IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND LEFT VEHICLE OVER NIGHT. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP THE NEXT DAY WITH NO PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*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 reportsWHILE SLOWING DOWN DUE TO INTENSE TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY WE WERE VIOLENTLY HIT BY A CAR DRIVING BEHIND US. THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED - THE BOTTOM REAR OF THE CAR AND TIRES WERE TOTALLY CRUSHED, THE ROOF WAS BENT IN THE MIDDLE, ALL WINDOWS BURST, AND DOORS WERE JAMBED SHUT. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE CAR AH…
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WHILE SLOWING DOWN DUE TO INTENSE TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY WE WERE VIOLENTLY HIT BY A CAR DRIVING BEHIND US. THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED - THE BOTTOM REAR OF THE CAR AND TIRES WERE TOTALLY CRUSHED, THE ROOF WAS BENT IN THE MIDDLE, ALL WINDOWS BURST, AND DOORS WERE JAMBED SHUT. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO CHEST. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS CONSTRAINED US IN THIS CRASH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. AS RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY CAR JUST DIES WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE LIGHTS IN MY DASH ALL LIGHT UP, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT, AND MY CAR JUST TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT IN 4 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED. *LA
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF BRAKES.*MR THE SECOND INCIDENT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE.*TS *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES. *AK THE BRAKE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE RADIO HAD NO BASS AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THE RADIO WOULD TURN BACK ON. *SCC *NLM
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 FOCUS SE. APRIL 2003, I PASSED NY STATE INSPECTION W/O ANY PROBLEMS. AUGUST 2003 I BRING MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I AM TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED ASAP B/C THEY ARE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ROTOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE …
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 FOCUS SE. APRIL 2003, I PASSED NY STATE INSPECTION W/O ANY PROBLEMS. AUGUST 2003 I BRING MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I AM TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED ASAP B/C THEY ARE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ROTOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ALSO TELLS ME IT WILL COST ME $600.00 TO REPAIR! I CALLED FORD IN DETROIT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A HIGH PRICE, BUT THEY DON'T CONTROL DEALER'S PRICES. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO REPORTED PROBLEMS W/THE BRAKES, SO IT MUST BE ME. I DO NOT BRAKE HARD. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH SOFT DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CAR REPAIR WHO TOLD ME NOT ONLY DO I NEED FRONT/BACK BRAKES, BUT THAT CARS AREN'T DESIGNED TO WEAR BRAKES DOWN AT THE SAME RATE. AT THIS SHOP IT COST ME $325. I JOINED THE CLASS ACTION SUIT W/ FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM . *JB
ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR
THE TIRES AND WHEELS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ARE VERY POOR IN QUALITY. THE RIMS BEND AND TIRES DEFLATE UPON HITING A CHUG HOLE IN THE ROAD WAY CAUSING LOSS OF CAR CONTROL. WHILE ALWAYS AVOIDING HOLES WHEN POSSIBLE, THIS IS A FACT ON MAY ROADS AND HIWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR. THE CAR IS EQUIPED WITH 20…
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THE TIRES AND WHEELS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ARE VERY POOR IN QUALITY. THE RIMS BEND AND TIRES DEFLATE UPON HITING A CHUG HOLE IN THE ROAD WAY CAUSING LOSS OF CAR CONTROL. WHILE ALWAYS AVOIDING HOLES WHEN POSSIBLE, THIS IS A FACT ON MAY ROADS AND HIWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR. THE CAR IS EQUIPED WITH 205-50-16 FIRESTONE TIRES AND ALUM. WHEELS. THE CAR HANDLES POORLY AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWO TIMES IN PAST YEAR. I FEEL CARS EQUIPED LIKE THIS FROM THE FACTORY ARE AN ACIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*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