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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.

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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

Suspension complaints

109 reports
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54,429 miles · Dec 27, 2005
Latches/locks/linkagesSuspensionWheels

I PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD FOCUS IN JANUARY OF 2005. I LOVE MY CAR, HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG LATER. RIGHT NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE PUT SIX USED TIRES ON THE FRONT SINCE I PURCHASED THE FOCUS. IN NOVEMBER I HAD TWO BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON PLUS IN MAY I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT …

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I PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD FOCUS IN JANUARY OF 2005. I LOVE MY CAR, HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG LATER. RIGHT NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE PUT SIX USED TIRES ON THE FRONT SINCE I PURCHASED THE FOCUS. IN NOVEMBER I HAD TWO BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON PLUS IN MAY I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE CAR STILL SHAKES VERY BAD. FOUND OUT I NEED MY WHEEL HUB BEARING REPLACE, PLUS I FOUND OUT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE REAR BEARING WHICH I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS TO BE DONE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146100

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2005
Suspension

DT: CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10144331

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2005
Suspension

COMPLAINT REGARDING 2002 FORD FOCUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT HASN'T RECEIVED A REPLY YET. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135585

12,000 miles · Jul 22, 2005
Suspension

DT:THE TIRES ON THE CONSUMER'S 2002 FORD FOCUS 2002 WERE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF WEAR AFTER ONLY 17000 MILES. THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 5000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. AFTER ABOUT 12000 MILES THE SAME WEAR PATTERN REAPPEARED. THESE TIRE WERE RATED AS 60000 MILE TIRES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY ON IT'S THIRD SET OF TIRE…

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DT:THE TIRES ON THE CONSUMER'S 2002 FORD FOCUS 2002 WERE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF WEAR AFTER ONLY 17000 MILES. THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 5000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. AFTER ABOUT 12000 MILES THE SAME WEAR PATTERN REAPPEARED. THESE TIRE WERE RATED AS 60000 MILE TIRES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY ON IT'S THIRD SET OF TIRES. ONE OF THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN #.03-13-5 ON FORD'S COMPUTER THAT COVERED ALL MODELS OF FORD FOCUS 2000-2004 THAT EXPERIENCED INNER TIRE WEAR. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS OF THIS MODEL WERE ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY CREATING ADVERSE CAMBER TO THE REAR TIRES. THE REMEDY WAS A RESTRUCTURED CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM KIT. THE NEWLY RESTRUCTURED CONTROL ARM :UPPER ARM KIT WOULD ONLY BE SENT TO THOSE WHO WERE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY,3 YEAR, 36,000 MILES. CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10126072

432,297 miles · May 2, 2005
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WENT FLYING OFF CAR. NO TROUBLE PRIOR TO THIS DATE. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10119397

36,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED HEAVILY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE WHEEL BEARING. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111611

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2005
Suspension

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINS THE COILS SPRING RECALL AS IF IT'S NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109760

71,000 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Suspension

REAR INNER TIRE WEAR. THE CONTROL ARMS ON TOP WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE BODY AND REAR TO SWIRVE WHEN RIDING OVER A BUM OR POT HOLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095347

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Suspension

COMPLAINT REGARDING FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON 2002 FORD FOCUS.*MR THE CONSUMER REPLACED ONE COIL SPRING ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN. THIS SERVICE WAS DONE THE SAME WEEK THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED THE FRONT SPRINGS ON THE SABLE AND TAURUS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10091526

25,000 miles · Aug 28, 2004
Air BagsExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 2 TIMES IN 1 YEAR. DRIVER AIRBAG SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK/OPEN. FRONT BALL JOINT CRACKED. GAS COVER/DOOR FELL OFF. THE SMELL OF GAS INSIDE CAR AT ALL TIMES. BLINKER WOULD NOT TURN OFF BY ITSELF. KEY CHIME GOES OFF WHEN THE KEY IS OUT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088734

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