2002 Ford Focus

● Typical for this model
2002 Ford Focus
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Focus Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2002 highlighted. 1999: 11 complaints 1999 2000: 3686 complaints 2001: 1761 complaints 2002: 939 complaints 2002 2003: 977 complaints 2004: 387 complaints 2005: 440 complaints 2005 2006: 204 complaints 2007: 391 complaints 2008: 250 complaints 2008 2009: 229 complaints 2010: 287 complaints 2011: 113 complaints 2011 2012: 3755 complaints 2013: 2103 complaints 2014: 2586 complaints 2014 2015: 1007 complaints 2016: 1174 complaints 2017: 882 complaints 2017 2018: 821 complaints 2018
2002: 939 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
199911
20003686
20011761
2002939
2003977
2004387
2005440
2006204
2007391
2008250
2009229
2010287
2011113
20123755
20132103
20142586
20151007
20161174
2017882
2018821

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%

13% of complaints: electrical system — 124 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 76 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

BATTERY CABLES SHORTED OUT CAUSING SMALL FIRE ON BATTERY CABLES AND MELTING ON BOTH BATTERY CABLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20120801

I DROVE MY FORD FOCUS ABOUT 6 MILES TO A STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I PRESSED THE GAS. THE CAR STALLED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS, REGAINED PARTIAL POWER, AND DISPLAYED THE AIRBAG LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120728

REAR RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK/OPEN. WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK I DON'T HEAR THE SOLENOID MOVING. WHEN TRYING TO OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUT IF FEELS LIKE THE HANDLE ISN'T MOVING ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180205

TIRES 6%

6% of complaints: tires — 52 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5%

5% of complaints: electrical system — 51 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
SUSPENSION 5%

5% of complaints: suspension — 45 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 108,000 MILES. I DID REPLACE THE TIE RODS CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE SUBFRAME IS VERY RUSTED AND THE ENGINE COULD FALL OF IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT SERVICED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20191110

AT SPEED OF 40+MPH AND UNEVEN HIGHWAY OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING A MANHOLE COVER THE REAR OF THE CAR SWAYS AND SHIMMIES LEFT TO RIGHT IN AN EXTREME MANNER. NOTICED MUCH WORSE WITH NEW TIRES THAT GRIP WELL.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190131

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 20020501 — PE (closed 20020909)

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM

I 20020731 — EA (closed 20021113)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

I 20020909 — EA (closed 20040116)

ENGINE STALLING

I 20020909 — EA (closed 20030219)

FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION

R 20050309 — latches/locks/linkages

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

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

Campaign 05V030000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

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 N

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060804 — fuel system, gasoline

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

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

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

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

I 20101118 — AQ (closed 20151228)

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

R 20120330 — equipment

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 PRI

Remedy: 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 CO

Campaign 12E007000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2002 Ford Focus — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (124 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (76 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for tires issues (52 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E056000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12E007000 (equipment) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2011 ▲ 2006 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 2012 ■ 2000 ■ 2014

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2002 Ford Focus reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Ford Focus is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Focus?

The most-reported component is electrical system:ignition, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Focus have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.