2000 Ford Focus Exterior lighting Problems

I've been experiencing an electrical issue. I have lost power to my break lights completely. There was no warning lights or signs at all. I was pulled over and made aware by a police officer that my break light were out. I proceeded to try to replace the light itself which did not work, it only continues to blow the dust when I try. I had a mechanic inspect it and he told me there seems to be a short or possible broken wire somewhere in the wiring harness.

NHTSA ID

11429848

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

I WAS DRIVING AND MY HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING AFTER 10 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND GET HOME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR (2000 FORD FOCUS) FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR THE PLACE I PURCHASED IT FROM DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE WHOLE TIME AND THEY HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE I HAVE PUT AN ALTERNATOR ON IT AND CHANGED A COUPLE OF WIRES THAT WERE MELTED BUT IT DID NOT HELP! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW ESPECIALLY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN IT WITH ME THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE!!!

NHTSA ID

10716002

Incident

May 6, 2015

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE DECEMBER OF 2003 AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY LARGE MONEY PIT. THIS TIME THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD TAKEN IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEED AN EGR SENSOR OR HOSING FOR IT. WHEN I WAS TURNING AT A LIGHT THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHEN I HAD JUST TURNED ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY. THERE HAS BEEN MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE DAY ONE. THIS CAR HAS HAD 5 CLUTCHES IN IT AND I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT ALL IN ITSELF BECAUSE A CAR SHOULD NEVER NEED THAT MANY CLUTCHES WITHIN 100,000 MILES. THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE OTHER 2000 FORD FOCUS'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY ONE HEAD LIGHT IS NOT RIGHT IT NEVER HAS BEEN THERE IS CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP. THE REAR DOOR LATCH DOES NOT WORK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR ALSO DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY AND NO LONGER LOCKS AT ALL. THE TRUNK LATCH IS NOT RIGHT EITHER. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS UNLATCH AND THEN CLOSE AGAIN. IT OFTEN REQUIRES SEVERAL MORE TIMES OF PUSHING THE TRUNK RELEASE AND IT WILL FINALLY UNLOCK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS LEMON. I HAVE ALL THE REPAIR PAPERWORK, IT HAS A BRAND NEW BREAKING SYSTEM, BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION, BRAND NEW ENGINE, BRAND NEW CLUTCH, BATTERY. WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR AND HERE WE GO AGAIN....THIS CAR HAS SAT MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN!!! I HONESTLY FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY WE SPENT ON BUYING THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS AND IS STILL A LEMON SINCE DAY ONE...... *JS

NHTSA ID

10585519

Incident

Apr 29, 2014

Mileage

142,000 mi

I WAS PULLED OVER ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ALMOST MIDNIGHT, AND WAS NOTIFIED BY THE OFFICER THAT I HAD NO TAILLIGHTS, BUT MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLEW A FUSE, AND HAVE REPEATEDLY BLOWN THE SAME FUSE. I SAW THAT THE WIRES ON TOP OF THE HATCHBACK, INSIDE THE RUBBER TUBE, ARE CRACKED AND BROKEN. I SAW ONLINE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, AS I WORK SECOND SHIFT AND ALWAYS DRIVE IN THE DARK. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536860

Incident

Aug 21, 2013

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE BULB WAS CHANGED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 224,000.

NHTSA ID

10505391

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

224,000 mi

PLASTIC INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTS RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB WITH WIRING OVERHEATED, MELTED AND CAUSED SMOLDERING FIRE THAT LED TO DAMAGING SMOKE DEPOSITS IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. FIRE STAYED CONTAINED TO HEADLIGHT HOUSING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449286

Incident

Feb 24, 2012

Mileage

110,123 mi

WE OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 AND THE RIGHT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS DEFECTED. IT LOOKS TO HAVE OXIDATION BUT AFTER TRYING TO CLEAN THE HEADLIGHT WE CAN NOT DO SO..AFTER OBSERVING ALOT OF FORD FOCUS' WE HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413668

Incident

Mar 16, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

FUSE TO VEHICLE RUNNING LIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING. HEADLIGHTS STILL WORK BUT ALL OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT. RESULT IS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH ONLY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER MONTHS OF REPLACING FUSES INTERMITTENTLY, I DISCOVERED THE WIRE HARNESS TO THE REAR HATCH HAVE WIRES THAT TWISTED AND FAILED CAUSING A INTERMITTENT SHORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356712

Incident

May 20, 2010

Mileage

92,000 mi

FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR, THE REAR TAIL 'RUNNING' LIGHTS HAVE BLACKED OUT. AT THE SAME TIME, DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V411000 COVERS THIS FOR ABOUT 75,000 FOCUSES IDENTICAL TO MINE, BUT FOR SOME REASON, MINE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THREE TIMES. EACH TIME, THE WIRING HARNESS AND FUSES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ONCE, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING, TOO. THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ME NEARLY $1,500. I CONTACTED FORD THE THIRD TIME, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FORD COULD DO TO HELP WITH REPAIR COSTS, AS MY SPECIFIC VIN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THE RANDOM NATURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT LOSS. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, AND I NEED TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON ANY TIME I DRIVE AFTER DARK. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I AM AFRAID OF BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296617

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

88,000 mi

00 FORD FOCUS TAILLIGHTS NOT WORKING. FOUND THAT FORD HAS A RECALL FOR THE WIRE HARNESS DECKLID. TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I'VE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ALREADY. VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALERSHIP THAT NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, COST ME $800. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE IT WAS STILL OVERHEATING, COME TO FIND OUT I ONLY NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245257

Incident

Aug 2, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

FORD FOCUS HEADLAMPS EXTREMELY DIM AND ON LOW BEAM AND ONE SIDE ON LOW BEAM WHILE OPPOSITE SIDE ON HIGH. IF YOU SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM IT DOES THE SAME THING ONLY OPPOSITE. WIRING INTERNAL TO HEADLAMP SEEMS TOO SMALL FOR CURRENT FED THROUGH WIRING. YOU CAN SEE THE WIRING IS FATIGUED. REPLACED HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND ON/OFF SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. CHECKED POWER AND GROUNDS TO NO AVAIL. SEEMS FORD HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208573

Incident

Sep 10, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE AND BULBS BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06E026000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 103,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187005

Incident

Mar 19, 2007

Mileage

103,000 mi

IGNITION FAILED ON 2000 FORD FOCUS ALSO TURN CANCEL SIGNAL 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND BROKEN AGAIN OUT OF WARRANTY THE IGNITION FAILED 3000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE TURN CANCEL DURING AND AFTER. I HAVE 1 RELATIVE AND 1 FRIEND THAT HAS HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174196

Incident

May 16, 2005

Mileage

39,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES MAKE NOISES AND PULSATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER SWITCHES WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO TURNED THE DRUMS, REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN BRAKING. THE LOWER BALL JOINT, RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS, RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK, BONE SOCKET, STEERING RACK COLUMN AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE TAIL LIGHT COVERS RETAINED MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION BUILT UP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT COVERS AND FUSES THAT WERE BLOWN DUE TO THE MOISTURE. LASTLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR SEAT WAS LOOSE AND UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DISCOVERED AN ANCHOR AND HINGE PROBLEM. THE BACK HINGE AND PILLAR WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148223

Incident

Oct 25, 2000

Mileage

275 mi

DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MILE. STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT, AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT FROM WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING. A COUPLE DAYS LATER WENT TO PARK VEHICLE IN GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT OF PLACE. UPON INSPECTION NOTED A MELTING OF THE MOUNTS AND HOUSING, AND THE BULB HOLDER WAS LOOSE, SPRING WAS NOT EFFICIENT ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND JARRING. CONSUMER FELT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE OVER SEVERAL RAILROAD TRACKS, AND FELT THIS COULD HAVE LOOSENED THESE PARTS. NO REPAIRS DONE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A PRICING OF THE REPAIRS, WHICH WAS $60 EACH HEADLIGHT, AND DEALER DID NOT SPECIFY WHY THIS OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10129733

Incident

Apr 15, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

DT: THE TURN SIGNAL DO NOT CANCEL AFTER A TURN. THE SPRING BROKE THREE TIMES. THE TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP HAS TAKEN CARE OF BOTH ISSUES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. IN COLD WEATHER THE IDLE SPEED WAS TOO HIGH. WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE IT BACKED OUT LIKE A ROCKET. THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON APRIL 9, 2000. THE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT WITH THE BACK DOOR OPEN. IT HAPPENED SO FAST HE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DOOR HIT THE GARAGE POST. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. CONSUMER STATED HE HAD MENTAL INJURIES AND LOST HIS JOB. VEHICLE WAS STILL IDLING HIGH IN COLD WEATHER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10128802

Incident

Apr 9, 2000

Mileage

37 mi

HEADLIGHTS/RADIO AND ELECTRICAL PARTS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10091981

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

1. EVERYDAY CITY DRIVING WITH USE A TURNSIGNAL. CRACKING SOUNDS STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AND THE TURNING MECHANISM NOW FAILS TO TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. 2. THE TURN SIGNAL DOESNT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER TURNING OR PASSING. 3. PARTS WHERE PURCHASED BUT NEVER PUT ON, BECAUSE THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE BROKEN PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE, REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OF THE STEERING WHEEL/AIRBAG. 4. ACCORDING TO A FOCUS ENTHUSIAST SITE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072824

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

THIS IS A CRAP CAR, I CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE BEST OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS I HAVE PAID OFF THE [XXX] THING. 2000 FORD FOCUS. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP WHO IN RETURN REFUSED TO GIVE BACK THE FULL TANK OF GAS I THOUGHT I HAD (I FILLED UP THAT MORNING AND BROUGHT IT STRAIGHT THERE) ANOTHER MALFUNCTION??? THEY SAY I BROUGHT IT IN AT 1/4 TANK???? THE CAR STILL SPUTTERS!!!! WHAT THE [XXX]. ALSO>>>>>PAINT IS HORRIBLY PEELING OFF TRUNK. MY CAR WILL BE GREEN IN NO TIME. AGAIN DEALER WONT EVEN ANSWER PHONE CALLS BECAUSE I AM OFF WARRANTY (AS IF DRIVING MILES WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PEELING OF PAINT) MOISTURE IN THE FRONT HEADLIGHT NEVER GOES AWAY. AND QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T FEEL LIKE REPLACING THE ROTORS AND PADS EVERY 15000 MILES!!!! CHEVY HERE I COME! *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10064457

Incident

Apr 3, 2004

TURN SIGNAL DID NOT CANCEL AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE TURN SIGNAL WAS REPLACED AT 38521MILES AND 5000 MILES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10059150

Mileage

38,521 mi

WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063439

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

106,000 mi

FIRST ONE: IGNITION LOCKED. ONE NIGHT AFTER CLASSES, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO OR TURN THE IGNITION LOCK. I CALLED MY FORD WARRANTY AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED ME THAT HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS, AS HE HAD HAD MANY CALLS TO PICK UP CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SECOND ONE: AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM DRIVING TO THE STORE ONE SATURDAY, I PARKED AS USUAL AND TRIED TO PULL UP MY HAND BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT GO UP OR LOCK INTO PLACE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE LITTLE BUTTON YOU PUSH IN THE RELEASE THE HANDBRAKE WAS LOCATED ALL THE WAY INTO THE ASSEMBLY NOT ALLOW IT TO LOCK. I PLAN ON TAKING MY CAR IN NOVEMBER TO BE REPAIRED. MY FORD WARRANTY WILL COVER IT SINCE ITS A FEW THOUSAND MILES UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10071074

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

49,200 mi

AT IDLE THE HEAD LIGHTS, DASH BOARD LIGHTS, AND INTERNAL DOME LIGHT FLICKER WITH CYCLE OF ENGINE. FORD CERTIFIED MECHANIC DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, NOR A REMEDY TO THE FLICKERING. FLICKERING STILL EXISTS! *LA

NHTSA ID

10042954

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

Mileage

34,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS FAILED, ONLY THE HIGH BEAM WORKED. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042160

Incident

Oct 2, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE KEY FAILED TO GO INTO THE IGNITION. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. ALSO, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT CANCEL ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. *AK. THE DOME LIGHT FAILED TO COME WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE DEALER REPLACED A BURNED OUT BULB. *JB

NHTSA ID

10037785

Incident

Aug 4, 2003

Mileage

23,748 mi