2002 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 1,014 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 85 involved a crash and 24 involved a fire. 82 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentFeb 24, 2012
RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND G68945. THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2000 THROUGH 2005 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASHER. THE ABSENCE OF THE WASHER CAN ALLOW THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLY TO PULL APART THE TOP MOUNT.
IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.
Campaign 12E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsAug 11, 2008
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Campaign 08E050000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasolineJun 13, 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
Campaign 06E056000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 05V030000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
73 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Equipment, Sep 9, 2003
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 18, 2003
TO MY FOCUS IN TO SERVICE JAN 2003 FOR SQUEAKING BRAKES, ROTORS WERE WARPED, BRAKE SQUEAKING SAID TO BE "NORMAL". THEY MACHINE STRAIGHTENED THE ROTORS AND SAID FORD ENGINEERING LOOKING INTO SQUEAKS. AUG. 2003 TAKE FOCUS IN FOR LOUD VIBRATING SOUND. BRAKES AND ROTORS COMPLETELY SHOT. $440 TO FIX. 13700 MILES ON CAR. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 31, 2003
CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. *PH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 8, 2003
AT 14053 MILES, THE ROTORS ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS HAD TO BE REMACHINED, NOW AT 20K MILES, I HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE ROTORS ARE EITHER SUBSTANDARD OR DEFECTIVE AND OR THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM, MASTER CYLINDER ETC. ALSO THE REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP PERIODICALLY.1ST INCIDENT-JAN 03.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 3, 2003
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 16, 2003
BRAKE PADS ARE WARPED AND WEAR OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.EVERY 20,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THEM.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Jun 14, 2003, crash
I BOUGHT MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER A NEW FOCUS BECAUSE I FELT NEW CARS WERE SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE. TODAY, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING NOISE AND NOT BEING RESPONSIVE. ON HER WAY TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT AGAIN, SHE MADE A LEFT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD AND THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HER WAS AT A DEAD STOP. IT WAS THE RAV 4 IN FRONT OF HER, NOT HER BRAKES, THAT STOPPED HER CAR DEAD. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE AIRBAG I FELT WOULD PROTECT HER DID NOT DEPLOY. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BEFORE THINGS GET ADDRESSED BY A MANUFACTURER? TO THINK I BOUGHT MY ONLY DAUGHTER A CAR WITH UNRELIABLE BRAKES AND AIRBAGS THAT DON'T WORK. UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER CONSUMERS, WE FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 12, 2003
WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Structure, Jun 7, 2003
I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE. AT 10,956 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS BILLED 256.06 FOR THIS REPAIR. I ALSO HAD A WATER LEAK THAT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE LEAK WAS FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE THE POLLEN FILTER. THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS LOOSE, THAT WAS ALSO FIXED ASAP. AND LASTLY THE FUEL ECONOMY IS FAR FROM WHAT FORD CLAIMS IT TO BE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.FORDFOCUSBRAKEPROBLEMS.COM FOR MORE INFO. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 3, 2003
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 13, 2003
2002 FORD FOCUS, ONLY 15000 MILES. $500 FOR BRAKE JOB BECAUSE ROTORS WERE SHOT. MECHANIC SAYS COMMON PROBLEM WITH FOCUS. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 1, 2003
BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY RUINED ALONG WITH ROTORS IN 11,000 MILES. COMPLETELY UNTHINKABLE. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM BUT NO ONE IS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM VERY UNHAPPY.
Service brakes, Air, Dec 17, 2002
WHILE DRIVING THE AT 45MPH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP FOR FIVE MINUTES. PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 29, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIR VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 16, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 24, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE GONE OUT AT 8,000 MILES, IN MAY THE CONSUMER HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED THEN IN JULY THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AND FINALLY ON THE 21-SEP-2002 THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 11, 2002
WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND LOOSENED WHICH CAUSED FAN TO HIT IT CONTINUOUSLY. NOISE IN BRAKE PEDAL, REPORTED 3 TIMES, DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT IS. IT HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. THEY HEAR IT BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 9, 2002
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A CRASH IN WHICH ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *SLC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 17, 2002
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 40-55 MPH THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND PEDAL FEELS SPONGY. DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Jun 25, 2002
CONSUMER APPLIED BOTH BRAKES AND CLUTCH AT 70 MPH, AND VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 17, 2002, crash
BRAKES GRIND WHEN CONSUMER IS APPLYING BRAKES. FOLLOWING DAY CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP WHEN TRYING TO PARK, VEHICLE RAN INTO A HOUSE. *AKCONSUMER SUFFERED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND BACK PROBLEMS. CONSUMERS MOTHER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND THE CHILDREN HAD BUMPS AND BRUISES. *JG
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 13, 2002
THIS LINE OF VEHICLES ALSO HAS 2 OTHER MAJOR COMPLAINTS FROM MANY OWNERS, 1ST IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES SQUEALING THIS WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, A TSB WAS ISSUED AND THE 2002 MODEL HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AT IDLE. AGAIN A TSB WAS ISSUED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED IN THE 2002 MODEL YEAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT WAS REPORTED HERE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKING TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, BRAKE FLUID WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 2, 2002, crash
I WENT TO STOP BEHIND A TRUCK AND MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. IT WAS LIKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES.*AK