Problems · by component

2000 Ford Focus exterior lighting problems

62 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Focus cite exterior lighting, 2% of all 3,738 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 5 recalls on this component.

Complaints
62
2% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I've been experiencing an electrical issue. I have lost power to my break lights completely. There was no warning lights or signs at all. I was pulled over and made aware by a police officer that my break light were out. I proceeded to try to replace the light itself which did not work, it only continues to blow the dust when I try. I had a mechanic inspect it and he told me there seems to be a short or possible broken wire somewhere in the wiring harness.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2021Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11429848
“I WAS DRIVING AND MY HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING AFTER 10 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND GET HOME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR (2000 FORD FOCUS) FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR THE PLACE I PURCHASED IT FROM DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE WHOLE TIME AND THEY HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE I HAVE PUT AN ALTERNATOR ON IT AND CHANGED A COUPLE OF WIRES THAT WERE MELTED BUT IT DID NOT HELP! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW ESPECIALLY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN IT WITH ME THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 10716002
“I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE DECEMBER OF 2003 AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY LARGE MONEY PIT. THIS TIME THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD TAKEN IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEED AN EGR SENSOR OR HOSING FOR IT. WHEN I WAS TURNING AT A LIGHT THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHEN I HAD JUST TURNED ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY. THERE HAS BEEN MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE DAY ONE. THIS CAR HAS HAD 5 CLUTCHES IN IT AND I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT ALL IN ITSELF BECAUSE A CAR SHOULD NEVER NEED THAT MANY CLUTCHES WITHIN 100,000 MILES. THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE OTHER 2000 FORD FOCUS'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY ONE HEAD LIGHT IS NOT RIGHT IT NEVER HAS BEEN THERE IS CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP. THE REAR DOOR LATCH DOES NOT WORK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR ALSO DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY AND NO LONGER LOCKS AT ALL. THE TRUNK LATCH IS NOT RIGHT EITHER. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS UNLATCH AND THEN CLOSE AGAIN. IT OFTEN REQUIRES SEVERAL MORE TIMES OF PUSHING THE TRUNK RELEASE AND IT WILL FINALLY UNLOCK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2014Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10585519
“I WAS PULLED OVER ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ALMOST MIDNIGHT, AND WAS NOTIFIED BY THE OFFICER THAT I HAD NO TAILLIGHTS, BUT MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLEW A FUSE, AND HAVE REPEATEDLY BLOWN THE SAME FUSE. I SAW THAT THE WIRES ON TOP OF THE HATCHBACK, INSIDE THE RUBBER TUBE, ARE CRACKED AND BROKEN. I SAW ONLINE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, AS I WORK SECOND SHIFT AND ALWAYS DRIVE IN THE DARK. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN OUT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2013Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 10536860
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE BULB WAS CHANGED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 224,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2013Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10505391
“PLASTIC INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTS RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB WITH WIRING OVERHEATED, MELTED AND CAUSED SMOLDERING FIRE THAT LED TO DAMAGING SMOKE DEPOSITS IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. FIRE STAYED CONTAINED TO HEADLIGHT HOUSING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2012Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 10449286

Showing 6 of 62 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

5 recalls on this component

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

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Exterior lightingReported Aug 11, 2008NHTSA 08E050000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported May 24, 2006NHTSA 06E049000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 23, 2006NHTSA 06E026000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 13, 2026

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