Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Focus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system496
- Fuel system, gasoline277
- Engine and engine cooling243
- Service brakes, hydraulic176
- Suspension150
- Air bags147
- Power train90
- Steering86
- Tires74
- Latches/locks/linkages66
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 136 injuries and 8 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 27 2001 Focus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 26 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Ford Focus failed the safety check 3.08% of the time — 54% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 108,179 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2001 Ford Focus cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 1.8 petrol (85 kW, 114 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 890 |
| 1.4 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 359 |
| 1.8 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 107 |
| 1.8 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 36 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
1,412 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 2% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde751
- Band onvoldoende profiel610
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen495
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm399
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld305
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt261
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)242
- Remlicht werkt niet (goed)211
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,359 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 7,569 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 7,037 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 52% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 22.2% | 15.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 21.4% | 19.3% |
| Brakes | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Visibility | 8.7% | 7.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.3% | 9.7% |
| Tyres | 8.2% | 5.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
697 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 248,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
255 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 98% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 8.5–9.7 L/100 km (about 24–28 mpg US), CO₂ 196–223 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.6 | 7.2 | 8.5 |
| Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.6 | 7.2 | 8.5 |
| Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 7.9 | 9.5 |
| Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 7.9 | 9.5 |
| Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.2 | 9.7 |
| Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.2 | 9.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Ford Focus.
| 2005025 14 Feb 2005 | Other Certain four door (sedan and wagon) and five door vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward … |
| 2002214 15 Nov 2002 | Suspension On certain vehicles, insufficient clamp load at the attachment of the lower control arm ball joint to the steering knuckle may result in separation of the joint… |
| 2002213 15 Nov 2002 | Electrical On certain vehicles equipped with a Zetec engine, the battery cable insulation could be damaged due to loose or broken attachments and/or misrouted battery cabl… |
| 2001258 23 Oct 2001 | Label Certain vehicles have French language air bag warning labels that may not remain permanently affixed to the sun visor. This fails to comply with C.M.V.S.S. 208 … |
| 2001204 13 Aug 2001 | Other Certain passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case coul… |
| 2001077 5 Apr 2001 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, a damaged recliner handle spring could result in the loss of handle tension that in turn could result in an insufficient force to engage or… |
| 2000305 20 Dec 2000 | Seats And Restraints Certain station wagons and 3 door vehicles come equipped with a folding 60/40 second seat that becomes a load floor in the folded position. When the 60% portion… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOOSE PINCH BOLTS THAT SECURE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ZETEC ENGINES, LOOSE OR BROKEN ATTACHMENTS AND MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES COULD LEAD TO CABLE INSULATION DAMAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, OR IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.
PM CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE SPRING COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING AN IN-PROCESS TEST AND THE OCCUPANT MAY NOTICE A CHUCKING, OR PERCEIVED LOOSENESS OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK, OR THE SEAT BACK COULD UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STATION WAGONS AND 3-DOOR VEHICLES. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A FOLDING 60/40 SECOND SEAT THAT BECOMES A LOAD FLOOR IN THE FOLDED POSITION. WHEN THE 60% PORTION OF THE SEAT IS FOLDED DOWN AND A LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE LOAD FLOOR, THE OUTBOARD HINGE PIVOT COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE HINGE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2001 Ford Focus: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637815 | CONCERNS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION CREAK, CRUNCH NOISE WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TT |
| 637777 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT FRONT BRAKE PAD LININGS THAT EXHIBIT AN UNACCEPTABLE RATE OF WEAR. *TT |
| 637732 | DPFE SENSOR PULSING OR TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 637615 | ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND / OR STALL AT IDLE, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 637571 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1213, B1342, B1601, B2431. *TT |
| 637554 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 15 INCH FIRESTONE TIRES MAY EXHIBIT SIGNS OF DIAGNONAL WEAR OR CUPPING ON THE REAR TIRES. *TT |
| 636410 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 15 INCH FIRESTONE TIRES MAY EXHIBIT SIGNS OF DIAGONAL WEAR OR CUPPING OF THE REAR TIRES. *TT |
| 636373 | EXHIBITING INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS DUE TO FUSE 63 FAILURE. *TT |
| 636352 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LOCKED REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AFTER MOVING THE REAR SEAT FROM THE FOLD DOWN POSITION TO THE SEATING POSITION. *TT |
| 636348 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES WITH PROGRAMMABLE MODULES. *TT |
| 636303 | SOME AIR CONDITIONER INDICATOR LAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE DEFROST MODE. *TT |
| 636241 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 15 INCH FIRESTONE TIRES MAY EXHIBIT SIGNS OF DIAGONAL WEAR OR CUPPING ON THE REAR TIRES. *TT |
| 636224 | INFORMATION ON NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES WHICH WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PERIMETER / ACTIVE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SYSTEM. *TT |
| 636196 | SUBJECT REGARDING NORTH AMERICAN FOCUS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ACTIVE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SYSTEM. *TT |
| 636173 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE AND 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0122, THROTTLE POSITION CIRCUIT LOW INPUT. *TT |
| 636114 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF IMPACT, ESPECIALLY DURING COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 636104 | SOME WAGONS MAY EXHIBIT THE LIFTGATE NOT STAYING IN THE FULLY UPRIGHT POSITION IN COLD CLIMATES. *TT |
| 636089 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L SPI ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0300 THROUGH P0304 STORED. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636052 | INOPERATIVE OR INACURRATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATD, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1635 OR P1639. *TT |
| 635985 | SOME 2001 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L SPI ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A PULSING OR TICKING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND / OR MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0401 OR P0402 CODE. *TT |
| 630716 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. *TT |
| 630689 | ABS/ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C1937 OR THE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM ACTIVE/FAIL LAMP FLASHING. *TT |
| 630687 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE VIBRATION AT IDLE IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. *TT |
| 630546 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 01B85 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE SURFACE CORROSION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
ENGINE STALLING
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM
ENGINE STALLING
INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation