Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 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 53, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH AND BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 11/08/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE HATCH DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT DISPLAY ILLUMINATED. THE REAR HATCH LATCH OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V246000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,846.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT DISENGAGED FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR FIVE YEARS AND AT ABOUT 180,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT MY REAR DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. BOTH REAR DOORS STICK AND HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPEN. HOWEVER, AT ABOUT 180,000 MILES THE DOOR LATCH STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. I HAD TO WRAP THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE DOOR TO KEEP IT FROM OPENING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2002 FORD FOCUS DOOR LATCHES. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BUT WHEN THEY RAN MY VIN# THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. EVEN THOUGH I WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THAT LED TO THE RECALL THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND AFTER SPENDING 45 MINUTES ON THE PHONE I WAS TOLD TO KEEP ME RECEIPTS IN CASE THEY ISSUE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD DIDN'T OFFER TO FIX MY CAR KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER CARS THAT ARE THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS AND THE TRUCK LATCH AND LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING. THE TRUNK WON'T STAY LATCHED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $314. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT NOW. I ASKED IF IT WAS UNDER RECALL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALWAYS CHECK ON RECALLS FIRST. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ITEM ON LINE IT DID HAVE A RECALL. WHAT CAN I DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *TR
WENT TO LEAVE WORK YESTERDAY AND THE KEY WON'T TURN AT ALL IN MY 2002 FORD FOCUS. AFTER A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM AND CONSISTENT FAILURE ON FORDS PART...BUT THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES $350-450 TO REPLACE THIS PART, AND THEY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME FAULTY DESIGNED PART THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE! *TR
RIGHTREAR DOOR LOCK IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS WILL NOT B ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IF PASSENGER IS A CHILD ON CAR SIT, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO REMOVE CHILD FROM CAR. WITH DOOR IN LOCKED POSITION, EMERGENCY TEAMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO REMOVE PASSENGER IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 AND A 2003 FORD FOCUS THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON`T WORK PROPERTY THE LOCKS WILL SHUT AND OPEN ON THERE OWN AS OF NOW I CAN`T OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THE LOCKS HAVE SHUT IN AN INBETWEEN POSITION.I HAVE TO CRAWL OVER THE CONSOLE TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR.IT WILL NOT LET ME OPEN THE DOOR FORM THE OUTSIDE EITHER THE LOCKS ARE LIKE IN AN INBETWEEN POSITION.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR BOTH OF MY FOCUS FOR A LONG TIME I HAVE CALLED FORD AND THEY SAY THEY DON`T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. MY MECHANIC FRIEND SAYS THEY GET ALOT OF CALLS ABOUT FORD FOCUS LOCK PROBLEM,MY BROTHER HAS A FOCUS AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE TAPE IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11. *JB
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS SEIZED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO OPEN THIS DOOR. THIS RESULTS IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE PASSENGER IS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND APPEARS TO BE PERMANENT. THE ACTUATOR MUST BE REMOVED AND REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400.00. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD FOZUS ZX3 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE FALL OF 2010. I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION KEY NOT TURNING ONCE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS OCCURRED QUITE FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS) AND I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY FOR AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES EVERY TIME. I DID NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM UNTIL LAST NIGHT. I WAS AT MY FRIEND'S APARTMENT AND AROUND 1:30 AM I DECIDED TO LEAVE. I GOT IN MY CAR, INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN IT AT ALL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAS IN MY FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR, TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD POSSIBLY THINK OF TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK AND THE KEY TO TURN. I ENGAGED THE GEAR RELEASE AND MANUALLY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, I BLEW ON THE IGNITION WITH MY HAND CUPPED OVER IT, AS I THOUGHT THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. I LOCKED AND UNLOCKED THE DOORS, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SAFETY FEATURE. AFTER A HALF HOUR OF EFFORT WITH NO RESULTS I HAD TO CALL MY PARENTS AND ASK THEM TO COME PICK ME UP, BOTH OF THEM HAD TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND MY 62 YEAR OLD FATHER HAD TO GET OUT OF BED, AND COME GET ME AT 2 IN THE MORNING IN THE MIDDLE OF JAN. I WAS TEN MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE, BUT EVERY OTHER TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I'VE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE OR MORE. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT AND CAUSE FOR CONCERN, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY FAMILY AND I HAVE GROWN TO TRUST AND DEPEND ON FORD VEHICLES. MY OLDEST BROTHER'S FIRST CAR WAS A MUSTANG, MY OTHER BROTHER'S FIRST CAR WAS A THUNDERBIRD AND HE NOW DRIVES AND ESCAPE. MY FATHER CURRENTLY DRIVES A RANGER, MY MOTHER'S LAST VEHICLE WAS A WINDSTAR, AND MY FIRST CAR WAS AN EXPLORER. IT SERVED ME WELL AND WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY ANOTHER FORD I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE, BUT THIS LATEST EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME SERIOUSLY SECOND GUESS WHAT I HAD THOUGHT TO BE AN AMERICAN NAME I COULD TRUST. *LN
(2002 FORD FOCUS SE) HAS AUTO LOCKING DOORS NOW THESE DOORS SOMETIMES STAY LOCK PRESS ALL BUTTONS AND NOT A THING HAPPENS.NOW SOMETIMES I CAN BE INSIDE THE CAR 5-7 MINUTES PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTONS BUT THE DOORS WONT OPEN. ONE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS TYPE OF DOORS IS ALL POWER OPERATED AND THEY DON'T HAVE MANUAL RELEASE LATCH. PLEASE NOTE IN A EMERGENCY IF THIS HAPPENS NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING TO BREAK THE GLASS. THESE DOOR SHOULD HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE LATCH WHEN THE POWER FAILS. THIS KEEPS ON HAPPENING VERY OFTEN. *TR
COMPLETE IGNITION LOCK FAILURE. CAN NOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION TO START THE CAR. *TR
KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2002 FORD FOCUS -- IT'S LOCKED. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD FOCUS SE AND FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO "ENTICE" OUR KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TO TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. FINALLY, TODAY, 07/25/2010, WE HAD TO LEAVE IT WHILE VISITING A FRIEND BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, NO MATTER WHAT WE DID. WE WILL BE TOWING IT AND FIXING THE PROBLEM AND, THROUGH RESEARCH, WE HAVE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD COST $300+ TO DO SO. *TR
2002 FORD FOCUS IGNITION PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT WORKS GREAT. PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES IGNITION SWITCH GET STUCK AND WONT TURN. NOW MY HUSBAND IS STUCK IN ANOTHER STATE AND STRANDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD. *TR
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY BURNING ALL THE WIRES AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. *TR
KEY STICKS IN IGNITION. 2002 FORD FOCUS, 83,000 MILES. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR USED ON SATURDAY AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR
IGNITION LOCKS UP, WILL NOT TURN REGARDLESS OF EFFORT, PUSHING, PULLING, BEATING, OR TWISTING YOUR TONGUE JUST THE RIGHT WAY. HOWEVER, ONE TAP ON THE EDGE OF THE KEY WHILE IT IS IN THE IGNITION WORKS. NO AMOUNT OF WD-40 OR PARTS CLEANER FIXES THE PROBLEM THOUGH. *TR
I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2002 ZX5 AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I AM SEEING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, IN FACT CALIFORNIA HAS STARTED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART. *TR
I DROVE MY CAR (A 2002 FORD FOCUS) TO A RESTAURANT ON DEC. 28TH, 2009 AT 7:15 PM. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO RELEASE IT FROM THE "LOCKED" WHEEL POSITION, BUT THE KEY STILL WOULD NOT TURN. I WAITED IN MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY ONCE MORE IN THE IGNITION WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A FRIEND AND WAIT IN MY CAR WITH NO HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AS I WAITED FOR NEARLY HALF AN HOUR TO BE PICKED UP, THEN DROPPED OFF AT HOME BY A COWORKER. HE WILL HAVE TO PICK ME UP FOR WORK TOMORROW AS ALL REPAIR FACILITIES ARE CLOSED FOR THE EVENING. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONCE I GOT HOME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS AND SPECIFICALLY FORD FOCUS MODELS FROM 2000-2003 YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL POSTED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO AN INFERIOR PART THAT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE LATCH AND STRIDE WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65000. UPDATED 10/29/09 *CN UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB THE PART HAS NOT REPLACED.
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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