Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
Dt:the consumer received a recall on the deck lid wire harness, the recall repair was performed at a Ford dealership in 2001. This recall repair did not repair the problem, the brake lights and license plate light failed afterwards. The consumer returned to the dealer, there were some repairs, but the consumer did not know what repairs were exactly made at that time. Several months later, the brake lights went out because the consumer was pulled over by authorities for not having brake lights. The consumer returned to the dealership and paid for the repairs out of pocket. The next occurrence resulted in the consumer smelling smoke for which she could not determine the cause. She pulled over for a moment, and began to pull out to drive to the dealer, and a passerby honked the horn. The consumer noticed smoke coming form the trunk compartment. …
I purchased a Ford Focus 2003, the car had 18,000 miles. I paid pacific coast Ford seven thousand dollars cash for the car, two day later I brought it back because the car just shut down while I was driving it. They ran tests told me nothing was wrong with the car. A couple of days later it was back for the same reason. Ultimately I had to bring it to lakewood transmission where after two attempts it was finally fixed it. I've had to get my ignition done two times and is ready for a third. Mallionn Ford fixed that for me. Now three weeks ago I roll into a lady doing 5-10 miles an hour. The police are called but since there is no injuries or damage to either parties the police say they won't come. No police report. Im driving home and my air bags deploy smashing out my windshield . A little ate you think. I cut one air bag out and continue to drive home. …
This will be our 5th ignition replacement since purchasing this car new in 2000. The first three were covered. Since we have to pay another 500 for this one we have been making due by leaving the key in and not completely turned off by just a hair. Or on the occasion we forget and take it out we have to beat it with the back of a screwdriver to get it to engage. This has caused me to get out and leave the car in drive on several occasions since I got use to putting the car in park before removing the key I can no longer remove the key so I am distracted by digging out the clicker so I can get back into my car. This is so dangerous! My car rolled across the library parking lot and into another car. This could have been a child run over! All because of this ignition problem. I have never left my car in drive in over 32 years before this trouble! …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor in the vehicle. He pulled the vehicle over and opened the hood, but did not find any smoke. In addition, the coolant temperature was fine; however, he felt is was extremely hot under the hood. He entered the vehicle and noticed that the service engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. He has not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed by a mechanic. Through online research, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign id number 02V288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) for the same symptoms he was experiencing in his vehicle. He had also been experiencing loss of power and hesitation in the vehicle while traveling at low speeds. He discovered NHTSA campaign id number 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). …
My complaint deals with the 2000 Ford Focus . I purchased this vehicle in June of 2001 with 100 miles on the odometer. Since then I have had to bring my car back for a few recals. One of the recals was the rear suspension where my car lost control and I veered off the road....luckily noone was hurt. The reason why I am writing this complaint is because I understand that there is a investigation on the Focus for various problems. I wanted to add to the investigation by saying that I just spent 340 bucks on my ignition switch because it wouldn't turn which I understand is a common problem and I also had problems with my car stalling in the middle of the thruway. I almost crashed into an eighteen wheeler! I have had the fuel pump replaced and my car still idols very rough and occasionaly stalls out when I am stopped. …
Dt: the contact stated the ignition switch failed three times within a year and a half. The first time, she went to start the car, the ignition would not turn over. The car was towed and repaired. The second failure was approximately one year later and the same thing happened. The car was towed and repaired for the second time. The third failure happened this week, went to start the car and it would not start again. It is being repaired now. The dealership stated it could possibly be the starter along with the ignition switch. In dec 2001 the consumer was involved in an accident due to a problem with the tires and the rear axle. The transmission cooler lines were replaced. The brake lights and heater did not work. The EGR tube was replaced. The wiper arm was broken. The engine light stayed on all time. The driver side mirror had to be replaced. Updated 01/11/06.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the battery cables had melted. After moving the battery cables the vehicle restarted and the contact was able to drive with constant deceleration. The check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel intermittently. The contact stated that the wires had completely burnt with time and he had the wires replaced. The failure continued. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 02V288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) but the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
2000 Ford Focus zts, started to smoke from the fuse box, within 3 minutes the engine compartment was on fire and car was totally in flames. No warning signs, nothing odd about how the car ran. Just riding along and smoke starts and I pulled over asap and the car went into flames. Nothing was done to correct what ever problem it was...the car is destroyed. No one knows what caused the failure. When the car started to smoke, the smoke came from the fuse box on the drivers side. The smell of burnt plastic was smelled and as I stated before the car was in flames. I had just enough time to get out of the car and away from it.
Dt: on Sunday the owner's wife made a right hand turn off of mentor onto hart street. The engine shut off like the key had been turned off and the engine burst into flames. The vehicle was towed to classic Ford but has not been looked at by the insurance company yet. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Both the fire and police departments were at the scene. The entire front of the vehicle has complete fire damage. There were no other vehicles involved. Prior to the fire there were no problems with the vehicle. The vehicle owner feels the fire was the result of a faulty electrical system.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving 20 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor coming from the dashboard. He examined the vehicle and noticed two wires were melted in the wiring harness. The contact believes that the failure originated from the rear deck lid. Two wires were fused together due to fatigue, one wire being 7.5 amps and the other being 15 amps. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V411000 (electrical system:wiring). The current mileage was 42,679 and failure mileage was 42,670.
Related recalls
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
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.
Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A decklid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the decklid wire harness.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fires
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2000 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 1,343 complaints about the electrical system of the 2000 Ford Focus, 36% of the model year's 3,686 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (538 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Focus electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-288 (cables, Nov 6, 2002); NHTSA recall 00V-411 (wiring, Dec 6, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Focus electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 65 fires and 8 injuries and 5 deaths to electrical system 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.