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
12,000 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LAST YEAR THE CAR WRECKED INTO A WALL ON I75. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS OPENED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS THE OPINION OF THE BODY SHOP THAT EVERY SENSOR THAT THERE WAS TO HIT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS HIT. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME HOW…
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I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND LAST YEAR THE CAR WRECKED INTO A WALL ON I75. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS OPENED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS THE OPINION OF THE BODY SHOP THAT EVERY SENSOR THAT THERE WAS TO HIT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS HIT. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME HOW MUCH THEY CARED BUT WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALL. I HIRED A LAWYER, WHO SAID THAT FORD WOULD TELL HIM TO TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, WHICH WAS KERRY FORD IN TRI COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD TELL HIM THAT ITS FORD CORPORATION THAT SHOULD DEAL WITH IT. MY DAUGHTERS LAWYER RESIGNED FROM THE CASE BECAUSE HE WANTED US TO PUT OUT THE MONEY FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO EVALUATE THE CAR. RIGHT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS HOLD THE CAR BUT WANTS ME TO LET THEM RELEASE IT FROM STORAGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IN MIND AND FEEL LET DOWN, AND LIED TO AND PUSHED AROUND BY CORPORATE FORD. IF THERES ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. RICK KAISER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10025880
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Tires
FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!…
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FORD FOCUS IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND FRONT LEFT RIM IS STARTING TO BEND, WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUBBLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT WORK WITH US WHAT SO EVER. I BELIEVE THE RIM AND THE TIRE IS A DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025838
14,053 miles · Jul 8, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AT 14053 MILES, THE ROTORS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAD TO BE REMACHINED, NOW AT 20K MILES, I HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE ROTORS ARE EITHER SUBSTANDARD OR DEFECTIVE AND OR THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM, MASTER CYLINDER ETC. ALSO THE REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP PERIODICALLY.1ST INCIDENT-JAN 03.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025610
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003
Power Train
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10026558
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10026544
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003
SteeringStructure
2002 FORD FOCUS DISPLAYING STEERING PROBLEMS. *MR APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THEY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM THE WAS STILL NOT FIXED . IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED IN 30 DAYS THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO REQUEST THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPURCHASED…
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2002 FORD FOCUS DISPLAYING STEERING PROBLEMS. *MR APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THEY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM THE WAS STILL NOT FIXED . IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED IN 30 DAYS THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO REQUEST THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPURCHASED. *CB THE REAR GATE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10026455
26,500 miles · Jul 2, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS ALL ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR WAS SHOVED BACK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE PROVIDER. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN…
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MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS ALL ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR WAS SHOVED BACK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE PROVIDER. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER HIT HER CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND IS STILL HAVING SOME LASTING EFFECTS OF THE CRASH. PLEASE! PLEASE! LOOK INTO THIS. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOING ANY FASTER. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS LETTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025312
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2003
Wheels
CONSUMER STATES THAT LEFT FRONT RIM IS CRACKED IN CENTER OF RIM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10026305
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
Tires
TWO OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 25K MILES DUE TO SEPARATION IN THE TREAD. (AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH REAR TIRES) *JB *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10019793
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS ARE WARPED AND WEAR OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.EVERY 20,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THEM.*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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