IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT CAME APART FROM THE WHEEL. AFTER CAREFULL INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND ALL OF THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE WERE BENT. *AK
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
Tires complaints
62 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER'S RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, FIRELAWN, P20550/R16. *AK
ON 25 JULY 2002, I TOOK MY FOCUS TO A TIRE CENTER BEING REFERRED BY FORD DEALERSHIP UPON MY 30,000 MI. SERVICE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE SE LOW PROFILE TIRE/ RIM PACKAGE. I ASKED THE TIRE MANAGER TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BEFORE I TOLD HIM WHICH TIRE IT WAS HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH TIRE IT WAS: LEFT R…
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ON 25 JULY 2002, I TOOK MY FOCUS TO A TIRE CENTER BEING REFERRED BY FORD DEALERSHIP UPON MY 30,000 MI. SERVICE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE SE LOW PROFILE TIRE/ RIM PACKAGE. I ASKED THE TIRE MANAGER TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BEFORE I TOLD HIM WHICH TIRE IT WAS HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH TIRE IT WAS: LEFT REAR TIRE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS HIS 3RD FOCUS WITH THE PROBLEM. HE RAISED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME A LARGE CHUNK MISSING AND INCONSISTENT WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE. OTHER THREE TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN AREA DESCRIBED. MANAGER STATED HE THINKS IT IS BEING CAUSED BY A MISSING OR SHEARED PIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE#P20550R16. PLEASE PROVIDED THE DOT#.*AK
FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!…
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FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!*AK
TWO OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 25K MILES DUE TO SEPARATION IN THE TREAD. (AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES) *JB *SCC *JB
ON 5/27/03 DURING REG OIL/FILTER/TIRE ROTATION AT FIRESTONE,5417 MCCARDLE,CORPUS CHRISTI,TX I WAS TOLD ONE TIRE HAD A COMPRESSION BUBBLE"IMPACT BREAK ON SIDEWALL".I REPLACED IT.ON 5/29/03 ANOTHER TIRE SELF DESTRUCTED WITH NO APPARENT REASON.I REPLACED IT (50% DISCOUNTTIRES WERE FIREHAWK GTA-02(I DO NOT HAVE TIRES AND DO NOT SEE …
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ON 5/27/03 DURING REG OIL/FILTER/TIRE ROTATION AT FIRESTONE,5417 MCCARDLE,CORPUS CHRISTI,TX I WAS TOLD ONE TIRE HAD A COMPRESSION BUBBLE"IMPACT BREAK ON SIDEWALL".I REPLACED IT.ON 5/29/03 ANOTHER TIRE SELF DESTRUCTED WITH NO APPARENT REASON.I REPLACED IT (50% DISCOUNTTIRES WERE FIREHAWK GTA-02(I DO NOT HAVE TIRES AND DO NOT SEE A DOT# ON THE REMAINING TWO.I CALLED FIRESTONE WARRANTY,SPOKE TO CHUCK AND REQUESTED 2 NEW TIRES AT NO COST AS I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCEDENCES AND THE SAFETY ISSUE. I SAID I PAID FOR TWO AND FIRESTONE SHOULD PAY FOR TWO.HE SAID HE WOULD CALL FIRESTONE CC. I CALLED TODAY 6/6/03 .HE SAID HE NEVER CALLED AND HAD NO MEMORY OF PROMISING TO MAKE SUCH A CALL. HE ENDED BY SAYING THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT GIVE ME TWO TIRES HE APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A SCREEN FOR INCOMING AS I HAD TO RETELL MY TALE.HIS INITIAL RESPONSE WAS WHEN FIRESTONE HAD COMPLAINTS ON THE 99-2000 HAWKEYE,THEY VOLUNTALILY RECALLED AND REPLACED- YEA SURE; VOLUNTARY VS. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND THANK YOU ARTHUR BERMAN. *AK
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES AND TRIMS ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT MORE THEN 40 MPH THE TIRES WOULD EXPLODE AND THE RIMS WOULD BEND. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MADE.*AK
WE OWN A 2002 FOCUS AND HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON IT. 205/50/16 I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT A VERY SIMILAR TIRE 205/55/16 HAS BEEN RECALLED.WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THEY WHERE STILL SELLING FIRESTONE TIRES AFTER THEY QUIT DUEING BUSINESS WITH THEM…
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WE OWN A 2002 FOCUS AND HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON IT. 205/50/16 I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT A VERY SIMILAR TIRE 205/55/16 HAS BEEN RECALLED.WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE TIRE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THEY WHERE STILL SELLING FIRESTONE TIRES AFTER THEY QUIT DUEING BUSINESS WITH THEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD ARE GIVING US THE SAME RUNAROUND AS THEY DID WITH THE OTHER TIRE PROBLEM. DOES ANY ONE KNOW OF ANY BODY THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES ON THE FORD FOCUS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT. DONALD J. REED ANSBACHER@SBCGLOBAL.NET THANKS. HERE IS THE INFO. MAKE: FIRESTONE MODEL: P20555R16 BUILD DATES: JUL 16, 1999 - NOV 01, 2000 RECALL NUMBER: 01T006000 SUMMARY: TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H, PRODUCED AT THE WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT FROM JULY 16, 1999, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2000. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 AND 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE PASSENGER CARS. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE. CONSEQUENCE: UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.
THE TIRE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB
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