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Research · Compact Cars

2001 Ford FocusRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 1,790 owner complaints for the 2001 Ford Focus. Most complaints involve electrical system (501) and fuel system, gasoline (277). The EPA rates it 24–28 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
24–28mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
14campaigns
Latest Feb 2012
Owner complaints
1,790
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

14 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 14 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,790 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2000 – Dec 2021
  1. Electrical system501
  2. Fuel system, gasoline277
  3. Engine and engine cooling247
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic174
  5. Suspension153
  6. Air bags147
  7. Power train89
  8. Steering87
  9. Tires76

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
20132,157
20142,661
20151,034
20161,196
2017906
2018838
Crashes reported
173
Fires reported
49
Injuries reported
136
Deaths reported
8
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

501 reports5 crashes30 fires
“ON 9/2/2020 AROUND 10 PM IN MICHIGAN I WAS MAKING A PIZZA DELIVERY, I PULLED INTO THE SUBDIVISION WHERE I HAD TO MAKE THE DELIVERY, ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. I GOT MY CAR FO SAFTEY AWAY FROM THE HOUSES BECAUSE MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS SAFETY. I GRAB MY PHONE TO CALL MY BOSS, I THOUGHT MY CAR JUAT BROKE DOWN. THEN I SAW SMOKE AND SPARKS. I CALLED THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE CARS SMOKE GOT DARKER AND THE FLAMES GOT BIGGER. I WAS VERY SCARED. ALL MY WINDOWS EXPLODED AND THE CAR MELTED TO GROUND. BY THE LOOKS OF MY PHOTO THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE BATTERY AND CABLES. EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT, I'VE BEEN SCARED OF FIRES, HOT SURFACES, AND WEARY AROUND CARS. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE BUT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE FLAMES REACHED ABOUT 10 FEET HIGH. LUCKILY IT DID NOT CATCH ANYTHING NEAR BY ON FIRE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2020Electrical system, Structure, Electronic stability control (esc)Fire reportedODI 11355484

Fuel system, gasoline

277 reports7 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 85 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,182. UPATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 1/8/2015 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10617990

Engine and engine cooling

247 reports7 crashes6 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT BECAME WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONDENSER BOX TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10512897
All 2001 Focus problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 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 Nov 10, 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 · Front-Wheel Drive
253228$2,200317
Focus Station Wagon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253228$2,200317
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus Station Wagon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve · Front-Wheel Drive
222924$2,600370
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve · Front-Wheel Drive
222924$2,600370
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 32 hwy · $2,200/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 32 hwy · $2,200/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4 valve
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 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 2001 Ford Focus as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 4364Vehicle 4363
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

2001 Focus questions

How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Focus have?

14 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 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 2001 Ford Focus problems?

Owners filed 1,790 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (501), fuel system, gasoline (277), engine and engine cooling (247). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2001 Ford Focus get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Ford Focus at 24–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026