Problems · by component

2001 Ford Focus exterior lighting problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Focus cite exterior lighting, 2% of all 1,790 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 5 recalls on this component.

Complaints
32
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD OF MADISON (5422 WAYNE TERRACE, MADISON, WI 53718, (608) 246-3600), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11071614
“BOUGHT VEHICLE 2ND HAND, CASH, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. NOW, I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS, & MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK ON THE REMOTE, OR THE "ALL LOCK/UNLOCK" BUTTON, & NOW MY TRUNK LATCH IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE SELF LOCKING (MEANING THAT THEY LOCK AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHENEVER THEY PLEASE.) THE BRAKE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, ALL BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED & REPLACED, FUSES KEEP GETTING BLOWN. CANNOT LOCATE FUSE FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. FORD HAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE YEAR 2000 FOR A DOOR LATCH ISSUE, CAMPAIGN #05S27 NHTSA ID# 05V-030. ALSO, CAMPAIGN #05S50 NHTSA ID #00V-411 FOR A TAIL LAMP ISSUE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS YET AFTER DOING WEEKS OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2000 TO CURRENT. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL DEALERS, NONE OF THEM WOULD TELL ME ANYTHING, & THAT "THEY DIDN'T RECALL ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE FROM ANYONE ELSE". HOW IS IT THAT I CAN FIND THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET BUT THE DEALERS "NEVER HEARD OF IT"? WHY IS THERE NO CHANGE IN THE INDICATED ISSUE OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY? WOULDN'T THIS BE A HAZARD? I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WEREN'T WORKING UNTIL I GOT PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakesODI 10579548
“HEADLIGHT FAILURE. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED ON, THE HEADLIGHTS (BOTH) DO NOT ALWAYS GO ON. ALSO, AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE (OFTEN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, ALMOST ALWAYS WITHIN 20 MINUTES), BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND OTHER OUTSIDE LIGHTS, REMAIN ON. WHEN THE SWITCH IS ON, BUT HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF, IF THE HIGH BEAMS ARE TOGGLED ON AND THEN OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO ON (FOR A WHILE). THIS SEQUENCE OCCURS REPEATEDLY. UNLESS IT IS DARK (E.G. IF IN TWILIGHT OR IN DAYTIME RAIN), OR UNLESS I CAN SEE THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIONS, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE STATUS OF MY HEADLIGHTS. DEALERSHIP INITIALLY REPLACED A RELAY, WITHOUT SOLVING PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" CONTROLLING TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAMS, WITH SEEMING SUCCESS. I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED ORIGINAL-EQUIPMENT "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH". DEALERSHIP WAS UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL, BUT WOULD NOT TREAT THIS INTERMITTENT, SUDDEN, REPEATED HEADLIGHT FAILURE AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO GAS PUMP FAILURE, AND TO FRONT SUSPENSION…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2012Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10489621
“2001 FORD FOCUS SE 4 DOOR SEDAN. 67,140 MILES. TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY ONCE TURN IS COMPLETED EITHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. HAVE TO NOW TURN OFF THE SIGNAL MANUALLY. HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON 7-19-2011. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OTHER THAN AN INTERNET SEARCH TO DETERMINE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2011Exterior lighting, EquipmentODI 10413624
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, HE HEARD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WHICH BECAME FOGGY OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD CHANGED HEADLIGHT MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,800. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN UPDATED 03/25/11*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2010Suspension, Exterior lightingODI 10368361
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT SIDEWAYS WHEN PARKED. THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, SO IT SLID FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO DIM AND DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE ROAD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WOULD RING ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WAS ENGAGED AND THE LATCH WOULD ALSO POP OPEN SUDDENLY AT TIMES. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 107,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2010Suspension, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, SeatsODI 10358453

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 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 10, 2026

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