IllustrationDROVE TO THE STORE, TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *TR
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
Electrical System complaints
277 reportsI HAD COME BACK TO MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE, PUT THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH & THE SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO PAY $45.00 TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE MECHANIC CHARGED ME $400.00 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UPPER PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN & REDO THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAME ON IT. *TR
FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK, FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD IT REPLACED 12/15/07 AND IT IS NOW DEFECTIVE AGAIN ON 4/6/09. I HAD IT FIXED LAST TIME FOR $200, BUT IT CAN COST UP TO $400. HOW THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. THEN AGAIN THE PINTO'S EXPLODING GAS TANK WASN'T DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" BY FORD, EITHER. *TR
2002 IGNITION LOCKS UP WITH KEY LEFT IN IT. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE A LOCKSMITH AND PAY OVER $400.00. *TR
THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SO THE CAR WON'T START. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURS IN AN REMOTE AREA ESPECIALLY ON A COLD DAY/NIGHT SUCH AS TONIGHT. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS IN OUR DRIVEWAY BUT IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT IT HAPPENED THERE INSTEAD OF SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT COUL…
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THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SO THE CAR WON'T START. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURS IN AN REMOTE AREA ESPECIALLY ON A COLD DAY/NIGHT SUCH AS TONIGHT. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS IN OUR DRIVEWAY BUT IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT IT HAPPENED THERE INSTEAD OF SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT COULD HAVE LEFT HER STRANDED INDEFINITELY IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES OR IN A SECLUDED AREA. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP AND I HAVE TO LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION OR IT WILL LOCK UP. I AM PRESENTLY SEARCHING FOR A MECHANIC OR LOCKSMITH WHO CAN HELP IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
UPON INSERTION OF THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK, IF IT IS LOCKED. "TAPPING" THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. CURSORY INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS …
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UPON INSERTION OF THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK, IF IT IS LOCKED. "TAPPING" THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. CURSORY INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. SOME OWNERS REPORT HAVING HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED 4 TO 5 TIMES AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THIS INDICATES THAT FORD HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EVEN AT THE COST OF THE OWNER. *TR
THE KEY IGNITION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT TURN. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURED PROBLEM. THE LOCK WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND TURN. I AM STUCK. *TR
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION IS LOCKING UP WITH THE KEY INSIDE. CONSTANTLY OCCURING. I'M GOING TO RESEARCH REPAIR COSTS BUT HAVE HEARD ITS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I THOUGHT SINCE THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS, MAYBE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
IT WAS 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT IN FREEZING WEATHER WHEN I HAD GOTTEN INTO MY CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY.(WHICH I HAD STARTED WITH EASE 13 HOURS BEFORE) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH FOR AN HOUR BEFORE MY BOYFRIEND'S MOM CAME TO PICK ME UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING. IF SHE WOULDN'T HA…
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IT WAS 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT IN FREEZING WEATHER WHEN I HAD GOTTEN INTO MY CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY.(WHICH I HAD STARTED WITH EASE 13 HOURS BEFORE) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH FOR AN HOUR BEFORE MY BOYFRIEND'S MOM CAME TO PICK ME UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING. IF SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WALK 10 MILES IN DANGEROUS COLD TO GET HOME, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY ON ME FOR A CAB. I PAID $450 TO TOW THE CAR 4 MILES TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE PART IS UNDER A ONE YEAR WARRANTY. SINCE DECEMBER 20, 2008, MY IGNITION CYLINDER HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY WITH MY KEY. I INSERT THE KEY AND I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO TURN, INSERT, AND REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION. I WILL BE VISITING THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD IT REPLACED LAST YEAR THIS WEEK. AT LEAST THIS TIME IT SHOWED SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION PROBABILITY. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STALLS ON A RAILROAD TRACK (OR ANY OTHER HAZARDOUS LOCATION) AND CANNOT RESTART OR MOVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE IGNITION WON'T TURN. THERE COULD BE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS CLOSE BY. *TR
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