2007 Ford Focus Electrical System

OUR ALTERNATOR FAILED IN OUR FORD FOCUS ZX3 2007 TODAY WHILE DRIVING - GOT THE CAR TO FORD SERVICE STATION WITH SPARE BATTERY AND JUMPER CABLES AND DID SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2007/ELECTRICAL/ALTERNATOR_DEAD.SHTML ALTERNATORS SHOULDN'T FAIL THIS OFTEN ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 30K MILES. FORD SHOULD RECALL AND REIMBURSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH OREGON ON I-205 IN EXTREAMLY HEAVY RAIN MY 2007 FOCUS WITH 64,000 MILES LOST MOST ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. AIR BAG INDICATOR ALSO ILUMINATED ON INSTRAMENT PANEL. THIS ALL OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO NEXT EXIT AND FOUND SEARS SERVICE CENTER WHO DIAGNOSSED PROBLEM AS BAD BATTTERY AND ALTERNATOR. NO PRIOR WARNING FROM BATTERY LIGHT IN INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS PROBLEM OCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN LOW VISABILITY IS A DEFINATE SAFETY HAZARD. I KNOW ALTENATORS FAIL FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THE LACK OF WARNING IN THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION OF LOW VOLTAGE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS FROM FOCUS OWNERS ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL SENARIOS. I THINK FORD MUST KNOW BY NOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 FOCUS. *LN

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF MY 2007 FORD FOCUS CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AUGUST 31, 2011. THE CAR HAS 37,023 MILES AND HAS HAD ALL THE DEALER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD BY THE LONGMONT FORD DEALER THAT THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INDICATED A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION AND THAT THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM WAS NOT ENGAGED WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE WHAT HAD CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ACTIVATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD FAILED AND THAT THE ENTIRE CLUSTER MUST BE REPLACED. THIS ELECTRONIC FAILURE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT REPLACED AT A COST OF ~$800.00. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS CAR MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAFETY SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY INACTIVE WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS IN THIS WAY. FORD DOES NOT OFFER TO REPLACE THIS AS PART OF THE SAFETY WARRANTY PROGRAM. I THINK THIS IS WRONG AND REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE FAILURE OR WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE SUCH A REPAIR AND CHOOSE TO DRIVE THE CARE WITHOUT THE SAFETY FEATURE OPERABLE. *TR

FORD FOCUS 2007, 42,000 MILES. LIGHTS WENT OFF AND CAR STOPPED ( NO POWER AT ALL), DEAD) IN THE MIDDLE OF URBAN INTERSECTION WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT WAS SAT. EVENING AND CAUSED SHOCK AND INCONVENIENCES TO DRIVER WHO MISSED IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ALTHOUGH THIS TIME AN ACCIDENT/CRASH WAS AVOIDED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, DISREGARDING WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $683.00. A RECALL HAS TO BE FILED BECAUSE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST FORD FOCUS 2007 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY AND IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REMOVED THE BATTERY CABLES IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE FORD DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ

THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR ON THE 2007 FORD FOCUS. SEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ALTERNATOR FAILING ON THIS VEHICLE, CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, ETC.), OFTEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FIRST, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN MY ABS WARNING LIGHT, THEN MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, AND THEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED. *TR

STEP-DAUGHTERS TOOK A LOAN FOR THE LOW MILEAGE ECONOMY CAR TO COMMUTE TO COLLEGE AND PART-TIME JOB. STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. REPLACED IT. WIFE TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE MARKET AT DUSK WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS AWAY JUST TO KEEP THE CAR FROM SITTING. FOUR MILES DOWN THE TWO LANE THE ELECTRICS STARTED FAILING. CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT CRANK. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST PART WAY ONTO A SIDE ROAD. AS IT GOT DARK SHE SAT AND WAITED EXPOSED TO TRAFFIC ON A 50 MPH ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS ON A CURVE. LUCKILY SHE WAS OUT OF THE CELL PHONE DEAD SPOT. I BLOCKED THE SIDE ROAD WITH MY TRUCK SO I COULD HOOK UP CABLES. STARTED CAR. CHECKED WITH METER. ONLY BATTERY VOLTAGE. SAT FOR 15 MINUTES WITH CABLES CONNECTED TO CHARGE UP THE BATTERY. SENT WIFE HOME IN THE DARK RUNNING FLASHERS AND HOPED FOR NO DEER CROSSING. PULLED ALTERNATOR WHICH IS JUST ABOUT AS HARD TO GET OUT IS IT COULD BE ABLE TO BE ( I WORK ON EQUIPMENT FOR A LIVING). TOOK ALTERNATOR TO TEST MACHINE. IT FAILED. REBUILT ALTERNATOR IS OVER $200 AND I WOULD RATHER NOT PUT A REBUILT IN A LOW MILEAGE LATE MODEL, ESPECIALLY SINCE ITS SO HARD TO GET IN AND OUT. THEN AGAIN MAYBE THEY ARE FINDING THE FAULT DURING THE REBUILD AND UPGRADING THE FAILED COMPONENT. FORD AND THE OTHERS BUILD CARS WITH COMPONENTS THAT THEY PURCHASE. SOMETIMES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A BATCH OF COMPONENTS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR REPUTATION AND BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMER THEY ISSUE A LETTER AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE 20 PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COMPLAIN HERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE AND ENOUGH OF THESE HAVE HAPPENED UNDER WARRANTY THAT FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BEST OF THE BIG THREE IS NOT LIVING UP TO ITS STANDING IN THIS CASE AND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN A LOW END CAR BRINGS UP RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EXPLODING PINTOS. PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF FOLKS WITH ACCESS TO EXPENSIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE DRIVING THE FOCUS. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY ON MY 2007 FORD FOCUS SE THAT HAS 27,783 MILES ARE DEAD. I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTAINED ON TIME. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TODAY FOR OIL CHANGE AND 30,000 MILE REQUIRED INSPECTION AND MAINTAINED. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 40 MILES ROUND-TRIP AND STOPPED AT THE LIBRARY. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS THE OIL LIGHT WENT ON BUT THE CAR MADE NO SOUNDS AND ENGINE WAS NOT EVEN TRYING TO TURN OVER. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AND AFTER AN HOUR WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE BOTH DEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS COULD OCCUR FORM THE DEALER AND THE CAR ACTED PERFECTLY FINE. THE ONLY REASON I KNEW ANYTHING WAS WRONG WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE NIGHT MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR FAILING THE CAR RAN ON 12VOLTS OF POWER FROM THE BATTERY AND NOW THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND CANNOT BE RECHARGED. HE ALSO SAID THAT YES, THE ALTERNATOR DOES GO OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THAT IT IS COMMON TO NOT KNOW IT HAD DIED UNTIL THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPS WORKING. THE CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 3 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL AND THE DEALER EXPECTS $645 TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH TONIGHT, AND LEARNED THAT IT IS COMMON FOR FORD FOCUS CAR TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DIE AT ABOUT 3 YEARS OF AGE. I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR ON SEVERAL EXPRESSWAYS TODAY, HAD THE ALTERNATOR DIED 10 MINUTES SOONER, I COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A CAR CRASH. 1. NO WARNING BEFORE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DIED. CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. CAR WAS AT DEALER TODAY FOR 30,000 OIL CHANGE/ MAINTENANCE CAR HAS LESS THAN 28,000 MILES. 2. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY HAS DIED. 3. DEALER SAID THE CAR NEEDS NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. WOULD NOT OFFER ANY DISCOUNT FOR REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE KEY BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ENTIRE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

ABOUT 4 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED MY BATTERY LIGHT FLICKERING, I WASN'T TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY ON, I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY THE BATTERY AND I WOULD REPLACE IT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WELL IT DID NOT LAST A WEEK! THE REASON I WOULD CLASSIFY THIS AS A SAFETY PROBLEM IS: BECAUSE OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILING AND NOT CHARGING THE BATTERY, MY 2007 FORD FOCUS JUST STALLED ON A FREEWAY GOING THROUGH CLEVELAND OHIO. NOT ONLY DID I LOSE ENGINE POWER, EVERY THING ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HORN, ETC. TRYING TO NAVIGATE ACROSS 3 OR 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND DEPENDING ON LOCATION OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE OR IF IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING HOURS A DIFFERENT KIND OF DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD OCCUR! I HAD TO BE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP ON A SATURDAY, BUT THEIR SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED UNTIL TODAY MONDAY, THEY CALLED TO INFORM ME OF COST OF REPAIR (OVER $400) WHEN I PICK UP CAR I WILL MAKE SURE I GET THE OLD ALTERNATOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START THEREFORE HE REPLACED THE BATTERY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WHILE DRIVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

BATTERY LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. THEN RADIO GOES OUT, WITH LOW BATTERY READING ACROSS THE RADIO. THEN LIGHTS START TO DIM. ALL METERS STOP WORKING ON THE DASH AND THEN THE CAR JERKS WHILE DRIVING AND DIES AS IT WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. REPLACED BATTERY ASSUMING SINCE THIS WAS THE DASH WARNING. AS SOON AS I PULL OFF WITH THE NEW BATTERY, THE BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AGAIN. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED AND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IT SHOWS THE ALTERNATOR IS BAD. READ MANY REVIEWS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, BUT OVER THE WARRANTY AS FAR AS MILEAGE IS CONCERNED. HAD PREVIOUS CARS WITH MANY MORE MILES THAN THE FOCUS HAS WITH 56000 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ALTHOUGH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK. IT TOOK HER FOUR HOURS TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, IT WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER IF THE FAILURE RECURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,326.

AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M. ON MARCH 13, 2010 I DROVE MY 2007 FORD FOCUS INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PARKED, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THEY WOULD NOT COME OUT SO I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT METHODS (I.E., RESTARTING THE CAR, PLACING THE CAR'S GEAR SHIFT IN VARIOUS POSITIONS, RE-PARKING THE CAR) TO REMOVE THEM BUT NONE OF THESE WORKED. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1 (800) 392-3673 BUT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *TR

THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH . I THINK THE GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON HAS BROKE SOME HOW NOW WILLNOT RELEASE THE KEY THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROB. WITH FORDS ....FIX IT PLEASE! *TR

I HAVE A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. *TR

2007 FORD FOCUS LOSES ALL POWER, LIGHTS, SIGNALS, SPEEDOMETER ETC, WHILE DRIVING. MAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP AT GREAT RISK WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS ETC. TOLD ALTERNATOR IS BAD, DEALER TO REPLACE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FORD HAS A REALLY BAD DESIGN ISSUE HERE, AS IT ALSO HAPPENED WITH MY 2003 FOCUS, BUT WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND THAT CAR IS NOW UNABLE TO RUN MORE THAN A COUPLE MONTHS WITHOUT REPLACEMENT.*TR

I HAVE A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY IS STUCK IN MY IGNITION. *TR

2007 FORD FOCUS, 40K MILES: EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: WITHIN MINUTES OF A TEXT MESSAGE FLASHED ACROSS MY RADIO MONITOR, "LOW BATTERY", ALL GAUGES (GAS, SPEED, ENGINE TEMP) FELL TO 0. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT (70MPH) ON INTERSTATE 75 NORTH OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA. REDUCING SPEED TO EXIT INTERSTATE ENGINE SEIZED AND BOLTED. SINGULAR FAILURE. ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND NEW BATTERY PURCHASED. OLD PART OF NEW CAR PURCHASE IN MARCH, 2008; LEFT WITH REPAIR SHOP. *TR

KEY STUCK IN FORD FOCUS 2007. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONSISTENT ISSUE CAUSED BY AN INFERIOR DESIGN AND METAL SELECTION MADE BY FORD. COMPLAINTS FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS IS CONSISTENT AND FORD REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR

2007 FORD FOCUS- KEY STUCK IN IGNITION WILL NOT COME OUT DEALER SAY COST WILL BE OVER $400.00 IT IS A PROBLEM NOTED BY FORD, BUT WILL NOT COVER ANY COST. *TR

MY 2007 FORD FOCUS KEY IS STUCK IN MY IGNITION &ITS A SECURITY AND SAFETY HAZARD, FORD WANTS TO CHARGE 400-500 DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR OWN COMMON PROBLEM. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS I WILL PROBABLY STOP STIMULATING THE ECONOMY ALONG WITH OTHERS AND NOT BUY AN AMERICAN MADE CAR. I REFUSE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM FORD WILL NOT CORRECT FOR FREE SO I AM BUYING ANOTHER CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES AND THE ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND CONTINUOUSLY FAILED TO HOLD A CHARGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR COST WILL NOT BE PAID PER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS TO BE THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND I WOULD URGE FORD TO DO A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. WHEN DRIVING HE HEARS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER THE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AN AN EXPENSE OF $500.00 FOR EACH REPAIR. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE SAME COMPONENT REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.