IllustrationWHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
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 reportsCHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMONG ON, HAD IT IN SHOP 5 TO 7 TIMES AND THEY SAY IT IS THE EVAP SYSTEM, SHUT OFF THE LIGHT AND SEND ME OUT THE DOOR!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? *AK
THE CAP WHICH PRESSES ON OVER THE LUG NUT ON THE WHEEL WAS JUST PRESSED ON, AND CAME OFF EASILY. CONSUMER STATED THERE 3 CAPS WERE LOST WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
IN JANUARY 2004 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME (JANUARY, 2004) WAS ON THE I-355 TOLLWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE ROUTE 64 OFF-RAMP. THE LAST TIME (JUNE 8, 2004) I WAS IN RU…
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IN JANUARY 2004 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY 2002 FORD FOCUS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME (JANUARY, 2004) WAS ON THE I-355 TOLLWAY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE ROUTE 64 OFF-RAMP. THE LAST TIME (JUNE 8, 2004) I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, SPUTTERING OR GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE JUNE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CARS FOLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND ME ON A NARROW ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY COAST ONTO A SIDE STREET AND OUT OF THE MAIN FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED AFTER A SHORT DELAY AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AS SUCH, THEY WOOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND PTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS ON A FREEWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. FORD TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT FURTHER CONVERSATION WOULD BE "JUST GOING IN CIRCLES." I TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. IF AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM THIS I WILL PERSUE THE MATTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS FOR MATTERS LIKE THIS.;\*AK
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. DEALER QUOTED $400 TO REPLACE LOCK CYLINDER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREQUENTLY FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE DURING RAIN EVENTS DESPITE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SOMETIMES I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE AND AM CONCERNED HAVING HEARD THAT THE FOCUS WIPER MOTORS HAVE CAUSED FIRES IN THE PAST. TWO FORD DEALERS HAVE FAILED TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. *AK
HAVE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 WAGON AND IT NEEDS FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED ROTORS AT 23,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND DESIGN DEFECT. *LA
WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN MY IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE. *AK
ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NC, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, IT TURNED OFF ON IT'S OWN. A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BEFORE I HAD THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN, IT WENT OFF AGAIN. FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN CAME ON. DURING ALL OF THIS, THE CAR RAN FINE, NO STALLING, NO SURGES OR FA…
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ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA FROM NC, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, IT TURNED OFF ON IT'S OWN. A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BEFORE I HAD THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN, IT WENT OFF AGAIN. FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT DATE, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN CAME ON. DURING ALL OF THIS, THE CAR RAN FINE, NO STALLING, NO SURGES OR FAILURES. I PARKED MY CAR AT WORK, AND 12 HOURS LATER CAME OUT TO GO HOME, ONLY TO FIND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, I FOUND OUT THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS SHOT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, AND A FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO PAY $500 OUT OF POCKET FOR FORD USING A FAULTY PART IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THE INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER WAS CLOSED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ENACTED. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY CAR HAD JUST QUIT ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I ALONE ON A BUSY I95.*AK
PURCHASED CAR NEW MAY 2002. FOCUS ZTS. IN AUGUST TOOK CAR TO ONTARIO CANADA ON ROADTRIP FROM MISSOURI. WAY BACK FROM TRIP, NOTICED VIBRATIONS FROM BACK OF CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH ESCORT. TOOK CAR ON TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH IN MAY 2003 AND THE VIBRATION WAS MORE THEN OBVIOU…
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PURCHASED CAR NEW MAY 2002. FOCUS ZTS. IN AUGUST TOOK CAR TO ONTARIO CANADA ON ROADTRIP FROM MISSOURI. WAY BACK FROM TRIP, NOTICED VIBRATIONS FROM BACK OF CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH ESCORT. TOOK CAR ON TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH IN MAY 2003 AND THE VIBRATION WAS MORE THEN OBVIOUS AT 55MPH. WHEN RETURNED FROM TRIP TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE. DRIVER SIDE REAR BUSHING ON TIRE ARM WAS WORN. WHEEL WAS TILTED AND TIRE WAS WEARING WRONG. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ARM AND TIRE. TOOK CAR ON ANOTHER TRIP MARCH 2004 NOTICED EXTREME VIBRATION STILL COMING FROM SAME SIDE/BACK OF CAR. SHAKES PLASTIC BAGS IN BACKSEATS. VIBRATES DRIVER SEAT AND STEERINGWHEEL. BECAUSE MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON REGULAR ROADS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT BECOMES OBVIOUS RIGHT AWAY. WILL BE TAKING CAR IN AGAIN ASAP. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR WITH THE PASSERNGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR WET AFTER HUGE RAIN. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE PROBLEM SINCE.*AK
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