Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Ford Focus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Ford Focus has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 939 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #12E007000 AFTERMARKET STRUT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V030000 REAR DOOR LATCHES NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 277 complaints
- Suspension 109 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 103 complaints
- Air Bags 72 complaints
- Tires 68 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 63 complaints
Of the 939 complaints on file, 82 report a crash and 20 a fire; across all 939 complaints, owners report 77 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Ford Focus has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of complaints (939) and several recall campaigns (8), including issues with electrical systems and suspension. Though there are no overwhelmingly common failures, the variety and volume of complaints suggest multiple areas of concern. Evidence indicates a potential for higher maintenance costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | very common |
| suspension | 60,000–90,000 miles | No reliable estimate | common |
| engine and cooling | 80,000–110,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Brake pad and rotor replacements
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush and refill
- Timing belt replacement
- Battery and electrical inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noises
- Frequent electrical failures
- Engine overheating
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Brake pedal pulsation
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Ford Focus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.