IllustrationTHE IGNITION SOLENOID FAILS ON THIS MODEL. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE AND TALKING TO A FEW LOCKSMITHS IT WOULD SEEM THE IGNITION IS SUBSTANDARD/FAULTY IN MY CAR. HOW EXACTLY DOES A KEYED LOCK FAIL? IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE? *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
What owners actually said
939 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE PHYSICALLY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL REPLACED THE REAR SPINDLE ASS…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE PHYSICALLY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL REPLACED THE REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AS WELL AS THE HUB AND DRUM OF THE SUSPENSION. *NM THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC CALLED FORD BEFOREHE DID WORK ON VEHICLE. IT WAS A METAL TO METAL SOUND. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DEADLY. HOWEVER, CONTACT WAS IN RIGHT SLOW LANE AN DWAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. *AK
ENGINE STALLS REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. OFTEN THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER STALL. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES, NONE OF WHICH HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *NM
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED ACROSS THE ROAD AND STRUCK A MAIL BOX. AT SOME POINT DURING THE SKID OR IMPACT WITH THE MAIL BOX, BOTH REAR WHEELS DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. AD…
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED ACROSS THE ROAD AND STRUCK A MAIL BOX. AT SOME POINT DURING THE SKID OR IMPACT WITH THE MAIL BOX, BOTH REAR WHEELS DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR SEAT DISMEMBERED AND THE REAR SEAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND ANOTHER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING, ONCE WHILE A SEMI WAS FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS, I HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW HOURS FOR IT TO START BACK UP AND NOT STALL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE 00-01 MODELS ARE COVERED BY RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP BUT MY 02 MODEL IS NO…
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VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING, ONCE WHILE A SEMI WAS FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS, I HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO A FEW HOURS FOR IT TO START BACK UP AND NOT STALL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE 00-01 MODELS ARE COVERED BY RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP BUT MY 02 MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY IT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE 02 MODEL COULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUEL PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP THE CAR HAD INSTALLED DEPENDS ON WHAT DATE IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A VEHICLE WITHIN THE DATE RANGE OF BEING MANUFACTURED WITH THE OLDER AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AS MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN OCTOBER OF 2001. WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT COVERED IN THIS RECALL WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE PART THAT THE 00-01 MODELS HAVE? *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS A CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR LINK WORE OUT, AND THE TIE ROD ENDS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINK AND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEA…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS A CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR LINK WORE OUT, AND THE TIE ROD ENDS CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINK AND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
ON 01/10/06 THE IGNITION OF MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2002, 46000 MILES)) LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR, BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE TO A PARKING GARAGE. AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HOT-WIRE THE CAR SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE I DID PURCHASE…
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ON 01/10/06 THE IGNITION OF MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2002, 46000 MILES)) LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR, BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE TO A PARKING GARAGE. AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HOT-WIRE THE CAR SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR. FORD DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND WAS ABLE TO FIND SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AS THE LOCKS THAT ARE BEING USED AS A REPLACEMENT ARE OF THE SAME BAD QUALITY AS THE ORIGINALS. *JB
IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS. *JB
I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WONT TURN AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. ON-LINE I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH FOCUSES. I AM GOING TO GET IT FIXED, BUT AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RE-OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR SOMETIME, AND WAS STRANDED. LUCKILY…
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I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WONT TURN AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. ON-LINE I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH FOCUSES. I AM GOING TO GET IT FIXED, BUT AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RE-OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR SOMETIME, AND WAS STRANDED. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT MY APARTMENT AND I DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IMMEDIATELY. *NM
MY FOOT PAD ON MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME SLIPPERY DUE TO LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID OUT OF MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX3. NOW I HAVE STAINS ALL OVER MY CARPETING AND SHOES. MY CLUTCH BEGAN NOT RELEASING DUE TO THIS AS WELL AND THE PLATE BURNED UP. *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