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2002 Ford Focus Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2002 Ford Focus, and owners have filed 939 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
939
owner complaints to NHTSA
82 / 20
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–28
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2002 Ford Focus

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 05V030000 Reported 589,932 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

939 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Ford Focus have filed 939 complaints with NHTSA; 82 describe a crash and 20 describe a fire. Reports cite 78 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 60,730 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 155 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 26, 2024 · Service brakes

“Sunroof Exploded. Empty Road, temp low 40s. No warning. I have owned the car since 2004. Though older car, <120,000 miles.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 21, 2024 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Ford Focus (Focus Station Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–28 mpg
City / Highway18–25 / 23–32
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare Ford Focus model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Focus model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 Ford Focus011
2000 Ford Focus113,686
2001 Ford Focus71,761
2002 Ford Focus1939
2003 Ford Focus1977
2004 Ford Focus1387
2005 Ford Focus1441
2006 Ford Focus0205
2007 Ford Focus0391
2008 Ford Focus1250
2009 Ford Focus0229
2010 Ford Focus0287
2011 Ford Focus0113
2012 Ford Focus73,769
2013 Ford Focus112,112
2014 Ford Focus122,603
2015 Ford Focus91,021
2016 Ford Focus101,181
2017 Ford Focus10898
2018 Ford Focus7835

Checking a specific 2002 Ford Focus

How do I know if my 2002 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 Ford Focus; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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 05V030000).

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

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.