IllustrationOUR 2002 FORD FOCUS SE, HAS HAD A SURGING PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 04/15/02, THE ENGINE SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL OUT.LSO WE HAVE A WATER LEAK UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AND WE NEED NEW TIRES. *AK AFTER ONLY 20000 MILES ON THEM.
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 reportsREAR END SHAKE TRACED TO BELT SEPARATION OF FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA02 TIRES FITTED TO 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FROM NEW. *LA
I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORDFOCUS IN AUGUST 2002 FROM UNIVERSAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER OF HAVING THE FOCUS MY BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING. MY NEW CAR ONLY FELT AND DROVE LIKE A NEW CAR FOR ONE MONTH. I TOOK BACK THE CAR FOR SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS NORMAL. I RECENTLY CHANGED MY BRAK…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORDFOCUS IN AUGUST 2002 FROM UNIVERSAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER OF HAVING THE FOCUS MY BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING. MY NEW CAR ONLY FELT AND DROVE LIKE A NEW CAR FOR ONE MONTH. I TOOK BACK THE CAR FOR SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS NORMAL. I RECENTLY CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS AND HAD MY ROTORS CHECKED OUT AND STILL AM HAVING BRAKES SQUEALING. *LA
MY FOCUS HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DO TO THE EXCESSIVE WARPING AND WEARING. FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FOCUS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE TO …
Read full complaint
MY FOCUS HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DO TO THE EXCESSIVE WARPING AND WEARING. FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FOCUS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE TO NOTIFY THE PROBLEM. I GUESS FORD IS WAITING FOR A FEW FATALITIES BEFORE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. SAD BUT TRUE. WELCOME TO CORPORATE AMERICA! *LA
WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHEN RAINS. *LA
2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOTICED RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA HEATING/COOLING COWLING ON PASSENGER SIDE WETTING FLOOR MAT SIGNIFICANTLY TILL THE POINT IT WAS COMPLETELY SOGGY. CHECKED GRILL BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD AND NOTED NO LEAVES BLOCKING DRAINS. NOTED RUBBER DAM NOT CONTINUOUS, AND WATER APPEARED TO…
Read full complaint
2002 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON NOTICED RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA HEATING/COOLING COWLING ON PASSENGER SIDE WETTING FLOOR MAT SIGNIFICANTLY TILL THE POINT IT WAS COMPLETELY SOGGY. CHECKED GRILL BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD AND NOTED NO LEAVES BLOCKING DRAINS. NOTED RUBBER DAM NOT CONTINUOUS, AND WATER APPEARED TO BE LEAKING INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT VIA ONE OF THESE GAPS AND THEN INTO THE HEATING/COOLING COWLING ALONG TOP SURFACE OF REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIT BETWEEN THE COWLING AND THE 'FIREWALL' AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS NOT GOOD, AND THERE ARE GAPS ALONG THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE ALLOWING WATER TO DRAIN IN. *LA
FRONT END MADE A VERY LOUD CLANGING NOISE LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES, PULLED OFF HIGHWAY LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH CAR WOULD JERK VERY BAD, DEALER COULD NOT SOLVE OR FIND A PROBLEM, VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP NOW. *LA
WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I COULD NOT START IT. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED TWICE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY KIDS IN IT. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND I'M WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. NOW I NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AG…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I COULD NOT START IT. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED TWICE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY KIDS IN IT. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND I'M WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. NOW I NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. I HAD IT THERE PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS ALSO, AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CHARGED ME $36.00....THE VIBRATION IS WORSE NOW SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE TRUNK WON'T LATCH PROPERLY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T GO THE WHOLE WAY DOWN WHEN YOU TURN THEM OFF. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP ACTS LIKE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR! *LA
I BOUGHT MY FORD FOCUS ZX5 ON OCTOBER OF 2002. A MONTH AFTER I HAD IT I TOOK IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AND IT STALLED. EVER SINCE THEN I HAD HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING IT. I BROUGHT IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON JULY 21, 2003 CAR STALLED GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC, I GO…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY FORD FOCUS ZX5 ON OCTOBER OF 2002. A MONTH AFTER I HAD IT I TOOK IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AND IT STALLED. EVER SINCE THEN I HAD HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING IT. I BROUGHT IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON JULY 21, 2003 CAR STALLED GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC, I GOT THE CAR TO START AND I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. I FILLED OUT ALL THE INFORMATION AND SUBMITTED IT. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 THE BOARD DECIDED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM SO I HAD A FORD ENGINEER COME OUT. HE FINALLY CAME OUT IN OCTOBER AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. I TRIED TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE BUT I OWE $10,000.00 MORE THAN IT IS WORTH. PLEASE HELP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.*AK
ENGINE STALLED AFTER I HAD DRIVEN TWO MILES WITH NO WARNING. I HAD JUST DOWN-SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AS I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN AND THE CAR STALLED ACROSS TWO TRAFFIC LANES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, AND ONE OTHER LIGHT CAME ON (ALTERNATOR I THINK). THE CAR WAS MANUALLY PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES…
Read full complaint
ENGINE STALLED AFTER I HAD DRIVEN TWO MILES WITH NO WARNING. I HAD JUST DOWN-SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AS I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN AND THE CAR STALLED ACROSS TWO TRAFFIC LANES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, AND ONE OTHER LIGHT CAME ON (ALTERNATOR I THINK). THE CAR WAS MANUALLY PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES IN NEUTRAL GEAR BY TWO MOTORISTS WHO STOPPED TO HELP. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE ENGINE STARTED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND AFTER 5 DAYS THE DEALERSHIP STILL CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. APPARENTLY THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DID NOT CAPTURE THE PROBLEM. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AN HOUR. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AS SCHEDULED (I WAS RUNNING LATE AND HAD TO DROP MY DAUGHTER OFF BEFORE GOING HOME TO PICK UP MY LAPTOP) I WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD NO TIME TO MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC AFTER THE ENGINE STALLED. IT WAS 75 DEGREE DAY (MONDAY 11/3/03) SO OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. *LA
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