Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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 contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The vehicle has Firestone tires. The contact believed that the rear passenger tire was defective due to a rollover crash. The approximate mileage on the tire was 700. While driving less than 75 MPH, the driver felt a shift in the way the vehicle was operating. The tires were inspected, but no failures were found. While attempting to make a left turn, the rear passenger tire separated in two locations. The vehicle completely rolled over while making the left turn. The driver was injured. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and they stated that the rear passenger tire was defective. The manufactured date of the tire was two months prior to the crash. The police filed a report and verified that the driver was not speeding at the time of the crash. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN, tire size, and tire line were unknown. …
Ohtsu fn7000 within one month of being put on new tire would deflate all a sudden while parked shortly. 4 hours or less. Changed to spare. Tire had belle tire run a check blamed on bent rim. Which is not bent. They aired it back up and same again a month later just went flat. Took to a local shop who has been in business for 30 plus years said it was a bad tire it was nothing but powdered rubber inside showing wires. Took back to belle tire and had to argue to get them to replace tried saying it was drivin on while flat which it was not. I'm afraid the other tires May have hidden issues new tire looked built different even sat on rim different and have yet to have a issue was checked via different shop rim does not leak.
OK so I've had my Ford Focus for about 3 months now I fell in love with this little thing recently got struts changed in front and ball joints bushings and tires so I knew it would need an alignment so got that done now at speeds from 50-60 MPH this car starts fishtailing out of control I dont have alot of money I am not workin at present so I cant afford to take my used car to dealer much less to another auto shop. I travel 50 -70 miles each day to work and I'm scared its gonna fishtail me into a wreck. Mileage 134000 applke valley calif.
I kept hearing noises in the front passenger side of my car so I called the dealer and told them this problem along with faulty windhield wipers , noises in the transmission and a radio that plays when it wants. I brought the car in for repairs . They did the repairs on the windshield under the warranty, and said the radio was not defective and the faceplate was broken (it is not), and the noise that I am hearing in the front of the car was due to me replacing a flat tire (in the rear of the car) with a tire not the same as the other three. Well I was driving the car for about 300 miles after being at the dealer and went to make a left turn at a traffic light. The right front wheel( not the tire) went rolling into the highway and myself and 2 toddlers went to the left and into a business parking lot. …
On 05/09/2014 at approximately 1750 hours I was traveling southbound on interstate 95 adjacent to mile marker 99 located near stuart, florida when I suddenly felt a very strong vibration and loud noise coming from the front right axle, immediately after the front right tire tread separated from the tire causing me to loose steering control of the vehicle. The vehicle eventually came to a full stop and upon further inspection on the shoulder it was revealed that the separation of the tire tread caused significant damages to the vehicle to include front right fender dents, braking ac refrigerant lines, front headlight assembly, side marker and the plastic cover that goes underneath the wheel well. The tire is described as a Firestone fr380, 185/65r14 86s with dot e26l 38b 3110 a30. …
On 05/09/2014 at approximately 1750 hours I was traveling southbound on interstate 95 adjacent to mile marker 99 located near stuart, florida when I suddenly felt a very strong vibration and loud noise coming from the front right axle, immediately after the front right tire tread separated from the tire causing me to loose steering control of the vehicle. The vehicle eventually came to a full stop and upon further inspection on the shoulder it was revealed that the separation of the tire tread caused significant damages to the vehicle to include front right fender dents, braking ac refrigerant lines, front headlight assembly, side marker and the plastic cover that goes underneath the wheel well. The tire is described as a Firestone fr380, 185/65r14 86s with dot e26l 38b 3110 a30. …
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. …
On 5/27/03 during reg oil/filter/tire rotation at Firestone,5417 mccardle,corpus christi,tx I was told one tire had a compression bubble"impact break on sidewall".I replaced it.on 5/29/03 another tire self destructed with no apparent reason.I replaced it (50% discounttires were firehawk gta-02(I do not have tires and do not see a dot# on the remaining two.I called Firestone warranty,spoke to chuck and requested 2 new tires at no cost as I do not believe in coincedences and the safety issue. I said I paid for two and Firestone should pay for two.he said he would call Firestone cc. I called today 6/6/03 .he said he never called and had no memory of promising to make such a call. …
On November 23 2002 I was in a accident where I broke my nose and had numerous burises. The reason I got into an accident was because my wheel and suspension broke & seem to come apart. I had complained to Ford that my wheel had been shaking and that there was something wrong with it. I had taken it back 4 times to get fixed but everytime I got it back and it would shake just as bad. Also when I got into the accident my airbags didnt deploy at all I received a broken nose from hitting my head on the steering wheel. The car was shaking really bad and it seem to pull me off the road then all of a sudden it was like a snap and it went the other direction. I flew sideways up in the air and hit two oak trees luckly I didn't die from this accident if you would see the pictures you would think how did she survive. …
I have a 2002 Ford Focus zx5 that is well maintained. Within the first 2-3 years, I have had to replace the front brakes and rotors. In 2004 I had to replace the battery. In 2005 I had to replace the right rear window motor. Presently the left rear window motor isn't working; the window will not go up. The rear front window is not working properly and the air bag light comes on each time the car is started and stays on. The cd player had to be replaced in 2005. In 2006 all four tires had to be replaced because of factory dry rot. I regularly service and maintain the car, and have approximately 28,000 miles on it. I take excellent care of my vehicle and feel this car is not made with quality parts and that it is not safe. Although I drive at normal speeds, it does not get the mileage stated on the sticker.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2002 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 89 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2002 Ford Focus, 9% of the model year's 939 complaints. The component named most often is rim (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Focus wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 18,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to wheels & tires 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.