSING A LEAK IN THE LINE. THIS STOPPED THE POWER STEERING FROM WORKING. WE TOOK THE LINE OUT, WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, AND TIME. THEN BOUGHT A NEW PART FOR $55 AND THEN HAD TO PUT IT IN. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT GOT THE PART YET, BUT IT SEEMS AS IF PUTTING IT BACK IN WILL NOT BE EASY. *TR”

“THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. NO AMOUNT OF JIGGLING CAN FIX IT. SO CAR IS UNABLE TO START. (4 TIMES IN A ROW - FINAL TIME, NOT STARTED AFTER HOURS OF TRYING). *TR”