IllustrationSTARTING HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING MY KEY IN IGNITION FOR 2 DAYS. ON THE THIRD DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS $350.00 DUE SOMETIME TODAY. *NM
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
Electrical System complaints
277 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR IN…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION.
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME SINCE 9/16/04. HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. *JB
FAULTY IGNITION; HAD TO CALL LOCKSMITH MOBILE AND GET WHOLE CYLINDER REPLACED. JUST LIKE MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES I'VE READ UP ON, KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE REPLACEMENT, I FOUND THE KEY WAS INCREASINGLY HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN AND START THE CAR;…
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FAULTY IGNITION; HAD TO CALL LOCKSMITH MOBILE AND GET WHOLE CYLINDER REPLACED. JUST LIKE MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES I'VE READ UP ON, KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE REPLACEMENT, I FOUND THE KEY WAS INCREASINGLY HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN AND START THE CAR; IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTRA LITTLE TUG TO START. *NM
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED. WITHIN THE FIRST 2-3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. IN 2005 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. PRESENTLY THE LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR ISN'T WORKING; THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. THE REAR FRONT WINDOW…
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I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED. WITHIN THE FIRST 2-3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. IN 2005 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR. PRESENTLY THE LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR ISN'T WORKING; THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. THE REAR FRONT WINDOW IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON. THE CD PLAYER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2005. IN 2006 ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF FACTORY DRY ROT. I REGULARLY SERVICE AND MAINTAIN THE CAR, AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT MADE WITH QUALITY PARTS AND THAT IT IS NOT SAFE. ALTHOUGH I DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEEDS, IT DOES NOT GET THE MILEAGE STATED ON THE STICKER. *JB
MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY LOCK UP AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY CONNECTOR CABLE TO THE MOTOR WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND A NEW CONNECTOR WAS INSTALLED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF REC…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY CONNECTOR CABLE TO THE MOTOR WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND A NEW CONNECTOR WAS INSTALLED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF RECALL #02V288000, PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES WHICH DESCRIBED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 8/31/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, NEITHER THE AIR CONDITIONER NOR THE POWER WINDOWS WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTAC…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, NEITHER THE AIR CONDITIONER NOR THE POWER WINDOWS WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING THE NECESSARY POWER AND BECAME SLOWER. THERE WAS NOT A REGULAR RESPONSE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HARD.*AK
2002 FORD FOCUS, THE VEHICLES IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN. I CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, BUT THIS TIME I COULDN'T AND I AM TOWING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. *NM
THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 60,000 MILES LOCKED UP WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN. WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A FAST TRIP INTO THE POST OFFICE LEAD TO A SIX HOUR EVENT OF TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED, CALLING FORD, AND AAA., TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE IT WAS DURING A THUNDERSTORM. AFTER SIX HOURS MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC…
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THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 60,000 MILES LOCKED UP WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN. WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A FAST TRIP INTO THE POST OFFICE LEAD TO A SIX HOUR EVENT OF TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED, CALLING FORD, AND AAA., TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE IT WAS DURING A THUNDERSTORM. AFTER SIX HOURS MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION WAS WORKED ON FOR A COSTLY PRICE. *JB
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