Problems · by component

2000 Ford Focus power train problems

220 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Focus cite power train, 6% of all 3,738 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
220
6% of all complaints
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, DRIVING 70 MPH, MY 2000 FORD FOCUS (62,000 ORIG MILES) BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING; THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. REPLACEMENT OF THE NEUTRAL DRIVE SENSOR WAS COMPLETED. NOW, SIX MONTHS LATER SAME THING HAPPENING. DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH THE '00 FORD FOCUS BEGINS DOWNSHIFTING CAUSING A DECREASE IN SPEED AT AN ALARMING RATE, RPMS INCREASE, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11306556
“WE PURCHASED A VEHICLE ON 09/03/2016 FROM GRASS VALLEY AUTO WHOLESALE BROKERS, GRASS VALLEY, CA. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND SEEMED TO HAVE A POWER ISSUE, IT KEPT LOSING IT. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE LOT AND TOLD THEM. THEY SAID THEY HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND NOT TO WORRY. I DID. IT KEPT HAPPENING SPORADICALLY. I HAD A 3 MONTH/3K MILES WARRANTY. AFTER CALLING THE LOT AGAIN, I RELAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS THE CAR WAS HAVING. I WANTED TO KNOW DID THEY THINK IF IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, COULD BE, WAS THE ANSWER I GOT.. IN NOVEMBER I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO JR'S TRANSMISSION, CAME RECOMMENDED. THEY SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS STILL HAPPENING. TWO DAYS AGO, COMING OFF A STOPLIGHT, I PUT THE GAS DOWN AND IT MADE A LOUD KNOCK . I HOBBLED TO THE CORNER, APPROX 100 YARDS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE AUTO LOT SUGGESTED MECHANIC, WHO PROBABLY WORKED ON THE VEHICLE IN THE BEGINNING. HE TOLD ME IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. WHEN I CALLED GRASS VALLEY WHOLESALE AUTO BROKERS, THE OWNERS SON, WHO IS ALSO A SALESMAN THERE, TOLD ME WE WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT. MAYBE MY DAD COULD TAKE CARE OF HALF OF (REFERRING TO THE ANTICIPATED COST OF REPAIRS). TODAY, THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10935931
“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
“DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN A SUBDIVISION AT ABOUT 20 MPH, TURNED, AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND FROM LEFT FRONT TIRE. STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK = LEFT FRONT SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN. I DRIVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM - KEY NOT TURNING IN TUMBLER - AND WITH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. LAST CONTACTED RECALL FROM FORD DEALERSHIP WAS FOR "WIPER MOTOR IN 2001." *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2010Suspension, Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10330712
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED OVER $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY PASSED IT FOR INSPECTION. THEY EVEN PLACED THEIR OWN INSPECTION STICKER ON THE VEHICLE. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LATER, THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TWISTED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, IT STALLED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE OVER 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10264355
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY NONFUNCTIONAL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 19,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2008Power trainODI 10238663

Showing 6 of 220 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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