The 2002 Ford Focus has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 589,932 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,198 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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,…
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…
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
124
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
76
7fires1injuries
TIRES
52
1crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
51
1crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION
45
4crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS
37
20crashes18injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
34
1crashes1fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
31
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
29
26crashes1fires27injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
29
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints1,198
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Break lights won't work and was almost hit by another car, changed break lights changed light break switch checked fuses and wiring everything is good”
“Sunroof exploded. Empty road, temp low 40s. No warning. I have owned the car since 2004. Though older car, <120,000 miles.”
“The drivers door will not open. It is stuck shut. Turning the key in the lock does not work. Broke outer handle trying to open door to assist elderly party out of drivers seat. Power lock fuse is fine. Took door panel off partly to expose cable, cannot push or pull cable to force open. Safety…”
“I drive a 2002 ford focus sedan. My engine light is on, warning light for trunk door ajar light is on (even though the trunk is securely locked, my front headlights due not work consistently (sometimes work, sometimes don't). My trunk does not always latch secure after I close it as well. I took…”
“I drive a 2002 ford focus sedan. My engine light is on, warning light for trunk door ajar light is on (even though the trunk is securely locked, my front headlights due not work consistently (sometimes work, sometimes don't). My trunk does not always latch secure after I close it as well. I took…”
“I drive a 2002 ford focus sedan. My engine light is on, warning light for trunk door ajar light is on (even though the trunk is securely locked, my front headlights due not work consistently (sometimes work, sometimes don't). My trunk does not always latch secure after I close it as well. I took…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle slipped out of drive into neutral. The contact called fairway ford (2761 e stone dr, kingsport, tn 37660), and informed the dealer of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that he had to pay a…”
“Husband was driving approx. 35 mph with his mother in the passenger seat down a country road. Driver side and passenger side airbags deployed with no accident. Passenger side airbag or cover broke windshield. Husband hit brakes.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ10001 Opened 2010-11-18 · closed 2015-12-28
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
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…
InvestigationEA02014 Opened 2002-07-31 · closed 2002-11-13
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA02022 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2004-01-16
ENGINE STALLING
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…
InvestigationEA02022 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2004-01-16
ENGINE STALLING
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…
InvestigationEA02022 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2004-01-16
ENGINE STALLING
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…
InvestigationEA02023 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2003-02-19
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
InvestigationEA02023 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2003-02-19
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
InvestigationEA02023 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2003-02-19
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
InvestigationEA02023 Opened 2002-09-09 · closed 2003-02-19
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
InvestigationPE02044 Opened 2002-05-01 · closed 2002-09-09
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Ford Focus as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.