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 reports
54,001 miles · Nov 30, 2004
Electrical System
UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MECHANIC ALREADY KNEW THAT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS A FORD FOCUS AND KNEW THE PROBLEM BEFO…
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UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MECHANIC ALREADY KNEW THAT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS A FORD FOCUS AND KNEW THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT WAS TOLD TO HIM. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10096705
64,000 miles · Nov 26, 2004
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAS QUIT WORKING FOR THE 4TH TIME. IF YOU GO TO THIS ITE YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A VERY BAD PROBLEM FORD IS HAVING WITH THE FOCUS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10100580
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10101531
28,000 miles · Nov 10, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
DURING A 40 MPH VEHICLE FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10099779
32,000 miles · Nov 1, 2004
Air BagsCrash
WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONSUMER SWERVED TO MISS A DOG ON THE ROAD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10094388
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2004
Electrical System
2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BUSTED. GOT STUCK FOR 3 HOURS BEFORE GETTING THE CAR TOWED.
NHTSA ODI #10097998
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2004
Steering
STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10097898
15 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE AIR INTAKE VALVE TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10097856
50 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Structure
THE HATCHBACK DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, ONCE CLOSED IT IS STILL NOT SECURE. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO FORCE THE DOOR SO MANY TIMES THAT IT WAS DENTED IN SEVERAL PLACES FROM THE FORCE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10097843
62,798 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Electrical System
I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM CLEVELAND HOPKINS AIRPORT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2004. I DROVE TO MY SISTER IN-LAW'S HOUSE TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND AND 2YR OLD DAUGHTER. WE STAYED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS AND THEN LEFT. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY 2002 FORD FOCUS I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND WOULD ONLY…
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I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM CLEVELAND HOPKINS AIRPORT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2004. I DROVE TO MY SISTER IN-LAW'S HOUSE TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND AND 2YR OLD DAUGHTER. WE STAYED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS AND THEN LEFT. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY 2002 FORD FOCUS I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND WOULD ONLY MOVE A FEW INCHES IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I JUST DROVE MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER'S CAR HOME. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO LIBERTY FORD IN MAPLE HTS. I WAS TOLD SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS BEFOREHAND. I WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I ONLY NEEDED TO "JIGGLE" THE KEY AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK IT. I WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD KEY AND NEEDED A NEW ONE. WELL NONE OF THAT WAS TRUE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID I HAD TO HAVE MY ENTIRE IGNITION REPLACED AND IT COST $342. I HAVE NOT PICKED UP THE CAR YET, BUT WILL TRY TO GET THE OLD PART.*AK
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.
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.
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