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Research · Compact Cars

2000 Ford FocusRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 18 safety recalls and 3,738 owner complaints for the 2000 Ford Focus. Most complaints involve electrical system (1,352) and engine and engine cooling (470). The EPA rates it 24–27 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
24–27mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
18campaigns
Latest Feb 2012
Owner complaints
3,738
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

18 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment

Free remedy

RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND G68945. THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2000 THROUGH 2005 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASHER. THE ABSENCE OF THE WASHER CAN ALLOW THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLY TO PULL APART THE TOP MOUNT.

EquipmentReported Feb 24, 2012NHTSA 12E007000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
See all 18 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

3,738 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 1999 – Feb 2024
  1. Electrical system1,352
  2. Engine and engine cooling470
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic393
  4. Suspension388
  5. Fuel system, gasoline363
  6. Power train220
  7. Latches/locks/linkages200
  8. Air bags193
  9. Vehicle speed control174

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Focus model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20003,738
20011,790
20021,014
20031,017
2004387
2005441
2006205
2007391
2008250
2009229
2010287
2011113
20123,803
20132,181
20142,584
20151,034
20161,194
2017906
2018837
Crashes reported
252
Fires reported
127
Injuries reported
158
Deaths reported
9
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

1,352 reports18 crashes69 fires
“THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION, LEAVING ME AND MY BABY NIECE STRANDED FAR AWAY FROM HOME. WE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN WE RETURNED, WE FOUND OURSELVES STRANDED, BECAUSE THE IGNITION LOCK COULD NO LONGER BE OPERATED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS LOCKS! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2016Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10935305

Engine and engine cooling

470 reports15 crashes34 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND AFTER DRIVING TWO BLOCKS, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT A FIRE HAD STARTED NEAR THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000. A REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10440058

Service brakes, hydraulic

393 reports28 crashes5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, A GROWLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THEN BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE DRUM. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE DRUM CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE GREASE IGNITING. THE CONTACT USED WATER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 10446122
All 2000 Focus problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH · Front-Wheel Drive
243227$2,400329
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH · Front-Wheel Drive
233026$2,450342
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH · Front-Wheel Drive
233026$2,450342
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$2,550355
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z · Front-Wheel Drive
222925$2,550355
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z · Front-Wheel Drive
222824$2,700370
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH
    24 city · 32 hwy · $2,400/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH
    23 city · 30 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0L CVH
    23 city · 30 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2.0Z
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Ford Focus as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4107Vehicle 4106
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2000 Focus questions

How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Focus have?

18 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2000 Ford Focus problems?

Owners filed 3,738 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (1,352), engine and engine cooling (470), service brakes, hydraulic (393). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2000 Ford Focus get?

The EPA rates the 2000 Ford Focus at 24–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026