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 2002 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I drive a 2002 Ford Focus Sedan. My engine light is on, warning light for trunk door ajar light is on (even though the trunk is securely locked, my front headlights due not work consistently (sometimes work, sometimes don't). My trunk does not always latch secure after I close it as well. I took my car to Advanced Auto Parts and had my engine light diagnosed. Engine codes that resulted were: B1318, B1881, C1947, B2438, B2434, P0457. The representative tested my battery and found that the voltage was slightly lower than it should be. My concern is for my safety as well as the safety of others. Do we have some manufacturer defects on this particular vehicle? Have other concerns which could be the result of vehicle wear and tear, or/and due to manufacturer defects as well. Inner tie rods need replaced as well as control arms/bushings, as reported to me by a mechanic. …
I drove my Ford Focus about 6 miles to a stop light. When it turned green, I pressed the gas. The car stalled like it was out of gas, regained partial power, and displayed the airbag light. It made it to the next stoplight, and I pulled it over to the side and turned it off and removed the key. At that point a plume of white smoke shot out of the driver's side hood. I told my son to get out because I knew the car was on fire. We walked away, and as we did, the amount of smoke increased exponentially. Within minutes, the front end of the car was totally engulfed in flames. The windshield shattered and melted, the hood was charred and black, the plastic parts of the fenders and bumpers melted away, and part of the body metal burned away on the hood and the fenders. Everything under the hood was melted, distorted, or otherwise destroyed. …
Ford Focus zx5 2002 power cut out completely while I sat in vehicle with air conditioning running; smoke billowed out from under the hood. I turned off the ignition immediately and pulled the key out of the ignition. The car ignition turned the vehicle back on all by itself. The car began to rumble and smoke spewed from under the hood everywhere. I jumped out of the vehicle and grabbed my two dogs from the back seat. I ran into the lawn care business and announced "my car is on fire -- call 911." two employees came out, one with a fire extinguisher; the other asked me for the ignition key who jumped in the vehicle and tried to turn the car ignition off--the car ignition went off but turned on again even after the key had been removed. He pulled the hood latch so the other employee with the extinguisher could use the fire extinguisher. …
Three instances. Vehicle electrical system (dash, gauges, lamps, etc) suddenly go dead. Engine then surges and stalls. Power steering and power brakes fail. Vehicle fails to restart. 1st instance (12/2004): dealer had failed to properly reconnect electrical connectors after recall service. Accident occurred, minor injuries. 2nd instance (1/22/2006): dealer found no problem. Vehicle restarted. 3. 3rd instance (2/3/2006): dealer found faulty alternator/alternator wiring.
55,000 miles on the vehicle. On 3/25/05, while parked & locked, the ignition malfunctioned on its own, resulting in a fire that burned the steering column. The fire caused other damages and heavy smoke within the sealed passenger compartment. The fire extinguished itself with the lack of oxygen. Pictures of the wiring harness, steering column and interior are available with the insurance company claim file.
Runaway auto throttle body sticking caused car to become a runaway auto with no control to stop. Exiting highway 80 at prnryn rd. Ext. Cruise control shut off auto speeded up enjine roared appliing brakes didn't stop auto. Went off road and struck a large oak tree. Vehicle overturned down an embankmend. Landed on roof of auto. Auto had 450 miles on it and was totally destroyed.
1. Car stalled 1 day while going around a right corner. Car also stalled another day. On aug. 25 car stalled while driving down the road. Everything electrical went out. When pulled over noticed smoke coming from hood then through the air vents. Car was towed to a Ford dealer and the battery, the battery cover and the battery cables were replaced at no charge.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. While parked, the vehicle ignited into flames. The fire department extinguished the massive flames and informed the contact that the fire originated within the battery. The vehicle was declared as destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
Purchased 2002 Ford Focus 4 dr sedan, took delivery 9/28/02. About 1-2 wks later, tried to start car, ignition key would not turn over. Called Ford assistance toll-free #, they advised wiggling the wheel while turning the key. They say ignition key sometimes will not turn when wheels are turned or parked up next to a curb. This has happened many times since, not all under those circumstances. Today, 7/16/03, with just over 19,000 miles on it, I brought it into don hind's Ford dealership in fishers, in, where I purchased the vehicle new. They have put a new cylinder lock in there, per kip jacobs of don hinds Ford. Mr. Jacobs did try to get me to believe that this is a common problem among all cars. I informed him I've been driving 33 years, and I have never had a car do this. I consider this a safety issue. I rarely loan my car, nor is it driven by anyone else. …
In January 2004 and again on June 8, 2004 my 2002 Ford Focus stopped running while in traffic. The first time (January, 2004) was on the I-355 tollway while traveling approximately 55 MPH. I was lucky enough to be in the right lane and was able to coast to a stop at the route 64 off-ramp. The last time (June 8, 2004) I was in rush hour traffic when the engine quit. There was no warning, sputtering or gradual loss of power. The engine just stopped and the dash warning lights came on. The June failure nearly caused an accident because of the cars folowing closely behind me on a narrow roadway. I was able to slowly coast onto a side street and out of the main flow of traffic. The car started after a short delay and was driven to the dealership where purchased. The checked out the car and told me that they could not find anything wrong. As such, they woould not make any repairs. …
NHTSA investigations
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 2002 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 277 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Ford Focus, 29% of the model year's 939 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (124 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Focus electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system 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 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 12 fires and 6 injuries 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.