2001 Ford Focus Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2001 Ford Focus, and owners have filed 1,761 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2001 Ford Focus
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Latch (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, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of…
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…
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Fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles, contamination of the filter in the fuel delivery module (fdm) can reduce, and eventually block, the flow of fuel to the engine.
Remedy: This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the safety act. All owners will be notified of the problem, and dealers will replace the fdm with a new design at no charge if the…
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Cables (electrical system)
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the battery cables for the condition of the cable insulation and proper tightening of the terminal ends. As necessary, cables will be rerouted, retaining clips installed, and damaged battery cables…
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Linkages (steering)
Certain passenger vehicles have loose pinch bolts that secure the lower control arm to the steering knuckle have been reported.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering knuckle pinch bolt for tightness and correct as necessary. Owner notification began february 10, 2003. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact…
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Motor (visibility)
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their…
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Recliner (seats)
Pm certain sedans and wagons, the seat back recliner handle spring could have been damaged during an in-process test and the occupant may notice a chucking, or perceived looseness of the front seat back, or the seat back could unexpectedly recline.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat back recliner handle spring for the driver and front passenger seats. Owner notification began april 3, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Recliner (seats)
Vehicle description: station wagons and 3-door vehicles. The subject vehicles have a folding 60/40 second seat that becomes a load floor in the folded position. When the 60% portion of the seat is folded down and a load is applied to the front edge of the load floor, the outboard hinge pivot could disengage from the hinge.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised seat back hinge pivot.
1,761 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2001 Ford Focus have filed 1,761 complaints with NHTSA; 172 describe a crash and 47 describe a fire. Reports cite 136 injuries and 8 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,124 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 330 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving her vehicle at approximately 35 MPH, the ball joint snapped on the vehicle's passengers side. The contact stated there were no”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 21, 2021 · Suspension
“The front dashboard and steering wheel airbags went off. if I was moving this could’ve ended even worse but luckily I was stopped. My hearing was affected. I was parked at a red light and my airbags w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 15, 2021 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2001 Ford Focus (Focus Station Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–25 / 29–32 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Focus model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Focus model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Ford Focus | 0 | 11 |
| 2000 Ford Focus | 11 | 3,686 |
| 2001 Ford Focus | 7 | 1,761 |
| 2002 Ford Focus | 1 | 939 |
| 2003 Ford Focus | 1 | 977 |
| 2004 Ford Focus | 1 | 387 |
| 2005 Ford Focus | 1 | 441 |
| 2006 Ford Focus | 0 | 205 |
| 2007 Ford Focus | 0 | 391 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 1 | 250 |
| 2009 Ford Focus | 0 | 229 |
| 2010 Ford Focus | 0 | 287 |
| 2011 Ford Focus | 0 | 113 |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 7 | 3,769 |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 11 | 2,112 |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 12 | 2,603 |
| 2015 Ford Focus | 9 | 1,021 |
| 2016 Ford Focus | 10 | 1,181 |
| 2017 Ford Focus | 10 | 898 |
| 2018 Ford Focus | 7 | 835 |
Checking a specific 2001 Ford Focus
How do I know if my 2001 Ford Focus has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2001 Ford Focus; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V418000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.