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
17,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Tires
ON MY 2002 FOCUS SE MY PASSANGER FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE- MY CAR ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES ARE SEPERATE AND HAD TO BE PRORATED FOR WEAR. THE COST OF THE SAME TIRE PLUS THE COST OF THE LABOR WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM FIXING SOM…
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ON MY 2002 FOCUS SE MY PASSANGER FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE- MY CAR ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES ARE SEPERATE AND HAD TO BE PRORATED FOR WEAR. THE COST OF THE SAME TIRE PLUS THE COST OF THE LABOR WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM FIXING SOMETING I DIDN'T CAUSE. FORD WON. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE BUT FROM A DIFFERENT COMPANY.
NHTSA ODI #10090952
34,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND KICKED BACK INTO DRIVE WHILE DRIVING. *PH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER'S CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB *SC
NHTSA ODI #10061305
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Electrical System
IGNITION CYLINDER IS BROKEN AGAIN AFTER REPAIR. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! BEING UNABLE TO START THE CAR AT RANDOM IS UNSAFE!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090669
20,320 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Structure
WATER LEAKS INTO TRUNK AND FLOOR CAR WAS TORN APART IN ATTEMPT TO FIX WATER LEAKS. HOOD, RIGHT FENDER,FRONT WINDSHIELD,REAR WINDOW,DASHBOARD,STEERING WHEEL. LL REMOVED FROM CAR THEN REINSTALLED, TO TRY TO FIX WATER LEAKS.*AK WE NOW FILL NOTHING WILL WORK CORRECTY AND CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, SINCE STEERING WHEEL WAS REMOVED …
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WATER LEAKS INTO TRUNK AND FLOOR CAR WAS TORN APART IN ATTEMPT TO FIX WATER LEAKS. HOOD, RIGHT FENDER,FRONT WINDSHIELD,REAR WINDOW,DASHBOARD,STEERING WHEEL. LL REMOVED FROM CAR THEN REINSTALLED, TO TRY TO FIX WATER LEAKS.*AK WE NOW FILL NOTHING WILL WORK CORRECTY AND CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, SINCE STEERING WHEEL WAS REMOVED THEN REINSTALLED, FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID ALL THIS WORK. CAR IS A LEMON.
NHTSA ODI #10088913
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
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Electrical System
THE KEY SPOTANEOUSLY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. TWO OCCURRENCES AT $300 EACH WITHIN 2 MONTHS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088853
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2004
Electrical System
IGNITION LOCK ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS IS FAULTY. THE CYLINDERS BECOME DAMAGED OVER TIME (SHORT DURATION OF TIME) DUE TO WEAR PREVENTING THE LOCK FROM TURNING. ALSO THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT WILL FAIL OVER TIME AND CANNOT BE EASILY REPAIRED. THE LOCK HAS MALFUNCTION…
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IGNITION LOCK ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS IS FAULTY. THE CYLINDERS BECOME DAMAGED OVER TIME (SHORT DURATION OF TIME) DUE TO WEAR PREVENTING THE LOCK FROM TURNING. ALSO THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT WILL FAIL OVER TIME AND CANNOT BE EASILY REPAIRED. THE LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON MY WIFE AND MYSELF MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAS EVEN COST US TEN MINUTES OF "HAGGLING" BEFORE THE SWITCH WOULD ENGAGE. I DO NOT CARE TO HAVE MY WIFE STRANDED, ESPECIALLY LATE AT NIGHT, DUE TO A PART WHICH IS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE DEFECTIVE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10088763
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
60,050 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SOMETIMES WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. AFTER LOOKING AT IT, THE CATCH JUST SWINGS FREELY AND DOESN'T GRAB THE POST. AFTER REPEATED SLAMMING OF THE DOOR, IT WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT PERIOD. OPENED ONCE WHILE DRIVING. I KEEP A BUNJIE CHORD WITH ME IN CASE AND I BUNGEE IT SHUT WHEN IT ACTS UP. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE…
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THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SOMETIMES WILL NOT LATCH SHUT. AFTER LOOKING AT IT, THE CATCH JUST SWINGS FREELY AND DOESN'T GRAB THE POST. AFTER REPEATED SLAMMING OF THE DOOR, IT WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT PERIOD. OPENED ONCE WHILE DRIVING. I KEEP A BUNJIE CHORD WITH ME IN CASE AND I BUNGEE IT SHUT WHEN IT ACTS UP. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIT IN THE RERAR PASSENGERS SEAT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10088695
36,124 miles · Aug 26, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
1. CAR STALLED 1 DAY WHILE GOING AROUND A RIGHT CORNER. CAR ALSO STALLED ANOTHER DAY. ON AUG. 25 CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WENT OUT. WHEN PULLED OVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD THEN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY COVER AND THE BATTERY CA…
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1. CAR STALLED 1 DAY WHILE GOING AROUND A RIGHT CORNER. CAR ALSO STALLED ANOTHER DAY. ON AUG. 25 CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WENT OUT. WHEN PULLED OVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD THEN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY COVER AND THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE.*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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