5/4/06 NOTICED VENT LEAK ON PASSENGER FLOOR. *JB
2002 Ford Focus Svt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
26 reports with mileage · 6 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
32 reports1. MOST RAIN OR SNOW (WET CONDITION) DRIVING CAUSES PARTIAL OR COMPLETE FAILURES OF HORNS 2. IF CAR IS DRIVE IN WET OR SNOW CONDITIONS, THE HORNS FAIL. THIS IS A PARTIAL FAILURE WHERE HORN ARE BARELY AUDIBLE, OR IN HEAVY WET AND COLD ( FREEZING CONDITIONS) HORNS FAIL COMPLETELY. IN ALL CASES TO DATE, OVER TIME,( USUALLY WEEKS …
Read full complaint
1. MOST RAIN OR SNOW (WET CONDITION) DRIVING CAUSES PARTIAL OR COMPLETE FAILURES OF HORNS 2. IF CAR IS DRIVE IN WET OR SNOW CONDITIONS, THE HORNS FAIL. THIS IS A PARTIAL FAILURE WHERE HORN ARE BARELY AUDIBLE, OR IN HEAVY WET AND COLD ( FREEZING CONDITIONS) HORNS FAIL COMPLETELY. IN ALL CASES TO DATE, OVER TIME,( USUALLY WEEKS ) HORN RETURNS TO NORMAL FUNCTION DURING DRY/AND WARM UP PERIODS. DO DATE NO CONSEQUENCES. (3) FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED HORNS 2 TIMES (THERE IS A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN) HOWEVER, HAS NOT CHANGED THE CONDITION, IT CONTINUES. OLD PART KEPT BY DEALER. *JB
I PURCHASED NEW AN 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH A SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS WORN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES UNEVENLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD. ONE SET HAD ACTUALLY WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT BEYOND THE RUBBER CAUSING ITS FAILURE AT 18,000 MILES. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED NEW AN 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH A SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS WORN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES UNEVENLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD. ONE SET HAD ACTUALLY WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT BEYOND THE RUBBER CAUSING ITS FAILURE AT 18,000 MILES. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL AUTOMOTIVE ALIGNMENT SHOP, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS WELL WITHIN FORDS SPECIFICATIONS. AFTER CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR SPECIAL VEHICLE TEAM THEY BOTH SAID THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I AM LUCKY THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHIN THE LAST 30,000 MILES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. I FEEL THIS SAFETY OVERSIGHT IS DUE TO FORD AND ITS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THEIR SUSPENSION PARAMETERS TO WORK PROPERLY ON OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS. REPLACED ONE FACTORY WHEEL, INSTALLED SUSPENSION CAMBER ADJUSTMENT PARTS, FOUR NEW TIRES AND HAD VEHICLE RE ALIGNED OUT OF FORDS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. *NM
INTERMITENT CLUTCH NOISE & SLIP. CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING SEVERLY ON OUT OF TOWN TRIP IN BUSY TRAFFIC LOST POWER ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED, HAD TO TOW MY OWN CAR BACK JUST WENT OUT OF WARANTY. WENT ON INTERNET TO FIND PRICES ON PARTS FOUND FORD HAS REDESIGNED CLUTCH COMPONENTS TWICE. FORD ALSO ISSUED TSB FOR CLUTCH THEY FOUND PARTS A…
Read full complaint
INTERMITENT CLUTCH NOISE & SLIP. CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING SEVERLY ON OUT OF TOWN TRIP IN BUSY TRAFFIC LOST POWER ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED, HAD TO TOW MY OWN CAR BACK JUST WENT OUT OF WARANTY. WENT ON INTERNET TO FIND PRICES ON PARTS FOUND FORD HAS REDESIGNED CLUTCH COMPONENTS TWICE. FORD ALSO ISSUED TSB FOR CLUTCH THEY FOUND PARTS ARE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE CAUSING NOISE & WEAR. DEALER ADVISE ME TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS & REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT ARE BAD WITH UNREVISED PARTS THAT I WOULD PAY FOR. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS SUPPORTS DEALERS DECISION.*AK
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED - THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. *JB
WHEN SHIFTING MY SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, IT OFTEN GOES INTO REVERSE. THIS TRANSMISSION DOESN'T HAVE A LOCKOUT, BUT IT HAS SOME KIND OF SPRING RESISTANCE THAT CONSTANTLY FAILS, WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT IT INTO FIRST GEAR. THIS ACTION HAS ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROU…
Read full complaint
WHEN SHIFTING MY SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, IT OFTEN GOES INTO REVERSE. THIS TRANSMISSION DOESN'T HAVE A LOCKOUT, BUT IT HAS SOME KIND OF SPRING RESISTANCE THAT CONSTANTLY FAILS, WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT IT INTO FIRST GEAR. THIS ACTION HAS ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AT STOP LIGHTS.*AK
SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. *LA
WHILE DRIVING, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH BECAME UN-LATCH. THE REAR HATCH IS NOW INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE REAR LATCH WAS CLOSED, IT UN-LATCHED INSTEAD OF LATCHING. THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH LOCKING ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
BOLT MOUNTING DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACKS TO FLOOR PAN LOOSENED. CONTINUED SURGING AND INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM WHILE ACCELERATING AND COMING TO A STOP. *AK
HORN FAILURE AFTER DRIVING THROUGH NORMAL RAIN (NO SUBMERSION) ON ROADWAYS. HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND HORN ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK HEAT SHIELD ON CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FELL OFF DUE TO CORROSION NEAR MOUNTING BOLT HOLES.
Official recalls
102V117000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
Apr 18, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE TO HANG UP AT THE THROTTLE BODY BRACKET DURING HIGH, WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OPERATION, PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND APPLY THE BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CHECK FOR PROPER OPERATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration