IllustrationCONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT,THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER RESULTING IN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 23 MPH. *NLM
2002 Ford Focus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Focus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 864.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →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
1480–25K
13425–50K
13950–75K
8375–100K
74100–150K
26150K+
604 reports with mileage · 335 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 277 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
82 crash reports20 fire reports60 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
72 reportsIN THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE OWNED MY FOCUS I'VE HAD TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD TO REPLACE A MODULE TO THE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK THEY G…
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IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE OWNED MY FOCUS I'VE HAD TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD TO REPLACE A MODULE TO THE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK THEY GAVE ME A RECORDING DEVICE THAT I HAD TO USE TO RECORD THE AIR BAG LIGHT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT REGISTERING THAT IT EVER CAME ON. I HAD TO RECORD THE LIGHT A TOTAL OF 3-4 TIMES AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID SO AND RETURNED MY CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS DEVICE TOLD THEM NOTHING. SO NOT KNOWING THE EXACT PROBLEM THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG. ALL OF THESE ATTEMPTS OCCURED LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH MID OCTOBER. AS OF 11/8/2002 THE LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON. I FEEL KNOW THAT I'M LEFT WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND THE QUESTION OF IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IS THIS AIR BAG GOING TO PROTECT ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE BUT I'M NOT TO SURE ABOUT THAT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. DT
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH AND RAN OVER A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. TS
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS BODY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR AIRBAG SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD COMPONETS REPLACED ON 4 OCCASIONS. AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THIS PROBLEMS IS CAUSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BE NON FUCTIONAL. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IF A COLLISION OCCURED THEY WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBL…
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WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR AIRBAG SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD COMPONETS REPLACED ON 4 OCCASIONS. AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THIS PROBLEMS IS CAUSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BE NON FUCTIONAL. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IF A COLLISION OCCURED THEY WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS LIMITED TO OUR MODEL OF CAR AND ONLY THOSE THAT IS A 4 DOOR AND 5 SPEED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT COME UP WITH A FIX. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED SO THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. MR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK THAT WAS CHANGING LANES. CONSUMER STATES IN THE PROCESS OF AVOIDING TRUCK, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AND WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT THE CAR AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER ST…
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CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK THAT WAS CHANGING LANES. CONSUMER STATES IN THE PROCESS OF AVOIDING TRUCK, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AND WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT THE CAR AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES THE FRAME THAT PROTECTS ENGINE WAS BENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. *AK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF REPAIRING THE AIR BAG/AIR BAG SENSORS, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURING AS OF AUGUST 15TH 2002 AND AT THAT TIME THEY WERE WAITING ON PARTS. (REPAIRS MADE AT THE DEALER) *SCC
AT 65 MPH VEHICLE HIT A RETAINING WALL, THEN ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
ON 7/11/2002 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD-ON ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER CAR SUDDENLY TURNED LEFT IN TO HER PATH. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY. MY WIFE HIT THE OTHER CAR IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE FORD FOCUS ZX5 SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE AND WITH A COST OF OVER $…
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ON 7/11/2002 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD-ON ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER CAR SUDDENLY TURNED LEFT IN TO HER PATH. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY. MY WIFE HIT THE OTHER CAR IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE FORD FOCUS ZX5 SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE AND WITH A COST OF OVER $12,000 TO REPAIR IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE BUMPER WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. TODAY AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER (1-866-693-6738) I WAS INFORMED BY STEVE THAT IF I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY THAT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THEM TESTED. WHEN I QUESTIONED AS TO WHY I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE FORD TO POSSIBLY FIX A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS HE SAID THAT THAT IS WHAT THE COMPUTER POP UP STATED. FORD SHOULD BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO WANTING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THEN FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE ME AND MY WIFE.*AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE JERSEY WALL HEAD ON AT 60 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SUFFERED KNEE AND CHEST INJURIES, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. * MJ
Official recalls
105V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Feb 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
5AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
EA02022 · Engine Stalling
Opened Sep 9, 2002 · Closed Jan 16, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN LEAD TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS.THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING.STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.MORE THAN 90% OF THE STALLING COMPLAINTS PERTAIN TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FDM INSTALLED IN MY 2000 AND 2001 (PARTIAL YEAR) FOCUS VEHICLES. FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN (03V-482) TO ADDRESS STALLINGIN THESE VEHICLES.THE SMALLER NUMBER AND RATE OF COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERIM AND CURRENT FDM DESIGNS INDICATE IMPROVEMENT BUT ALSO REFLECT A SHORTER TIME IN SERVICE FOR THESE DESIGNS. ACCORDINGLY, ODI WILL MONITOR THE STALLING PERFORMANCE OF MY 2001 - 2002 FOCUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTERIM AND CURRENT DESIGN FDMS.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN LEAD TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS.THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING.STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.MORE THAN 90% OF THE STALLING COMPLAINTS PERTAIN TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FDM INSTALLED IN MY 2000 AND 2001 (PARTIAL YEAR) FOCUS VEHICLES. FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN (03V-482) TO ADDRESS STALLINGIN THESE VEHICLES.THE SMALLER NUMBER AND RATE OF COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERIM AND CURRENT FDM DESIGNS INDICATE IMPROVEMENT BUT ALSO REFLECT A SHORTER TIME IN SERVICE FOR THESE DESIGNS. ACCORDINGLY, ODI WILL MONITOR THE STALLING PERFORMANCE OF MY 2001 - 2002 FOCUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTERIM AND CURRENT DESIGN FDMS.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN LEAD TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS.THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING.STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.MORE THAN 90% OF THE STALLING COMPLAINTS PERTAIN TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FDM INSTALLED IN MY 2000 AND 2001 (PARTIAL YEAR) FOCUS VEHICLES. FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN (03V-482) TO ADDRESS STALLINGIN THESE VEHICLES.THE SMALLER NUMBER AND RATE OF COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERIM AND CURRENT FDM DESIGNS INDICATE IMPROVEMENT BUT ALSO REFLECT A SHORTER TIME IN SERVICE FOR THESE DESIGNS. ACCORDINGLY, ODI WILL MONITOR THE STALLING PERFORMANCE OF MY 2001 - 2002 FOCUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTERIM AND CURRENT DESIGN FDMS.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CLOGGING OF THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) FILTERS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN LEAD TO STALLING AND OTHER RELATED SYMPTOMS.THESE SYMPTOMS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS TO THE DRIVER AS THE CLOGGING GRADUALLY INCREASES OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF DRIVING.STALLING IN THESE VEHICLES IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A RIGHT HAND TURN SUCH AS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.MORE THAN 90% OF THE STALLING COMPLAINTS PERTAIN TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FDM INSTALLED IN MY 2000 AND 2001 (PARTIAL YEAR) FOCUS VEHICLES. FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN (03V-482) TO ADDRESS STALLINGIN THESE VEHICLES.THE SMALLER NUMBER AND RATE OF COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTERIM AND CURRENT FDM DESIGNS INDICATE IMPROVEMENT BUT ALSO REFLECT A SHORTER TIME IN SERVICE FOR THESE DESIGNS. ACCORDINGLY, ODI WILL MONITOR THE STALLING PERFORMANCE OF MY 2001 - 2002 FOCUS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTERIM AND CURRENT DESIGN FDMS.
EA02023 · Front Susp Collapse/wheel Separation
Opened Sep 9, 2002 · Closed Feb 19, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Suspension:front:control Arm
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Suspension:front
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
EA02014 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 31, 2002 · Closed Nov 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE02044 · Front Suspension Lower Control Arm
Opened May 1, 2002 · Closed Sep 9, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available