IllustrationCOMPLAINT 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
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
What owners actually said
939 reportsMAYBE ONE YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS THERE WAS A REALLY BAD STORM ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED IN WATER ALMOST LIKE A PUDDLE. THEN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES. AFTER TAKING OUT THE FLOOR MAT AN ACTUAL PUDDLE OF…
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MAYBE ONE YEAR OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS THERE WAS A REALLY BAD STORM ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED IN WATER ALMOST LIKE A PUDDLE. THEN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN AT LEAST FIVE MORE TIMES. AFTER TAKING OUT THE FLOOR MAT AN ACTUAL PUDDLE OF WATER GATHERS ON MY FLOOR BOARD WHEN IT STORMS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME IT STORMS BUT IT'S HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS ONLY GOING ON FOUR YEARS OLD (AND I KEEP IT CLEAN ALL THE TIME AS I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN NOR AM I MARRIED AND THEREFORE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN MY CAR AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT) BUT IT SMELLS LIKE IT'S REALLY OLD WITH A STRONG MILDEW ODOR. THIS IS VERY UPSETING, I'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS FORD INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE WHICH I'VE ALREADY MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP TO TELL THEM ABOUT MY FLOOR BOARD ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FORD FOCUS 2001 BUT NOT A 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY WAS NOT FIXED ON THE 2002'S BECAUSE MINE IS STILL LEAKING.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . HORN FAILED THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THAT ON 8-18-05, WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR, IT WAS SLOW TO START THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SHE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS BAD, BUT IT WAS GOOD AND THE ALTERNATOR…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . HORN FAILED THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THAT ON 8-18-05, WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR, IT WAS SLOW TO START THEN IT JUST WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SHE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS BAD, BUT IT WAS GOOD AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HER THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED THE BATTERY ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS BURNED OUT. THEY WOULD NOT LET HER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. SHE HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT CITED RECALL 02V288000; REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ BATTERY CABLES. *AK
RE: EA02022 FUEL PUMP IS FAILING. CAR STALLS AT IDLE. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WAS HAVING FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM WAS OPERATING POORLY AND FUEL WAS SURGING AND HESITATING. WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR ROCKETED AND HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND COMPLAINED THAT…
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WAS HAVING FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM WAS OPERATING POORLY AND FUEL WAS SURGING AND HESITATING. WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR ROCKETED AND HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND COMPLAINED THAT CAR WAS NOT GETTING GOOD FUEL MILEAGE AND WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR CORE WHICH COST ME $900.00, I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,100.00 THROUGH THE FORD DEALER. I WOULD EXPECT THAT A MAJOR PART LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN THIS. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO SELL THE PART TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE A…
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I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR CORE WHICH COST ME $900.00, I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,100.00 THROUGH THE FORD DEALER. I WOULD EXPECT THAT A MAJOR PART LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN THIS. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO SELL THE PART TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AND STATED THEY WERE SAVING THE 11 THEY HAD ON HAND FOR THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS, AS THIS PART HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE FOCUSES. WE HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $50.00 TO SPECIAL ORDER. IF THIS IS THE CASE THAN WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT BE REPLACING MAJOR PARTS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES ON AND ANOTHER 3 YEARS OF PAYMENTS.*JB
DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN, CONSUMER STATES THAT YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE, THIS OCCURS DURING ANY WEATHER, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE ALREADY BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV. 2004, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE …
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DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN, CONSUMER STATES THAT YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE, THIS OCCURS DURING ANY WEATHER, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE ALREADY BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV. 2004, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SOMETIMES OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START, WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PART IS BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. *NM *JB
BROKEN WINDOW REGULATORS TWO OF THEM WITH IN 1 MONTH OF EACH OTHER. PLASTIC PART IS DEFECTIVE AND CRACKS MAKING THE WINDOW DROP DOWN. PIECE CAN NOT BE REPLACED AND THE WHOLE REGULATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN, HAD IT REPLACED IN JAN. OF 04. AN NOW IT WON'T TURN AGAIN. AUG OF 05. THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL CRACKING OPEN IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM IN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IF IT IS EVER ACTIVATED. THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. *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