Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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 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.
Hi, I own a 2000 Ford Focus and it has been nothing but trouble. I purchased the car brand new in 2000 and have had it in the shop so many times. I have had my rear passenger side window mechanism replaced by Ford, then personally replaced the driver front window mechanism and the driver back mechanism due to cable breaks. I have had it in with the radio 3 times and it still does not work correctly. I have had to have the brakes replaced, the ignition block replaced, the struts and shocks. The trunk release has never worked. Now it keeps breaking down on me if I drive for more than 1 hour non stop. This weekend I went to san antonio from corpus, it died on the highway 3 times going to sa and coming home 4 times & how safe is that! Ford said they cannot do anything for me unless it is messing up when I bring it in while it is acting up, however it always happens when I am away from town. …
Since at least April 2003 the back right passagner side window will not rise or lower nor will the lock on the door lock from that seating position. The driver only can do it. While in nm driving from ky to az, my 2000 se began to lose engine power. As I drove at 70 MPH the engine began to stall, as if no gas was getting through the engine and the car began to die. I was able to safely pull to the side of the road; turned the car off for upwards of 2 hours, start the car again and drive. This happened 5 times from nm to az; over and over again. I called the 1800 Ford roadside assistance number and was told since my car was out of warranty they would not send a tow for me. A commercial trucker was nice enough to follow me to the next town to a Ford dealer. …
Fatality vehicle fire, dec. 8 2004. My husband is the original owner of a 2000 Ford Focus, subject to numerous service visits to bill brown Ford, livonia mi for: ignition, steering column, wheel bearing, brake, rear window control, seat belt &trunk latches, overhead light and engine light. The vacuum line & fuel pump & valve assembly were replaced 2/03, followed by stalling. In 6/03, A/C compressor & manifold line replaced. Fuel line & pump failure in 8/03, resulted in gasoline spill on residential street minutes after parking. Bogging followed repairs, PCM reprogrammed & leaking pvc tube replaced 1/04. Fuel pump again replaced. In 8/04, our 24 year old son took ownership of this problematic car. We are uncertain as to whether vehicle malfunction caused a 35 MPH collision with a fire hydrant. An immediate engine explosion and fuel fed fire trapped my son and his passenger. …
I have a 2000 Ford Focus as does my ex both having the same year make and model of the Ford Focus! The problem in which we both have encountered is that 3 out of the 4 windows in our cars no longer work the windows at first would make a popping sound on some others just broke suddenly. Now when I say broke the motors to all the windows still work but the plastic clip that holds the window on the tracks. I recently took my car to have safety and admissions done and was not able to pass safety do to the fact that my drivers side window does not role down. What I have been forced to do is all three of the windows not working are either held up by tape or a door stop from the inside. Do to my windows having to be held in the manner they are I am constantly worried about my car being an easy target for a break in thus I don't have the comfort level I feel I should with my own vehicle. …
Started experiencing problems with the vehicle after purchase. Suddenly in August, all power systems/computer type items began to fail -- power locks, trunk release. Then, car began (and still does) to sputter and shake when stopped/idle until it would shutdown. Also, the radio/cd player would shut off. Checked for tsbs for the vehicle model & year and found at least 15. When I took the car to the dealer (world Ford sandy springs) we were told that they are technical service bulletins and that we would have to pay to have the car repaired. Only official Ford recall notices, not even ntsa recall notices, would be honored. On top of this, we would be expected to pay $90 per complaint batch (the TSB list was batched in to 3 main areas)for diagnostic purposes and if any of the complaints were related to a recall, the $90 would be refunded as applicable. …
I had been having some slight problem getting my key to turn thought nothing of it until today (6/7/2004) went to store and got out went in came back out and low and behold my ignition would not accept my key. Finally got key in the ignition and could not get it to move. It is frozen up completely. This is terrible how can there be so many complaints on this problem and nothing be done about it.Ford has to know that they have a defective part on these cars...... Is there not anything a person can do abouit this kind of thing? Is there a certain number of recalls before there is something done ...if there is any thing a person can do to get Ford to correct this "defect" and it is a defect I am certain after reviewing your complaint site it is amazing how many people have went through this same thing alot more than one time, some people said they had to fix theirs more than one but three …
While coming home from a house warming in tucson, az on 06/21/03 me, my 2 nieces,and my daughter were on the fast lane of the freeway coming out of tucson when the engine started losing power, the car started slowing down to about 25 MPH we had to cross 3 lanes to get off the freeway with other cars coming at 65 to 70 MPH we almost got hit on the last lane before exiting the freeway. The car then sputtered the rest of the way off the freeway. After sitting for a while we were able to start it again. And continue home but we used frontage rd all the way. I am afraid to take it on the freeway anymore. Sometimes it does want to start at all. The door on passanger side also doesn't unlock with power button. Service engine light comes on with battery light and oil light. I feel someone will eventually be seriouly injured unless they find out what is wrong here.
Both back door mechanisms failed due to what looked to be corrosion ultimately causing the door to fly open while driving - my eight year old daughter fell out of the car, luckily sustaining no injury, aside from sheer terror. I attempted to get assistance from Ford, both dealership and Ford credit, however, I was given the excuse that because I missed a service check on my vehicle, they were not responsible for the repairs, in part or in whole. I faxed, emailed and snail mailed letters to every department, but because of the "missed check up", which would have only been six months since the last one, I am now stuck with having to repair the doors...over four hundred dollars in parts for the latch/mechanism inside the both doors...and lord only knows what the expense is for labour.
After two days of rain my passenger side of my 2000 Ford Focus filled up with water. Then when I went to turn on the air conditioning water came pouring out of the floor vents. I always hesitate to take it into a dealership so I used the internet to search for similar complaints. After looking around I found around 25 complaints just on one website http://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_8122_2.html . On this site many people referred to the pollen filter where there was not a tight seal or some type of defective part that would cause water to enter into the vent system of the car then fill the passenger side of the interior. This sounds like a huge problem and I would appreciate it if you would look into it.
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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…
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.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2000 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 110 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2000 Ford Focus, 3% of the model year's 3,686 complaints. The component named most often is power window devices and controls (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Focus window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-258 (motor, Aug 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Focus window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 3 fires and 5 injuries and 4 deaths to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.