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2001 Ford FocusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,761 owner complaints about the 2001 Ford Focus, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 7 safety recalls.

2001 Ford Focus
29
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.4× the Focus median · #4 of 19 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Free fix at dealersOwner complaints1,761329 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage64kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 21, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Ford Focus has problems

1,761 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system49633
Fuel system, gasoline27710
Engine and engine cooling24313
Service brakes, hydraulic17615
Suspension15024
Air bags147115
Power train908
Steering8616
Tires748
19 other systems49054

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

2001 Ford Focus recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

12v/24v/48v battery: cables

Recall 02V-288 · Nov 6, 2002 · 291,854 vehicles

Risk. THIS, IN TURN, COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY CABLES TO SHORT RESULTING IN HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CABLES.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: linkages

Recall 02V-289 · Nov 6, 2002 · 446,569 vehicles

Risk. LOOSE PINCH BOLTS COULD EXHIBIT NOISE, VIBRATION AND, IN EXTREME CASES IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, SEPARATION OF THE JOINT OR FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 3 more recalls
–no report yet

Front assembly: recliner

Recall 01V-108 · Mar 28, 2001 · 8,500 vehicles

Risk. IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front assembly: recliner

Recall 00V-418 · Dec 14, 2000 · 95,000 vehicles

Risk. IF THE SEAT IS THEN RETURNED TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT RE-ENGAGING THE HINGE PIVOT, THE SEAT AND SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE INTENDED LEVEL OF…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do electrical system problems start?

64kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 314 electrical system complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
39under 30k miles245under 100k miles69100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Electrical system

57 owners mentioned a cost

$359median

Middle half: $300 – $500

Fuel system, gasoline

18 owners mentioned a cost

$440median

Middle half: $200 – $636

Engine and engine cooling

10 owners mentioned a cost

$1,100median

Middle half: $226 – $3,000

Service brakes, hydraulic

9 owners mentioned a cost

$469median

Middle half: $360 – $643

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other Focus year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Focus median. How we score

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
9 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Ford Focus, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditAQ10001 · closed Dec 28, 2015
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02014 · closed Nov 13, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-288
  3. BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA02017 · closed Aug 15, 2003
    No recall
  4. ENGINE STALLINGEA02022 · closed Jan 16, 2004
    Led to recall 03V-482
  5. FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATIONEA02023 · closed Feb 19, 2003
    No recall
  6. AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRESPE02020 · closed Aug 16, 2002
    No recall
  7. INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE02026 · closed Sep 18, 2002
    No recall
  8. ENGINE STALLINGPE02040 · closed Sep 9, 2002
    No recall
  9. FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMPE02044 · closed Sep 9, 2002
    No recall
In owners' words

What Focus owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ON 9/2/2020 AROUND 10 PM IN MICHIGAN I WAS MAKING A PIZZA DELIVERY, I PULLED INTO THE SUBDIVISION WHERE I HAD TO MAKE THE DELIVERY, ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. I GOT MY CAR FO SAFTEY AWAY FROM THE HOUSES BECAUSE MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS SAFETY. I GRAB MY…
Complaint 11355484 · Sep 17, 2020 · 108,000 miles
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.
Complaint 11343641 · Aug 6, 2020 · 68,000 miles
WAS ON MY WAY TO THE VA HOSPITAL 04/04/2018 STARTED CAR, IT WOULD SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL FUEL LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND OFF. HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP. GOING TO THE VA HOSPITAL ON 4/16/2018 START CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. HAD INNER TIRE RODS…
Complaint 11098857 · May 30, 2018

Own a 2001 Focus?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.