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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 →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

1)EARLIER THIS YEAR WE TOOK OUR FOCUS IN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING. THEY SAID IT JUST NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING PS FLUID IN EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS. 2)WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR BRAKES, THE LIGHTS STAYING ON AND THEN THE FUSES BURNING OUT. 3)THEN TODAY(8-5-03) THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLO…

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1)EARLIER THIS YEAR WE TOOK OUR FOCUS IN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING. THEY SAID IT JUST NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING PS FLUID IN EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS. 2)WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR BRAKES, THE LIGHTS STAYING ON AND THEN THE FUSES BURNING OUT. 3)THEN TODAY(8-5-03) THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK GOT STUCK AND IT ONLY WORKS IF IT IS PUSHED IN TO RELEASE.

NHTSA ODI #10069513

1,650 miles · Jan 15, 2004
StructureUnknown Or Other

OTHER - LOSE FENDER WHEELSHIELD/TOLD PART ON RECALL AS DEFECTIVE BODY - DINGS IN FENDER PANEL/TOLD PART DEFECTIVE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI #10069108

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

KEY DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. YOU HAVE TO WRIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAS HAPPENED FROM DAY 1. IT HAS BEEN INTO PARR FORD IN BREMERTON WASHINGTON 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY CAN NOT FIND IT. THEY HAVE VERIFIED THAT IT STICKS.

NHTSA ODI #10068916

17,000 miles · Nov 14, 2003
Unknown Or Other

2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOTICED RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA HEATING/COOLING COWLING ON PASSENGER SIDE WETTING FLOOR MAT SIGNIFICANTLY TILL THE POINT IT WAS COMPLETELY SOGGY. CHECKED GRILL BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD AND NOTED NO LEAVES BLOCKING DRAINS. NOTED RUBBER DAM NOT CONTINUOUS, AND WATER APPEARED TO…

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2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOTICED RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA HEATING/COOLING COWLING ON PASSENGER SIDE WETTING FLOOR MAT SIGNIFICANTLY TILL THE POINT IT WAS COMPLETELY SOGGY. CHECKED GRILL BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD AND NOTED NO LEAVES BLOCKING DRAINS. NOTED RUBBER DAM NOT CONTINUOUS, AND WATER APPEARED TO BE LEAKING INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT VIA ONE OF THESE GAPS AND THEN INTO THE HEATING/COOLING COWLING ALONG TOP SURFACE OF REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIT BETWEEN THE COWLING AND THE 'FIREWALL' AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS NOT GOOD, AND THERE ARE GAPS ALONG THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE ALLOWING WATER TO DRAIN IN. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046928

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK MY CAR TAKES 2-5 TRIES TO START. AFTER IT STARTS, IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL...SOMETIMES IT DOES IF I'M AT A LIGHT. I HAVE A STICK SHIFT AND THERE'S NO INDICATION ON THE IDLE THAT IT'S RUNNING LOW. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I'VE HAD IT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. FORD…

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AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK MY CAR TAKES 2-5 TRIES TO START. AFTER IT STARTS, IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL...SOMETIMES IT DOES IF I'M AT A LIGHT. I HAVE A STICK SHIFT AND THERE'S NO INDICATION ON THE IDLE THAT IT'S RUNNING LOW. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I'VE HAD IT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. FORD TELLS ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD FORD THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM...EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE TOLD ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THAT THEY HAVE. USUALLY THEY DON'T REPLACE ANYTHING BUT SO FAR THEY'VE REPLACED MY EGR VALVE, FUEL PUMP, AND GAS TANK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT ON HOW THEY DOCUMENT THE TIME MY CAR'S BEEN IN THE SHOP AND WITH A ONE YEAR OLD AND A FOUR YEAR OLD...I CAN NO LONGER TAKE TIME TO GO TO THE SHOP...NOT TO MENTION LOSSED TIME AT WORK. I ACTUALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT I NEED IT TO START AND THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN A FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE FORD VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COOPERATION FROM BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD. WE'VE BOUGHT AN F-150, EXPLORER, AND THE FOCUS FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP...I GUESS OUR MONEY WAS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR THEM AND IN THE LONG RUN CUSTOMER DON'T REALLY MATTER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE CAR EXCEPT TO TRY FOR THE LEMON LAW...BUT SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHOSEN TO LIE AND SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, WHO KNOWS HOW THAT WILL TURN OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10020634

11,200 miles · Feb 19, 2003
Unknown Or Other

FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 - DRAMATICALLY POOR HANDLING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE. ? FAULTY BRAKING SENSOR / ? POOR SUSPENSION / ?? CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL NUMEROUS TIMES ON FLAT EVEN HIGHWAY SURFACE. ON PATCHES OF ICE - BACK END OF CAR VEERS BADLY TO LEFT (SIDEWAYS NOT FRONT END). IN SNOW COVERED SECTIONS BACK END FISHTAILS EXCESSIVEL…

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FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 - DRAMATICALLY POOR HANDLING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE. ? FAULTY BRAKING SENSOR / ? POOR SUSPENSION / ?? CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL NUMEROUS TIMES ON FLAT EVEN HIGHWAY SURFACE. ON PATCHES OF ICE - BACK END OF CAR VEERS BADLY TO LEFT (SIDEWAYS NOT FRONT END). IN SNOW COVERED SECTIONS BACK END FISHTAILS EXCESSIVELY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS (20 MPH). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE BEHAVIOUR ON DRY CLEAR ROAD SURFACE.

NHTSA ODI #10007807

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003
Unknown Or Other

KEY DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN COLD. YOU HAVE TO WRIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES BUT CAN NOT FIGURE IT OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10005805

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2003
Unknown Or Other

CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION REGARDING THE FORD FOCUS.*DT *JB

NHTSA ODI #786291

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

AT APPROX THREE HOURS AFTER PURCHASING OUR NEW FOCUS, WE WHERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 60 TO 140, AND RETURNED TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE THEN CAME TO A STALL. WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE FUEL CAP, AND THE ENGINE SERVICES SOON. WE WERE ABLE TO RE…

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AT APPROX THREE HOURS AFTER PURCHASING OUR NEW FOCUS, WE WHERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 60 TO 140, AND RETURNED TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE THEN CAME TO A STALL. WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE FUEL CAP, AND THE ENGINE SERVICES SOON. WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT APPROX 5 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. WE THEN RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSES WAS A LOOSE GROUNDS, AND INCOMPLETE CIR. THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CORRECTIONS WERE DIAG. LED TO LOOSE GROUND CONNECTIONS NEAR BATTERY. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO START, AND IT TOOK 2 ATTEMPT'S TO START THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764237

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