Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Ford Focus problems
Owners filed 1,790 complaints about the 2001 Ford Focus with NHTSA between Oct 2000 and Dec 2021. The most-cited component is electrical system (501).
Complaints
1,790
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
173
Reported by owners
Fires
49
Reported by owners
Injuries
136
People reported injured
Deaths
8
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
78
331
291
297
208
118
92
98
53
51
36
40
23
22
15
10
9
6
2
5
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 78 |
| 2002 | 331 |
| 2003 | 291 |
| 2004 | 297 |
| 2005 | 208 |
| 2006 | 118 |
| 2007 | 92 |
| 2008 | 98 |
| 2009 | 53 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 40 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
501 reports5 crashes30 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Fuel system, gasoline
277 reports7 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“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”
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”
Service brakes, hydraulic
174 reports15 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UTILIZED IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE REAR-BRAKE KNUCKLE LINE HAD FAILED. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 152,000.”
Suspension
153 reports23 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving her vehicle at approximately 35 MPH, the ball joint snapped on the vehicle's passengers side. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated nor any indication of a failure prior to the ball joint snapping. The contact stated that when the failure happened to her vehicle it caused her to crash into a ditch. The contact stated that no injuries were sustained and the vehicle was towed to the residence where it remains currently. The contact stated that she did contact the dealer as well as the manufacturer who advised her to contact NHTSA. The failure mileage was 190,000.”
Air bags
147 reports102 crashes8 fires
“The front dashboard and steering wheel airbags went off. if I was moving this could’ve ended even worse but luckily I was stopped. My hearing was affected. I was parked at a red light and my airbags went off. I did not hit anything nor was my car moving. Witnesses at a restaurant and auto repair shop say the same. My car had passed that years inspection and there was no signs of this happening. No lights, sounds, anything. It was very sudden.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.