2001 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,761 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 953 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 193 of 1,761 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 329 | 18.7% |
| Braking behavior | 261 | 14.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 203 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 187 | 10.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 105 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 69 | 3.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 193 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 140 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 129 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 94 |
| Electrical System | 89 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 83 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 73 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 71 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 193; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 140; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 129; Fuel System, Gasoline: 94; Electrical System: 89; Air Bags:Frontal: 83; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 73; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 71
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 135 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 258 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 200 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 147 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 157 |
| 150,000 and above | 56 |
Under 25,000: 135; 25,000 to 49,999: 258; 50,000 to 74,999: 200; 75,000 to 99,999: 147; 100,000 to 149,999: 157; 150,000 and above: 56
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (258). 808 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 77 |
| 2002 | 330 |
| 2003 | 288 |
| 2004 | 295 |
| 2005 | 198 |
| 2006 | 118 |
| 2007 | 85 |
| 2008 | 96 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 40 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
2000: 2; 2001: 77; 2002: 330; 2003: 288; 2004: 295; 2005: 198; 2006: 118; 2007: 85; 2008: 96; 2009: 52; 2010: 49; 2011: 36; 2012: 40; 2013: 23; 2014: 22; 2015: 15; 2016: 10; 2017: 9; 2018: 6; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2021: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 329 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 261 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 203 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000523 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED WITH MY CAR WAS THE STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH. AT 12036 MILES, I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME CAR NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. IT ALSO NEED THE ROTORS TURNED AND THE TIRES ROTATED BECAUSE AT 12000 MILES THEY WERE STARTING TO WEAR. THEY GAVE ME A BILL FOR $101 THEY STATED THESE ITEMS WERE "WEAR" ITEMS AND W…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000965 · 2003-01-12 (January 12, 2003)
ENGINE STALLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR 3 TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000726 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
THERE IS A CHEMICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND DEFROSTER. I HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO MATHEWS FORD FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIANS SMELLED THE ODOR AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM OUT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE ODOR RETURNS. I GET VERY POOR GAS MILEGE, THE BRAKES GRIND, SQUEEK, AND THUMP, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOWS HAVE A LOUD SQUEEK,THE TRUNK WON'T CLOSE COMPLETLY UNLESS YOU SLAM IT AS HARD AS YOU CAN,
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002806 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
ENGINE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, DURING ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. A ENGINE LIGHT WITH AN 'EXCLAMATION POINT' COMES ON, THE RED LIGHT NEAR THE HAZARDS BUTTON COMES ON, AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THIS STALLING HAPPENS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE CAR BEGINNING TO STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A VALVE (RTC, I THINK) IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL INFECTORS CLEANED, ALL FOR ABOUT $200. I HAD THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND USED TEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007653 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
I WAS TAKING THE SOUTH I-75 EXIT RAMP TO EAST M-59 AND EXPERIENCED A STALL OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP - WHERE YOU MERGE WITH TRAFFIC GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS A WIDE, SWEEPING RIGHT HAND TURN. I DRIVE THE ROUTE OFTEN, AND HAD EXPERIENCED HESITITATION ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED. THE TANK WAS 1/4 FULL. AFTER ROLLING TO A STOP UNDER THE I-75 OVERPASS BRIDGE, I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED. I PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE - COUNTING MY BLESSINGS I HAD NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED. I TOOK THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001267 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
WHILE PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE FROZE UP THERE WERE NO STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001464 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING 15MPH POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001916 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER REPORTED BATTERY FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002651 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL THIS EVENING ALL MY ELECTRICAL THINGS IN THE CAR STARTED FLICKERING AND THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF MY VENTS. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATLY, WHILE SOMEONE WAS YELLING AT ME GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF MY WHOLE ENTIRE HOOD AREA. THEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES, MELTING THROUGH THE HOOD, SCATTERING MY WINDSHIELD.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004704 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE BRAKES HAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE, PULSATION WHEN MODERATE-HARD BRAKING, AND GRINDING, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP-BROKEN, BATTERY AND CASE, BELT ASSEMBLY AND IDLER SEAL, TRANSMISSION/PAN GASKET LEAK, TEMP GUAGE-FOUND BURNT RESISTER/CONNECTOR-GOES HOT AND COOLS WHEN A/C IS ON AND THE FAN DOES NOT COME ON, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING, THE FUEL SENDER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY/INOP, AND THE REAR SUSPENSION-REAR SHOCKS-SEEMED WEAK AND HEARS A NOISE IN THE REAR E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004704 at NHTSA ↗