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

Equipment complaints

16 reports

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300 miles · Aug 6, 2003

EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

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FORD FOCUS: BACK DOOR WILL NOT ALWAYS LATCH. MY SON ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE CAR, THANKFULLY HE WAS STRAPPED INTO HIS CAR SEAT. I SHUT THE DOOR AND WAS DRIVING AWAY WHEN THE DOOR FLEW OPEN. FOCUS IS WHITE,ONLY 1 1/2 OLD AND HAS RUST SPOTS ALL OVER THE CAR. THE TRUNK OF THE CAR HAS THE MOST RUST.THE RADIO DIAL HAS MELTED FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING WITH BUBBLE GUM. HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS KEEPING THE CAR ON THE ROAD IN RAIN AND SNOW. I TAKE THE TURNPIKE TO WORK AND FEEL THAT I AM GOING TO SLIDE INTO ANOTHER CAR IF I GO FASTER THEN 25 MILES AN HOUR IN THE RAIN OR SNOW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030945

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2003

EquipmentSuspension

I HAVE HAD MY A/C WORKED ON AT LEAST 3 TIMES. ALSO HAVE HEAVY VIBRATIONS WHEN I JUST HAD IT ALIGNED 5/04/03. AND STILL HAVING HEAVY VIBRATIONS.AK

NHTSA ODI #10021084

30,085 miles · Apr 30, 2003

Equipment

I HAVE 2002 FORD FOCUS. PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. BEGAN HEARING GRINDING NOISE FOUR DAYS AGO. 30,000 MILES. CHAFES, WEAR EXCESSIVE, UNEVEN, SCORED.

NHTSA ODI #10016749

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2003

Equipment

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I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS THAT I PURCHASED LAST JUNE. I HAD WENT INTO THE WALMART , AND WHEN I CAME OUT I SAW A CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS MINE BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE I HAD PARKED THAT CLOSE TO THE CAR-I PROCEEDED TO THE CAR UNLOCKED THE TRUNK WITH MY KEY-PUT MY GROCERIES IN THE TRUNK AND OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR-WHICH THEN I NOTICED SHOES IN THE FLOORBOARD ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND REALIZED MY KEYS HAD JUST OPENED THE DOOR AND THE TRUNK TO SOMEONE ELSE'S FORD FOCUS-SO I GRABBED A BUGGY REAL QUICK GOT MY STUFF OUT OF THE CAR-LOCKED THE DOORS AND WENT AND FOUND MY CAR. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT YOU HAVE A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN -THEY COULD CHANGE THE LOCKS BUT DIDIN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY-WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN-I EMAILED THE FORD COMPANY. THEY CALLED MY HUSBAND TALKED TO THEM-THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A REPORT AND TO CALL THE DEALER BACK AND SEE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO ABOUT IT. AFTER MY HUSBAND TALKED TO BOTH OF THESE PARTY'S IT WAS DECIDED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A BURGULAR ALARM-SO I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE GETTING IN MY CAR , STEALING ITEMS IF SHOPPING,ETC,ETC,ETC. MOSTLY WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE AND SEE IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. YOU PAY A LOT FOR A CAR-FOR EVERYONE WHO OWNS ONE LIKE IT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN YOUR CAR. SCARES ME TOO=THAT CAR THIEVES MAY CATCH ON TO THIS

NHTSA ODI #10007777

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002

EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicTires

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A CRASH IN WHICH ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #567047

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002

Child SeatEquipmentPower Train

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THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES (205/50R16) WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTEADY ON BUMPY, WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE REAR TIRES VIBRATE AND CHATTER WHEN DRIVING ON WIND ROADS AND ON OPEN ROADS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALSO THE REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING IRREGULAR AND PREMATURE WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES STATED THAT IMPROPER FACTORY ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. AUTO DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONS. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, THE REAR WINDOW WASHER WOULD NOT SPRAY PROPERLY AND THE REAR WINDOW WASHER NOZZLE FAILED, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM HEATING OR A/C SYSTEM, THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS LEAKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AND REVERSE WHEN IT WAS COLD, THE CHILD RESTRAINT BRACKETS WAS PUTTING DENTS IN THE REAR SEAT *YH

NHTSA ODI #8009263

Official recalls

05V030000 · 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

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.

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

Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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