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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 →
939Owner complaints

Model-year median: 864.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
19993,686
20001,761
2001939
2002977
2003387
2004441
2005
Compare all Focus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
277Suspension
109Engine And Engine Cooling
103Air Bags
72Service Brakes, Hydraulic
64
All reported categories
Tires
62Fuel System, Gasoline
58Power Train
58Steering
53Structure
51Latches/locks/linkages
45Wheels
36Unknown Or Other
29Visibility
28Vehicle Speed Control
21Engine
16Equipment
16Exterior Lighting
12Seat Belts
10Fuel System, Other
5Seats
5Fuel/propulsion System
4Service Brakes, Air
4Parking Brake
3Equipment Adaptive/mobility
2Child Seat
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Parking Brake complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
150,000 miles · Feb 14, 2010
Parking Brake

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH A THEORETICALLY WORKING PARKING BRAKE, I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ONLY ONCE AS I WAS BUSY AND COULDN'T DO IT MYSELF. NOW THAT I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS AND TIME I WENT TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW, SO I CONTINUED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THE REAR DRUM BRAKES. …

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH A THEORETICALLY WORKING PARKING BRAKE, I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED ONLY ONCE AS I WAS BUSY AND COULDN'T DO IT MYSELF. NOW THAT I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS AND TIME I WENT TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW, SO I CONTINUED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THE REAR DRUM BRAKES. WHEN I TOOK THE DRUMS OFF THEY WERE TIGHT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED SO I DOUBLE CHECKED AND MADE SURE ALL THE BRAKES WERE DIS-ENGAGED. I CONTINUED TO WORK ON THE BRAKES AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP ASSURES ME THEY REPLACED THESE BRAKES BEFORE, HOWEVER THE SHOES WERE WORN AND CRACKED DOWN TO BARE METAL AS IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY PARK BRAKE APPEARED TO BE ENGAGED. I DOUBLE CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WASN'T, I HAD SOMEONE WATCH THE BRAKE AS I ENGAGED AND DIS-ENGAGED THE BREAK AND IT WORKS FINE, COME TO FIND OUT THE SPRING/WIRE FOR THE PARKING BREAK IS TO SHORT FOR THE CAR'S HUB, ABOUT TWO INCHES INFACT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN I TALKED TO SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE WHOLE BREAK ASSEMBLY. SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW WITH THE PARKING BREAK ENGAGED AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY BUILT IT THAT WAY AND I HAVE TO PAY THEM TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS ENGINEERED THAT WAY. IF I BROKE IT OR IT'S WEAR AND TEAR I UNDERSTAND, BUT I BOUGHT A CAR TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL OFF THE LOT NOT SO I CAN BRING IT IN AND PAY FOR THEM TO FINISH BUILDING IT PROPERLY AFTER I OWN IT. I CANT AFFORD THEIR OUTRAGEOUS PRICES FOR THIS WORK SO I DIS-ENGAGED THE CABLE AND AM NOW DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY BRAKE, THANKS FOR THE SAFETY FEATURES FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310358

50,000 miles · Jan 2, 2006
Parking BrakePower Train

MY FOOT PAD ON MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME SLIPPERY DUE TO LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID OUT OF MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3. NOW I HAVE STAINS ALL OVER MY CARPETING AND SHOES. MY CLUTCH BEGAN NOT RELEASING DUE TO THIS AS WELL AND THE PLATE BURNED UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146733

125,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Parking Brake

SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. THE FORWARD DRIVER SIDE STEEL BRAKE LINEL WAS WORN THROUGH BY THE PLASTIC INNER FENDER WELL CAUSING ALL BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. REPLACED BRAKE LINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102417

Official recalls

1

05V030000 · 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

5

AQ10001 · 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