Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The accident occurred on a hill at 10:30 p.m. I suddenly lost all power and control of the car near the crest of this hill. The car drifted back almost in a straight line. The brakes and engine weren't working as the car picked up speed in reverse under its own power I.e., from the slope of the hill. It continued backward until coming to a sudden stop with severe impact. The car was stopped by a storm sewer culvert (ditch) to the side of the road. The left rear of the car and undercarriage were severely damaged I.e., catalytic converter, muffler, rear axle, etc. The car was in excellent condition, was well maintained and had recently been inspected. The car was deemed a complete loss by the insurance company. I can provide more detailed information including a police report if requested.
Following a minor accident, no damage, the airbag deployed broke the windshield and dashboard. For 12 months afterward the passenger floor would fill with water during rain showers. I took it to be repaired 4 times with no success finally on the 5th trip the body shop figured out that the glue or filler that was placed between the welded structural components during assembly at the factory had cracked leaving a tiny hole that was siphoning water into the passenger compartment. They applied sealant to the seam between the passenger door panel and roof and so far no more leaks.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving 65 MPH, the contact crashed into a guardrail with the front driver's side of the vehicle. He sustained injuries to the left side of his head due to the grab handle. A police report was filed and the vehicle was repaired. The contact feels that the grab rail in the vehicle is unsafe because it protrudes from the head liner in a folded position. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 139,000 and current mileage was 140,000. Updated 06/29/09 updated 07/02/09.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle slip on ice and crashed into a boulder. The contact stated that pieces of the dashboard fractured causing injuries to the front passenger's left side of the face, front of neck, chest, abdomen, and left thigh which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance and was informed that the rear control arms and cradles were severely rusted and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Ignition failed, had to be replaced, tires wear incredibly fast (4 sets of tires at 45000 miles), radio cut out, had to be replaced twice, brakes failed at least three times causing two accidents, dealership said they replaced them, but lied and never did, was forced to spend $500 having them replaced, trunk doesn't close, bad suspension, spun out on an exit ramp
The rear door latches on my car have failed. The car's year and make was recalled under recall: 05s27, NHTSA campaign # 05V030000 however my VIN number is not covered under this campaign. I now have rear doors tied together using a rope.
Other than the recalls and the brakes squeaking constantly, everything was fine with my 2000 Focus up until 1 month after the warranty expired. Almost one month to the day, the instrument cluster stopped working. Ford would replace it at a cost of at least $500, so I replaced it myself by ordering a part on line for a total of $45. A couple of months later, the ignition cylinder would not allow the key to fit all the way in and as a result the car was not able to start, resulting in a cost of around $300 to replace. I am beginning to see the stalling problem from the faulty fuel pump. Now my automatic door locks and trunk release just stopped working and the car is making a very odd grinding noise when you turn. It would be one thing if I was the only one with these problems, but the facts are out there and many, many, many people are all having the exact same problems! …
I owe a 2000 Ford Focus se(wagon ) and have incurred a problem with the trunk latch and drivers side door latch. Have been instructed that my vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN even though the problem was the same as mentioned in the recall. Also, vehicle was not covered under my extended warranty because it was not an electrical problem. I am suppose to be responsible for the $456.00 repair for the driver's door latch, and $148.00 for trunk latch repairs. I have owned the car for 1 year , this was the 4th Ford, and the last I will ever purchase. My complaint stated that if there was a recall on a part it should be replaced at dealer's expense . I should not be required to pay for a problem I did not cause. I take very good care of my vehicles and should not have to suffer .
A hole appeared in the driver's seat upholstery, near the drivers left hip. Disassembly of the seat cushion revealed a broken weld which allowed a sharp metal piece to puncture the upholstery. I also observed this on replacement seats I purchased from a 2002 svt Focus. Photos (of the 2000 seat) at https://flic.kr/p/mle2fp; https://flic.kr/p/mlduyh; https://flic.kr/p/mle5w6. I was aware of the hole when I purchased this car in 2005, but did not discover the cause until recently, when the seat folding mechanism failed, and I had to replace the seats, and noticed a similar hole in several that I saw. I then disassembled the original seat and found the cause of the problem. This issue is dangerous in that it exposes the driver's body to a sharp metal projection.
Related recalls
Structure › Frame and members
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the resultant hic(d) value at one target location ap1, located on the trim panel at the juncture of the a-pillar and roof side rail, May be greater than design intent.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the left and right side b-pillar and a-pillar trim panels, revise the headliner edge near the tops of the a-pillars to accept the new a-pillar trim panels with their energy absorbing tubes, and…
Body complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2000 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 138 complaints about the body & structure of the 2000 Ford Focus, 4% of the model year's 3,686 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (51 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Focus body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-218 (frame and members, Aug 11, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Focus body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.