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 2002 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driver side door only opened when moved left to right. The contact also stated that the door would not open when unlocked. The failures occurred on several occasions. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while replenishing the windshield washer fluid, the hood lid close without warning. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the nut bushing deteriorated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN number was unavailable.
My 89 year old mother bought a 2002 Ford Focus from laurel auto in boswell and when she went to get it inspected was told the frame (unibody) is rusted so badly that it cannot be repaired. There are holes all through it. She paid $5,000 and has only had the car 1 year. Was there a recall on 2002 Ford Focus frames? The garage states they have never seen a frame in such bad shap.
I bought this car brand new in September. The first problem the car had was that the pollen filter became blocked and it had been raining out so all the water from outside came right into my car and I got about an inch of water in the passenger side of my car all over the floor. The enxt thing that happened was my driver side front tire blew while driving down a road, there were no potholes and no curbs that I could have hit for this to happen. About a month after this I noticed that the plastic had started bubbling up and peeling on the lower b pillar on the passenger side of the car, also the carpet had come unglued (from when my car flooded) and had now pulled away from the sill. Also, the wetherstripping had come unglued from the windshiel and you can now see the sharp edge of the windsheild. My car is in service today getting that fixed. …
I have owned this vehicle for five years and at about 180,000 miles I noticed that my rear driver door would not latch. Both rear doors stick and have been difficult to open. However, at about 180,000 miles the door latch stopped working completely. I had to wrap the seat belt around the door to keep it from opening while driving. After doing some research online I found that there is a recall on the 2002 Ford Focus door latches. I scheduled an appointment with my local Ford dealership but when they ran my VIN# they informed me that my car was not part of the recall. Even though I was experiencing the same issue that LED to the recall they told me that I would have to pay to have the car repaired. They referred me to the Ford customer service line and after spending 45 minutes on the phone I was told to keep me receipts in case they issue a recall in the future. …
I have driven my Ford Focus se wagon now for about two years. It is a company car for which I drive approximately 50,000miles per year. I have had to replace the rear tires three times since receiving the vehicle December 2001. Every 20,000 miles the rear alignment gets loose and especially in winter driving on wet pavement, I fear for my life because when I cannot travel at the speeds of surrounding traffic flow. There is a vibration in the rear tires caused possibly to a bent frame or poor design. I have never replaced the front tires or even rotated them since new! They are still plenty adequate for traction. The rear alignment problem severely hampers the fuel economy of the vehicle because it feels as though I am dragging the rear end around everywhere I go. …
There is a line that went straight into the engine's intake that has been leaking fluid since 2,000 miles and was inspected by deler who told to me that it was nothing. But the engine case should not have a large leak of fluid that soon. Finally now, they have done something on this and replaced the hose, as it was seen once more and knows of all the times reported. I hope this is just not a easy fix or this now hasn't caused any damange to the inside of the engine itself, as the engine has been in the shop for riding rough. They told me last time that the part of the transmission that was fixed would fix this. I think it is due to the oil leak on the top of the engine case since it was new. A new car should never have a oil leak on a engine case.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact took his vehicle to the dealer for routine inspection. He was advised that the front cross member had excessive corrosion. He called an authorized dealer and was informed that the component needed to be replaced at the cost of $800. He is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer stated that the component was not covered under warranty. The contact has possession of the failed component. The failure and current mileages were 60,000. Updated 07/28/09. The consumer was informed the excessive corrosion was the result of not having adequate corrosion protection at the time of manufacturing and it was in danger of failing. Updated 07/31/09.,
Vehicle towed to Ford dealer because it would not start. Upon inspection, dealership found front sub frame completely rusted through. Said it is "one pothole away from the engine falling out; totally unsafe to drive." rusting also caused corrosion in wires from ignition to starter, resulting in car not starting. This car was purchased brand new, has been garage kept, only driven 5,000 miles per year by elderly couple. Obviously the metal used in sub frame was not properly coated. Will cost thousands of dollars to fix, if it is deemed worth fixing! Someone could have been seriously hurt or killed if this engine had indeed fallen out while in motion!
While driving through a puddle, starter shorted and destroyed flywheel. Later it was found that water had gotten into transmission. In addition, a large amount of water was taken into the cab of the vehicle under the door seals. I was not stopped in the puddle, only moved through it. Due to the water incursion into the cab of the vehicle, the vehicle has been declared a total loss by my insurance. They fear electrical damage could result. I am concerned that anyone going through standing water (this was not a huge puddle) would find themselves with electrical problems that could result in injury.
Body complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Ford Focus, 5% of the model year's 939 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Focus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2002 Ford Focus, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Focus body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 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.