IllustrationTIRES WEAR OUT EVERY 10,000 MILES HAVE REPLACED TIRES 5 TIMES NOW WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ROTATE. 3 LINE UPS DONE AND ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES WE ARE NOW ON SET NUMBER 6 OF TIRES AND THE DEALER CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY WE CANT GET EVEN 1/2 THE LIFE OF THE TIRE. *JB
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 reportsRIGHT REAR BUBBLE INSIDE NEAR RIM, RT. FRONT BUBBLE, WENT FLAT AND INSIDE OF TIRE WALL SHREDDED APPEARANCE. *JB
SINCE 7/7/03 MY 2002 ZX5 FORD FOCUS HAS STALLED AND NOT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY AT LEAST 15 TIMES. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE HAD IT THERE FOR 50 DAYS SINCE 7/7/03. EACH TIME EXCEPT THIS LAST ONE THEY CLAIM THEY FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT ON THE COMPUTER AND DO THE REPAIR. IT HAS ALL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY…
Read full complaint
SINCE 7/7/03 MY 2002 ZX5 FORD FOCUS HAS STALLED AND NOT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY AT LEAST 15 TIMES. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE HAD IT THERE FOR 50 DAYS SINCE 7/7/03. EACH TIME EXCEPT THIS LAST ONE THEY CLAIM THEY FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT ON THE COMPUTER AND DO THE REPAIR. IT HAS ALL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I WORK AT NIGHT, I'VE STALLED IN FRONT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC, I HAVE STALLED GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR, I HAVE STALLED ON A BLIND CORNER. I'VE HAD TO WALK HOME MANY OF THESE TIMES AT 3 OR 4 IN THE MORNING AND LEAVE THE CAR IN AN UNSAFE POSITION. *JB
VEHICLE'S CONTROL ARM BROKE CAUSING STEERING TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 4 DR HATCHBACK MY PROBLEMS STARTED ON 7/21/03 WHEN MY BRAKES LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER NOW THE RADIO WILL NO LONGER RESPONSE TO ME TURNING THE VOL. UP OR DOWN AS WELL AS I ONLY ONLY SET THE TIME ON MILITARY T…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5 4 DR HATCHBACK MY PROBLEMS STARTED ON 7/21/03 WHEN MY BRAKES LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER NOW THE RADIO WILL NO LONGER RESPONSE TO ME TURNING THE VOL. UP OR DOWN AS WELL AS I ONLY ONLY SET THE TIME ON MILITARY TIME. NOW ON 9/7 MY BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO GRIND. ON 9/11 MY CAR NOW VIBRATES WHEN I ACCERATE AT 60 MPH +. IN THE PAST WEEK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CAR WILL ACCELLERATE AND HESITATE WHEN IN MOTION. IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS MY GAS MILEAGE HAS SLOWLY DECLINED AS WELL. I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TONIGHT - BUT THOUGHT I NEED TO REPORT. SEEMS THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE ME.
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE W/ 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL PLUS OTHER OPTIONS. ON DATE LISTED, I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A 4 LANE HWY APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR W/ THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. UPON TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BEGIN BRAKING, NEITHER EVEN…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE W/ 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL PLUS OTHER OPTIONS. ON DATE LISTED, I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A 4 LANE HWY APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR WAS IN 5TH GEAR W/ THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. UPON TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BEGIN BRAKING, NEITHER EVENT HAPPENED. I TRIED 3X TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN OFF BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. IT FAILED ALL THREE TIMES. BY THEN, I WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING A GROUP OF CARS IN BOTH NORTHBOUND LANES OF GA HWY 365 COMPLETELY STANDING STILL WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. IN RESPONSE TO A RUNAWAY CAR, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME DID THE SAME. I STRUCK HER CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF MY 2002 FORD FOCUS SE. MY PASSENGER REACHED OVER & TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF. I WAS ABLE THEN TO BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP A FEW FEET FROM A CONCRETE CULVERT. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY CAR WAS FOLDED APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DOWN ON THE GROUND. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. NEITHER CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR HAS FAILED ON TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. FURTHER, THE BRAKE WEAR INDICATOR HAD BEGUN SQUELING RECENTLY. THE CAR HAD 13040 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR EARLIER. WILLARD FERGUSON
2002 FORD FOCUS HAS FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS, NEEDS REPLACING OF ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALER REFUSES TO AGREE TO THIS ESTIMATE BY MASTER BRAKE. DEALER SAYS I ONLY NEED PADS AND ROTORS MACHINED. CAR ONLY HAS 14,692 MILES ON IT.*AK
SWAY BAR FAILS PREMATURELY.*AK
PREMATURE REAR TIRE WEAR. 6 TIRES WERE REPLACED BEFORE 27,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS ALIGNMENT IS AT FORD SPECIFICATIONS. DEALER SAID ROTATION AT 3000 MILES IS REQUIRED ON THIS VEHICLE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. OVERHEARD TECH TELLING SERVICE MANAGER THAT THESE CARS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ADJUSTMENT FOR CAMBER. TIRES CAN NOT BE ROTATED AF…
Read full complaint
PREMATURE REAR TIRE WEAR. 6 TIRES WERE REPLACED BEFORE 27,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS ALIGNMENT IS AT FORD SPECIFICATIONS. DEALER SAID ROTATION AT 3000 MILES IS REQUIRED ON THIS VEHICLE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. OVERHEARD TECH TELLING SERVICE MANAGER THAT THESE CARS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ADJUSTMENT FOR CAMBER. TIRES CAN NOT BE ROTATED AFTER 5000 MILES BECAUSE THEY CUP OUT AND WHEN MOVED TO THE FRONT CAUSE SEVERE VIBRATION.*AK
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