2002 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
939 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 604 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 124 of 939 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 117 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 105 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 98 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 57 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 52 | 5.5% |
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 | 124 |
| Electrical System | 76 |
| Tires | 52 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 51 |
| Suspension | 45 |
| Air Bags | 37 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 34 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 31 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 124; Electrical System: 76; Tires: 52; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 51; Suspension: 45; Air Bags: 37; Engine And Engine Cooling: 34; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 148 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 134 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 139 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 83 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 26 |
Under 25,000: 148; 25,000 to 49,999: 134; 50,000 to 74,999: 139; 75,000 to 99,999: 83; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 26
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (148). 335 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 131 |
| 2004 | 155 |
| 2005 | 101 |
| 2006 | 89 |
| 2007 | 52 |
| 2008 | 73 |
| 2009 | 59 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2002: 102; 2003: 131; 2004: 155; 2005: 101; 2006: 89; 2007: 52; 2008: 73; 2009: 59; 2010: 45; 2011: 42; 2012: 26; 2013: 15; 2014: 17; 2015: 13; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 117 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 105 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 98 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000012 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
REAR END FISH TALES AND WANDERS THROUGH TURNS AND ON STRAIGHTS. IS SCALLOPING REAR END TIRES. CAR IS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS ONLY. DELONG FORD IN WINNEMUCCA TELLS US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. PURCHASING DEALER, JONES-WEST TOLD US WE COULD TAKE IT TO ANY FORD DEALER TO BE SERVICED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000060 · 2002-12-14 (December 14, 2002)
FRONT SUSPINSION BAD
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001064 · 2002-12-17 (December 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001119 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001512 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001842 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT HER COMPLAINT IS REGARDING NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON SNOW WAS CONTACTED BUT NOT YET RETURNED CONSUMERS CALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002038 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HYDRAULICS CLUTCH WAS BROKE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50MPH FROM OREGON TO CALIFORNIA. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002420 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT,THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER RESULTING IN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 23 MPH. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002420 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V030000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 2005-02-01 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗