Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
THERE ARE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY REAR LIGHTS. MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ANYTIME AND SOMETIMES NONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS WORK AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD OF MADISON (5422 WAYNE TERRACE, MADISON, WI 53718, (608) 246-3600), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NO DASH LIGHT TAIL LIGHTS OR MARKRR LIGHTS
BOUGHT VEHICLE 2ND HAND, CASH, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. NOW, I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS, & MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK ON THE REMOTE, OR THE "ALL LOCK/UNLOCK" BUTTON, & NOW MY TRUNK LATCH IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE SELF LOCKING (MEANING THAT THEY LOCK AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHENEVER THEY PLEASE.) THE BRAKE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, ALL BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED & REPLACED, FUSES KEEP GETTING BLOWN. CANNOT LOCATE FUSE FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. FORD HAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE YEAR 2000 FOR A DOOR LATCH ISSUE, CAMPAIGN #05S27 NHTSA ID# 05V-030. ALSO, CAMPAIGN #05S50 NHTSA ID #00V-411 FOR A TAIL LAMP ISSUE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS YET AFTER DOING WEEKS OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2000 TO CURRENT. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL DEALERS, NONE OF THEM WOULD TELL ME ANYTHING, & THAT "THEY DIDN'T RECALL ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE FROM ANYONE ELSE". HOW IS IT THAT I CAN FIND THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET BUT THE DEALERS "NEVER HEARD OF IT"? WHY IS THERE NO CHANGE IN THE INDICATED ISSUE OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY? WOULDN'T THIS BE A HAZARD? I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WEREN'T WORKING UNTIL I GOT PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO, THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN!!! THEREFORE, A DILIGENT OWNER WHO CHECKS THEIR LIGHTS REGULARLY WILL NOT KNOW IT HAPPENS UNTIL (A) SAID PERSON GETS HIT FROM BEHIND, OR (B) GETS PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. HERE ARE A FEW LINKS FOR YOUR REFERENCE: LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T574_DS546293. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=2146E9390BE4CC339AE4F6438BAF3812&T=104972. LINK: HTTP://WWW.DIYNOT.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?P=1250643. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=149053. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=268411. LINK: HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=206427 *JS
HEADLIGHT FAILURE. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE HEADLIGHTS (BOTH) DO NOT ALWAYS GO ON. ALSO, AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE (OFTEN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, ALMOST ALWAYS WITHIN 20 MINUTES), BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND OTHER OUTSIDE LIGHTS, REMAIN ON. WHEN THE SWITCH IS ON, BUT HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF, IF THE HIGH BEAMS ARE TOGGLED ON AND THEN OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO ON (FOR A WHILE). THIS SEQUENCE OCCURS REPEATEDLY. UNLESS IT IS DARK (E.G. IF IN TWILIGHT OR IN DAYTIME RAIN), OR UNLESS I CAN SEE THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIONS, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE STATUS OF MY HEADLIGHTS. DEALERSHIP INITIALLY REPLACED A RELAY, WITHOUT SOLVING PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" CONTROLLING TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAMS, WITH SEEMING SUCCESS. I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED ORIGINAL-EQUIPMENT "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH". DEALERSHIP WAS UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL, BUT WOULD NOT TREAT THIS INTERMITTENT, SUDDEN, REPEATED HEADLIGHT FAILURE AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO GAS PUMP FAILURE, AND TO FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE, WHICH WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. [NOTE ALSO THAT CAR DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW HEADLIGHTS TO TURN ON OR STAY ON WHEN ENGINE IS OFF - THIS MAY SAVE ACCIDENTAL BATTERY DRAIN, BUT DEPRIVES OPERATOR OF ILLUMINATION OR SIGNALING ABILITY THAT MAY BE NEEDED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.]
2001 FORD FOCUS SE 4 DOOR SEDAN. 67,140 MILES. TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY ONCE TURN IS COMPLETED EITHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. HAVE TO NOW TURN OFF THE SIGNAL MANUALLY. HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON 7-19-2011. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OTHER THAN AN INTERNET SEARCH TO DETERMINE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, HE HEARD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WHICH BECAME FOGGY OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD CHANGED HEADLIGHT MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,800. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN UPDATED 03/25/11*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT SIDEWAYS WHEN PARKED. THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, SO IT SLID FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO DIM AND DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE ROAD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WOULD RING ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WAS ENGAGED AND THE LATCH WOULD ALSO POP OPEN SUDDENLY AT TIMES. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 107,000.
MY HEADLIGHT FELL OUT OF THE HOUSING AND MELTED THE HOUSING AROUND IT. IT NO LONGER WORKS AS A RESULT OF THIS.... THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. I WOULD NOT KNOW WHY THE LAMP IT'S SELF WOULD JUST FALL OUT OF THE HOUSING. I HAVE ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT WAS TOLD NO BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BUT YOU CAN'T TRUST WHAT THEY SAY BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME YEARS AGO THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY FUEL PUMP AND THERE WAS, THEY ARE JUST RUDE THERE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DRIVE THE SAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF ENTIRELY. THE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER WHENEVER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, OR AIR CONDITIONING WERE ACTIVATED. THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO SHORT AND, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS HAD TO BE ACTIVATED. THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SEAT WAS INOPERABLE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHILE THE IGNITION IS ON. FINALLY, NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE FUNCTIONAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MAKES A THUMPING SOUND. ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN THEY ARE ACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,003 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
AUTOMATIC TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION INOPERATIVE; IT HAS NOT WORKED FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS; HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT REPAIRED, BUT PLAN TO FIX IT SOON. *M
THE PLASTIC SOCKETS IN THE REAR TAILLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLY MELTED. (THESE SOCKETS HOLD THE TAILLIGHT BULBS IN PLACE.) THE TAILLIGHT LENS ASSEMBLY WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE FROM INFERIOR PLASTIC MATERIAL, BECAUSE EVEN THE BACK-UP LIGHT SOCKET; WHICH ISN'T USED VERY OFTEN; WAS ALSO MELTED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE $89.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE TAILLIGHTS, AND JUST AUTOMATICALLY STATED THAT THEY WEREN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD BE AROUND $250 FOR NEW LENS ASSEMBLIES, AND ANOTHER $45 TO INSTALL THEM. *NM
HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED OPAQUE AND MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB
DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A FULL STOP THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHICH SHE HAS NOT DONE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TURNING LIGHTS WERE NOT RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION WHEN USED. SHE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. THEREFORE, SHE DID NOT KNOW THE DEALER'S NAME.*AK
DT: THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS ALSO DO NOT COME ON WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE ON. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK, AND REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO WORK WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED A FUSE SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT, INDICATING A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. BETWEEN THE HATCH AND THE BODY THERE IS WIRING HARNESS, AND INSPECTION OF THAT WIRING HARNESS DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIELDING OF THE WIRING SEPARATED OR CRACKED, INDICATING THE WIRES ARE STRESSED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A PROBLEM INDICATED ON A RECALL FOR PRIOR MODEL YEARS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, WHO SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS MADE OTHER THAN THE ELECTRICAL TAPE THAT WAS PLACED ON THE EXPOSED WIRES BY THE CONSUMER. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THE SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THIS IS CONNECTED TO THE HORN, AIR BAG AND TURN SIGNAL. *AK THE TURN SIGNAL CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED, PRODUCT CODE#047-002. *SC *JB
DT: WENT TO REPLACE THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THEN, CHECKED RIGHT AND IT STARTED TO MELTING. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND SAID WARRANTY EXPIRED, NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
THE LIGHT BULB AND FUSES OF THE REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS MELTED TOGETHER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTBULBS, THUS THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME OUT THE PLASTIC ON THE LIGHT WAS BROKEN.*AK
I HAVE HAD MORE REPAIRS INCIDENCES WITH 2001 FORD FOCUS THAN IS NORMAL ON ANY CAR. IF MOST OF THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS I COULD HAVE EASILY DECLARED A LEMON. UNFORTUNATLEY THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THAT TIME. MOST RECENTLY I HAVE HAD THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I WENT THROUGH OVER 3 FULL SETS OF TIRE IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF. AND LESS THAN A YEAR AGO I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHTS IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. FORD DEALER CHARGED ME TO REPLACE THE REAR LIGHT HOUSING AND SOME WIRE THAT HAD SHORTED OUT.*AK
TURN SIGNAL FAILS TO TURN OFF AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED. *AK
THE IGNITION LOCKED AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK, SOMETIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL.. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT TURN OFF. *JB
TURN SIGNAL CAME ON AND OFF WHEN USED. DEALER WAS AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT.*AK
I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD FOCUS IN AUGUST 2001. IN SEPT. 2001 WITH ONLY 2240 MILES ON THE CAR TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN TRANSMISSION LINE. THIS WAS REPAIRED. IN OCT. 2002 AT 16416 MILES HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH. SWITCH WAS REPLACED. ABOUT THIS SAME TIME NEW BRAKE PADS WERE REQUIRED. NOV. 2002 AT 17871 MILES THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP. CAR WAS TOWED AND IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. AUGUST 2003 AT 26757 MILES IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. NOW I HAVE A BUBBLE IN ONE TIRE AND MY BRAKES ARE SQUEALING. WHAT'S NEXT? NOT ONCE HAVE I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALER AND IT BEEN WASHED OR VACUUMED OUT. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR BECAUSE I NEEDED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. NOW I FEEL LIKE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND LETTING THEM KEEP IT. I WONDER HOW MANY FORD EMPLOYEES WOULD BUY A FOCUS?. *AK
THE DEALER CHANGED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE 3 TIMES , THE ROTORS. TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *AK *CB. THE HUB CAP WAS LOOSE AND FELL OFF, THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED, THE TURN AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MADE A LOUD NOISE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PIPE AND GASKET, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FAILED TO GO OUT. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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