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
15,000 miles · Jul 31, 2004
Electrical System
CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN ENGINE HAS BEEN COLD FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING A WHILE AND THEN SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START USUALLY AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. DEALER SAYS CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH TO REALLY TRY. IF WE …
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CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN ENGINE HAS BEEN COLD FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING A WHILE AND THEN SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START USUALLY AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. DEALER SAYS CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT KEEP IT LONG ENOUGH TO REALLY TRY. IF WE WERE TO TOW TO DEALER, CAR WOULD BE STARTING BY THE TIME IT GOT THERE. OCCURS AT RANDOM, ABOUT 1-3 TIMES PER MONTH SINCE NOVEMBER 2003. HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME, LOOSE WIRE IN STEERING COLUMN WAS CORRECTED BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED A PART IN IGNITION SWITCH BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT TO START WITH. STILL HAVING NO-START PROBLEM. RETURNING TO DEALERISHIP TOMORROW.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10083074
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2004
Electrical System
UPON PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT FIT AS IF IT WAS THE WRONG KEY. UPON GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10083934
23,650 miles · Jul 16, 2004
Fuel System, Other
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING - WOULD NOT RE-START - BETWEEN 1/2 TO 2/3 FULL TANK - INDEPENDENT GARAGE DIAGNOSED FAULTY FUEL PUMP, SAID FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS "SMOKING" AND RED-HOT - LUCKILY HAPPENED IN TOWN, WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE INTO CHICAGO ON 90/94 WITH FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDING A CHILD JUST 2 DAYS FROM NOW! - HAVE READ HISTORY ON …
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CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING - WOULD NOT RE-START - BETWEEN 1/2 TO 2/3 FULL TANK - INDEPENDENT GARAGE DIAGNOSED FAULTY FUEL PUMP, SAID FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS "SMOKING" AND RED-HOT - LUCKILY HAPPENED IN TOWN, WAS SCHEDULED TO DRIVE INTO CHICAGO ON 90/94 WITH FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDING A CHILD JUST 2 DAYS FROM NOW! - HAVE READ HISTORY ON THIS PROBLEM, CAN'T BELIEVE NHTSA ALLOWED FORD TO WAIT FOR FAILURES - APPARENTLY FORD'S "FIX" ON THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECT, AS THIS IS A 2002 MODEL CAR - CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AWAITING OUTCOME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081187
390,302 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WHILE DRIVING AND THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082065
62,000 miles · Jul 12, 2004
Steering
I HAD TO MAKE A SHARP MANEUVER TO AVOID A CAR CHANGING LANES. MY CAR A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WENT INTO WILD OSCILLATIONS ACROSS 3 LANES. BACK AND FORTH. IT TOOK 3/4 OF A MILE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY CAT I EVER DROVE BEFORE. IT WAS ONLY LUCK THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10080821
15,400 miles · Jul 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE JUST DIES WITH NO WARNING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,AFTER ENGINE DIES I LOSE POWER STEERING, AND WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I AM ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE STILL IN MOTION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10080769
14,800 miles · Jul 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 14,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10079201
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2004
Steering
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10080207
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE PA TURNPIKE WHEN SCALDING WATER FROM UP UNDER THE DASH POURED OUT ONTO MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. I SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO MY RIGHT FOOT. THE WRECKER TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER IN EMMAUS, PA FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT O…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE PA TURNPIKE WHEN SCALDING WATER FROM UP UNDER THE DASH POURED OUT ONTO MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. I SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO MY RIGHT FOOT. THE WRECKER TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER IN EMMAUS, PA FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THAT THE EVAPORATOR LINE WAS PLUGGED, BUT WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE NARRATIVE ON THE SERVICE FORM SAID THAT THE LINE WAS NOT PLUGGED. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR WHICH I UNDERSTAND ENTAILED REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10079067
106,500 miles · Jun 25, 2004
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK IT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER REFUSED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD QUOTED PRICES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM
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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