IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH LOCK-UP. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $300. *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 THE IGNITION LOCKED, AND THE KEY/STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. *AK
2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS LOCKED IGNITION --TUMBLERS WERE OUT OF SYNCH? FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER WON'T AUTHORIZED TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE. PAID $293 FOR REPAIR. SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. *NM
FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 OVER 65,000 MILES RECENT OFL CHANGE APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ENGINE CUTTING OFF AFTER TURNING OVER WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE ALMOST EVERY DAY. ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS BUT MOST NOTABLY DURING OR AFTER A TURN - WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING - ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOT…
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FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 OVER 65,000 MILES RECENT OFL CHANGE APPROX. 3 WEEKS AGO. ENGINE CUTTING OFF AFTER TURNING OVER WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE ALMOST EVERY DAY. ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS BUT MOST NOTABLY DURING OR AFTER A TURN - WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING - ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOTION - THIS HAPPENS AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 3-4 DAYS. CONSTANT NOISE FROM THE REAR LEFT TIRE ASSEMBLY. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED ABOUT 1 AND HALF YEARS AGO. RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED 4 MONTHS AGO ALONG WITH CRACKED THERMAL HOUSING THAT HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK - OVER $900 REPAIR W/LABOR. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I AM AWARE OF- OTHER THAN LOSS OF DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WHILE IT WAS PARKED 2 YEARS AGO. OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN W/THE SHIFTING. UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK - W/O USING THE SHIFT RELEASE. REPLACED SHIFTER AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE CAR IN AT THIS TIME - WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST APPROX. $80 ALONE JUST TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. ORIGINAL OWNER. TAKING CAR TO DEALER THIS WEEKEND. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM
COULD NOT REMOVE IGNITION KEY NOR START THE VEHICLE. COMPLETE IGNITION KEY FAILURE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT LOCKED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THE CYLINDER LOCK REPLACED IN THE IGNITION. THIS DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, IT LOCKED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THE CYLINDER LOCK REPLACED IN THE IGNITION. THIS DID REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS SPECIFIC PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR.*AK
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CONSUMER CANNOT GET THE CAR TO TURN ON. THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. THE CAR HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. *AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN OUR 2002 FOCUS SEDAN. THE KEY WILL NOT EVEN TURN IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND THE RENTAL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL! *NM
BATTERY CABLE FAILURE IDENTICAL TO THOSE RECALLED IN 2000-2001 FORD FOCUS (02V288000) IN A VEHICLE MANUFACTURED VERY EARLY IN 2002 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE INITIALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO MISS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO LURCH SEVERELY WITH A LOUD 'BANG'. DEALER (BERGE FORD, MESA, AZ, 8/05/2005) HAD VEHICLE 3 DAYS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. V…
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BATTERY CABLE FAILURE IDENTICAL TO THOSE RECALLED IN 2000-2001 FORD FOCUS (02V288000) IN A VEHICLE MANUFACTURED VERY EARLY IN 2002 MODEL YEAR. FAILURE INITIALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO MISS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING IT TO LURCH SEVERELY WITH A LOUD 'BANG'. DEALER (BERGE FORD, MESA, AZ, 8/05/2005) HAD VEHICLE 3 DAYS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. VEHICLE BECAME INCAPACITATED 8/24/2005, CABLE WAS REPLACED AT DEALER (HOLMES-TUTTLE FORD, TUCSON, AZ, $500 BATTERY CABLE!), BUT NOT RETURNED TO US. *JB
THE SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY WILL DROP TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING IN ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS (HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED). THE ODOMETER WILL NOT MOVE WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER IS AT ZERO AND OFTEN WILL BLANK OUT. AN OBVIOUS SOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE RADIO IS ALSO NOTED WHEN THIS ALL OCCURS. BROUGHT IT INTO TEAM FORD TWO TIMES FOR THIS PRO…
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THE SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY WILL DROP TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING IN ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS (HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED). THE ODOMETER WILL NOT MOVE WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER IS AT ZERO AND OFTEN WILL BLANK OUT. AN OBVIOUS SOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE RADIO IS ALSO NOTED WHEN THIS ALL OCCURS. BROUGHT IT INTO TEAM FORD TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. *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