2007 Ford Focus Electrical System

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key ceased in the ignition when the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who replaced the ignition switch. The key fob was replaced however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT BURNED OUT, WHICH I NOTICED IN A WINDOW REFLECTION AS I DROVE AWAY FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE. WHEN I OPENED THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO CHANGE THE BULB, I SAW THAT THE BULB AND ITS BASE AND SOCKET WERE SCORCHED BLACK, AND THE HOLE IN THE RED PLASTIC TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHERE THE BULB HAS TO GO THROUGH WAS MELTED AND WARPED. THE RED PLASTIC HAD TO BE SCRAPED WITH A KNIFE TO OPEN THE HOLE ENOUGH FOR THE BULB TO GO THROUGH. I HAD TO GO TO MORE THAN ONE AUTO PARTS STORE TO BUY A NEW SOCKET. I HAD TO USE BLACK DUCT TAPE TO HOLD THE SOCKET IN PLACE. WHEN I CHECKED THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, I SAW THAT IT HAD ALSO MELTED AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALSO USED BLACK DUCT TAPE TO HOLD THE SOCKET IN PLACE. I READ ONLINE THAT FORD HAS SAID THE REASON FOR THE MELTING IS THAT THE DRIVER KEEPS HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TOO LONG. SINCE WHEN IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON PUTTING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU ARE AT A RED LIGHT, AND OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP TO CONSULT DRIVING DIRECTIONS AND DON'T WANT TO PUT YOUR CAR IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON! WHAT IS THE TIME LIMIT? 30 SECONDS?

CAR IS NOT CHARGING. SMART CHARGE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WHEN THE INTERNAL LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE RADIO SHUTTING OFF, HEADLIGHTS DIMMING BEFORE TURNING OFF, AND WIPER BLADES FAILING. THIS WAS QUITE DANGEROUS AS IT WAS DARK OUT AND RAINING, AND I HAD NO WIPERS OR HEADLIGHTS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR FAILED ENTIRELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, AND I HAD TO GET TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH COMPONENTS FOR $630.80.

OUT OF NO WHERE MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED TO GET GAS AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR CUT OFF AND THE CAR DIED. I HAD SOMEONE JUMP ME AND I MADE IT TO MY HOUSE AND IN THE PARKING SPOT AND AS SOON AS I PARKED MY CAR IT DIED AGAIN. I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ON 6/11/2015 TODAY IS 7/28/2015 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND HAD THE CAR TESTED AND FOUND OUT THE ALTERNATOR IS FAILING. I HAVE FOUND MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR FAILING AND BELIEVE THIS HAS BECOME A HUGE ISSUE. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WILL REPLACE THE UNIT BUT I HAVE SEEN WHERE MANY PEOPLE REPLACED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A 2 YEAR SPAN. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION.

WIRING INSIDE OF BOOT TO THE HATCHBACK (LIFTGATE), POWERING THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, LOCK FOR HATCHBACK, AND REAR WIPER IS BROKEN CAUSING SHORTS. *TR

BATTERY LIGHT LIGHTENED, ABS LIGHT CAME ON, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LINES WENT TO ZERO, CAR JERKED A FEW TIMES, THEN DIED. TRIED TO START IT AND JUST CLICKED, GOT A JUMP START AND GOT IT HOME. BROTHER CHECKED IT OUT, FIXED ALTERNATOR. NOW IT IS ALMOST A MONTH LATER AND SAME THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A GARAGE TO PARK IT. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE IGNITION TRANSFORMER CAPACITOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

THE VEHICLE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE 'SURGING' ON ITS OWN FOR A FEW OF WEEKS. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR BRAKING FOR A TURN. A VISIT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER DID NOT FIND A SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS RACING TO OVER 65 MPH WITHOUT ACCELERATING AND THEN IT DIED. IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY NOISE CAPACITOR. THEY DID FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS TWO YEARS LATER AND IT IS ALSO EXHIBITING THE SAME 'SURGING' ISSUES AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND THIS CAN'T BE A NORMAL THING. THANK YOU. *TR

KEY WILL NOT REMOVE FROM IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS BECAUSE I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON WAY HOME FROM MISSOURI TO NORMAN, OK. REPLACED IT IN JOPLIN, MO. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AGAIN 7/17/12 ON MY WAY HOME FROM MO. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORMAN, OK AND GOT IT REPLACED ON 7/25. COST OVER $500. BATTERY LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN 8/3 AND I TOOK IT BACK IN. FORD DEALERSHIO STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ALTERNATOR WITHIN 3 HOUR DRIVE AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY GOT ONE. THE GUY AT FORD INDICATED MAYBE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM SINCE HE COULDN'T FIND ONE. GOT IT REPLACED AGAIN 8/7/12. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2007 FORD FOCUS [XXX], IT'S A PRETTY GOOD LITTLE CAR. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT GOES OFF. THIS REPEATS. IT STARTED IN APRIL AND LASTED UNTIL THE CAR WOULDN'T START LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, BILL UTTER FORD IN DENTON, TX. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD THE PREMIUMCARE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD AND LET ME KNOW IF IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY I'D STILL BE RESPONSIBLE AS FORD CONSIDERS THAT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND DETERMINED IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY FOR WHICH THEY CHARGED ME $246.61. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ALL RIGHT. UNTIL TUESDAY WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AND TURNED OFF. THIS TIME HOWEVER MY WIFE WAS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME AND SHE BROUGHT IT BACK. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM, BANKSTON AND THY EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT AND I PAID A $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE PREMIUMCARE WARRANTY. SO NOW, FOR ONE PROBLEM I'VE PAID $346.61, WHICH IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS IS NOT SO MUCH. BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME ABOUT $246.61 MORE THAN I NEEDED TO PAY. SO I CALLED BILL UTTER FORD AND WHILE THE MAN THAT ANSWERED WAS VERY NICE AND HAD REASONABLE CONCERNS ABOUT REFUNDING MY MONEY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY ALTERNATORS IN FOCUSES (FOCII?) WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "FORD FOCUS INTERMITTENT BATTERY LIGHT" WHERE I RECEIVED 101,000 HITS. THAT IS MORE THAN A FEW. CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN A FEW. BILL UTTER SAYS THEY CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR IF IT TESTS OK UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL OR A SERVICE BULLETIN. 101,000 GOOGLE HITS APPARENTLY HASN'T WARRANTED A SERVICE BULLETIN. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR HAD TOTAL FAILURE OF ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS FAILED, LIGHTS, RADIO, ANYTHING ELECTRICAL. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT STARTED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. TESTS INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 30,630 MILES ON IT. *TR

AT 41,833 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT ON, THE RADIO WENT OFF AND 60 SECONDS LATER I LOST ALL POWER. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 0 TO 60. TOWED CAR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 45, 296 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED-LOST POWER WITHIN 60 SECONDS OF ABS LIGHT GOING ON THE FREEWAY. TOWED CAR. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND ALSO THE PCM HAD BURNED OUT. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND PCM. AT 45, 536 RED CHARGING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN, REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 45, 641 RED CHARGING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. ALL REPAIRS DONE AT FORD DEALERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RADIO AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE AUTO BODY SHOP STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,120 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING AND MY CAR ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WHEN I WOULD PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE MECHANIC, THEY TOLD ME MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. THIS WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING COMMON AMONG 2007 FORD FOCUS OWNERS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS REPAIR SEEM PREMATURE BUT IT ALSO IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REPLACING MOST ALTERNATORS BECAUSE IT IS A DEALER ONLY PART. IF YOU THINK IT IS JUST ME HERE IS A WEBSITE WITH MORE COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2007/ELECTRICAL/ALTERNATOR_DEAD.SHTML *JS

ALTERNATOR FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE NEVER ONCE WAS INDICATED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY IDIOT LIGHT BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED AT 15 MPH AND IN A DRIVE THRU AT A MCDONALD'S... THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED DUE TO DEPLETED BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL..... NOTE BATTERY PASSED TESTING PHASE AFTER ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT.... PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BATTERY IDIOT LIGHT DOES ILLUMINATE DURING THE KEY ON ENGINE OFF PRESTART SYSTEM CHECK.....ONCE THE BATTERY WAS SUFFICIENTLY JUMP CHARGED THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY APPARENT PROBLEM FROM ANY SYSTEM (NO IDIOT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). HOWEVER WHEN A CHARGING SYSTEM CHECK WAS PERFORMED, THE TEST REVEALED THE ALTERNATOR HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT MAINTAINING A VOLTAGE OUTPUT SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN VEHICLE OPERATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ALTERNATOR FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN INCLUDING ALL LIGHTS..... DOES THIS OR DOES THIS NOT PRESENT A SEVER SAFETY PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE STALLING OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND OR TRAFFIC CONDITION SINCE THE CIRCUIT THAT SHOULD ACTIVATE THE IDIOT LIGHT WHEN THE CHARGING SYSTEM BEGINS TO FAIL AND/OR FAILS COMPLETELY DOES NOT ILLUMINATE SAID IDIOT LIGHT SYSTEM.... *TR

ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2007 FORD FOCUS....ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT...IF YOU CHECK INTO THIS, YOU WILL NOTICE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS IN UNDER 50K MILES ON CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHAFE AND HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10023297 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING). THE CONTACT DID NOT ORDER THE SERVICE BULLETIN FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AND ALL OF THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND I HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACED THE NEXT DAY AND AGAIN THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM BUT THE MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM YET. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE CAR STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *TR

CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IT STARTED WITH ABS LIGHT COMING ON. FOUND OUT ALTERNATOR HAD DIED AND KILLED MY BATTERY. *TR

JUST PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK TWO WEEKS AGO. IT HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT. HARDLY DRIVEN. I DROVE AN HOUR AWAY FROM MY HOME, YESTERDAY,TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING IT. THE RADIO WENT BLACK, ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES FOLLOWED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT APPROX. 2 MILES TO A TRUCK STOP, BEFORE THE CAR DIED, AND I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER REALIZING THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE ALTERNATOR, I DID A SEARCH ONLINE AND REALIZED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE IN THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF CAR, AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND I THINK THEY SHOULD. I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND HER 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO WAS TERRIFIED OF THE WHOLE SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED IN THE DARK AT NIGHT. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT PEOPLE HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR IN THESE CARS MORE THAN ONE TIME, AFTER THE INITIAL EPISODE. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND IT COST ME $100. I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE MY FIRST MONTHLY PAYMENT ON THIS CAR YET !!! NOW IM LOOKING AT SPENDING ANYWHERE FROM $400-$700 TO FIX A CAR THAT I PURCHASED, LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AGO. HAD THERE BEEN A RECALL FROM FORD ON THIS, I WOULD EITHER HAVE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IT, OR I COULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND HAD IT SERVICED, FREE OF CHARGE. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET TO CONSTITUTE A RECALL. I HOPE THIS HELPS IN GETTING THAT DONE. WHERE DO I STAND, IF A RECALL IS ANNOUNCED AFTER I HAVE SPENT THE MONEY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION MYSELF?? *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 24 EAST BETWEEN NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA, I HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED MY ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS WHEN MY RADIO SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TO INDICATE THAT MY ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN. AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 3 TO 5 MILES, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD AND A FEW SECONDS LATER MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS STILL TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. ME AND MY FAMILY WERE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL WE COULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER RAN ELECTRICAL TESTS AND DISCOVERED THE BATTERY HAD FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. ON DECEMBER 1, 2011, ONLY FOUR MONTHS LATER, I WAS TRAVELING TROUGH THE CITY WHEN MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND A FEW MILES LATER THE ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AGAIN. BOTH BATTERIES THAT FAILED WERE MOTORCRAFT 1BXT*96*500. SINCE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE DRIVING WITH NO APPARENT WARNING LIGHTS, AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR