Problems · by component

2001 Ford Focus fuel system, gasoline problems

277 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Focus cite fuel system, gasoline, 15% of all 1,790 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
277
15% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. SHE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V482000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2013Fuel system, gasolineODI 10500177
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILING TO TRANSFER TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 78,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10482794
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:03V482000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,000...UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP FOUND PCV HOSE AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COLLAPSED (REPAIRED), PERFORMED FUEL INDUCTION SYTEM FLUSH, AAA REPLACED ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AS A WHOLE. UPDATED 2/5/2013 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10471993
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V482000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10453986
“THE CONTACT HEARD METAL SCRAPING THE GROUND AND THEN PLASTIC BEING DRAGGED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE FUEL TANK ON THE GROUND. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET PERMISSION FOR TRIPLE A TO TOW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ARM IN PLACE ON THE FUEL TANK HAD NO THREAD REMAINING. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10453626

Showing 6 of 277 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Fuel system, gasoline

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Nov 19, 2003NHTSA 03V482000
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.