IllustrationI HAVE 2002 FORD FOCUS SE THAT CUTS OUT AND STALLS WHILE MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. I TOOK TO THE DEALER 18 MONTHS AGO AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT IS DOING IT 5 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER FOCUS OWNERS ARE SAYING THAT THEIRS CUTS OUT AS WELL. FORD HAS NO TSB THAT I COULD FIND FOR IT BUT IT IS VERY. *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 reportsIGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO ANY POSITION. NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, HAD TO BE TOWED. *NM
I WAS LEAVING WORK LATE ONE NIGHT AND COULD NOT GET MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TO START. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AMOUNT OF TURNING THE WHEEL OR JINGLING THE KEY WORKED. THE CAR RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A KEY IN THE IGNITION AS IT BEGAN TO 'DING' BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN TH…
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I WAS LEAVING WORK LATE ONE NIGHT AND COULD NOT GET MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TO START. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AMOUNT OF TURNING THE WHEEL OR JINGLING THE KEY WORKED. THE CAR RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A KEY IN THE IGNITION AS IT BEGAN TO 'DING' BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. LUCKILY THERE WAS A COMPANY CAR AVAILABLE THAT I COULD TAKE HOME. I COMMUTE OVER 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK. WALKING, BUS AND TAXI ARE NOT AVAILABLE OPTIONS FOR ME. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN WORKING IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AND I NO LONGER FEEL SECURE IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY ON THE INTERNET. IT COULD BE A WORN KEY TIP, THE KEYS ARE MICROCHIPPED FOR ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SO A NEW ONE CAN ONLY BE MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND MUST BE THE SAME NUMBER AS YOUR KEY. IT COULD BE FAULTY TUMBLERS, FORD CREATED THEIR OWN IGNITION TO SAVE MONEY AND THE TUMBLERS MAY NOT FALL CORRECTLY, OR FALL TO FAR IN TO ALLOW THE KEY TO FIT! THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL, A P05 IS IN PROGRESS, AND THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS LISTED. IF MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE MY PURCHASE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $35.00 FOR A NEW MICROCHIPPED KEY, TO $500 FOR DRILLING A NEW IGNITION AND NEW KEYS, A TOW, AND LABOR. AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET HAS BEEN THE MOST HELPFUL WEBSITE SO FAR, BUT I WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE LIST IN ORDER TO GET A RECALL ROLLING AND HAVE FORD PAY FOR THIS CHEAP IGNITION THAT FAILS REPEATEDLY. I WILL REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST ON THIS OBVIOUSLY POORLY ENGINEERED PART. *NM
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD THREE OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR SAY THAT THERE IGNITION SWITCH DID THE SAME THING. *JB
IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS WITH 34,000 MILES FAILED. REQUIRED A TOW AND REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $290. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A QUALITY PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITIONS. THERE ARE LOTS OF FAILURES OF THEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANKS TOM ROLLAND. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, A LOCKSMITH WAS CONT…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE IGNITION LOCKED UP, A LOCKSMITH WAS CONTACTED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP A FINAL TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND AN IGNITION SWITCH WAS ORDERED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP, NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO TURN. *NM
TURNED ON MY LIGHT SWITCH TO DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT AND NOTICED MY DASH LIGHTS WERE NON-OPERATIONAL. GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND DID A WALK AROUND AND FOUND THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND POSTINGS REGARDING THIS FAILURE ON OTHER FOCUSES. I'VE PROVIDED A LINK HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/TEA…
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TURNED ON MY LIGHT SWITCH TO DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT AND NOTICED MY DASH LIGHTS WERE NON-OPERATIONAL. GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND DID A WALK AROUND AND FOUND THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND POSTINGS REGARDING THIS FAILURE ON OTHER FOCUSES. I'VE PROVIDED A LINK HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/TEAM-TECH/457187-TAILLIGHTS-OUT-PROBLEM-FOUND-SERIOUS-SAFETY-HAZARD.HTML?HIGHLIGHT=DASH+LIGHTS+TAIL I CALLED FORD THEY DID NOT CARE AND WOULD NOT HELP. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND MY IGNITION LOCKED UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME I COULD NOT START MY CAR I WAS STRANDED FOR AN 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE CAR. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR IT WAS NOT STRAIGHT SO I CAOULD NOT PARK IT STRAIGHT TO WAIT TO GET IT FIXED . I CALLED A REPAIR GUYS AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WHA…
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I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS AND MY IGNITION LOCKED UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME I COULD NOT START MY CAR I WAS STRANDED FOR AN 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE CAR. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR IT WAS NOT STRAIGHT SO I CAOULD NOT PARK IT STRAIGHT TO WAIT TO GET IT FIXED . I CALLED A REPAIR GUYS AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD IT IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $300.00 I AM A SINGLE PARENT HOW DOES FORD MOTOR COMPANY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY TRUST IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND DO NOT FIX IT AT THERE COST IN STEAD OF OURS. *NM
55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON 3/25/05, WHILE PARKED & LOCKED, THE IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED ON ITS OWN, RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT BURNED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES AND HEAVY SMOKE WITHIN THE SEALED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WITH THE LACK OF OXYGEN. PICTURES OF THE WIRING HARNES…
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55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON 3/25/05, WHILE PARKED & LOCKED, THE IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED ON ITS OWN, RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT BURNED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES AND HEAVY SMOKE WITHIN THE SEALED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF WITH THE LACK OF OXYGEN. PICTURES OF THE WIRING HARNESS, STEERING COLUMN AND INTERIOR ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM FILE. *NM
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