Vehicles › Ford › Ford Focus
2001 Ford Focus
7 recall campaigns and 1,752 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 2001 Ford Focus; the recalls concern latches/locks/linkages, fuel system, gasoline and steering.
The component named most often is electrical system: 220.5 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 98.8 per 1,000 across all 2001 model-year vehicles and against 190.7 per 1,000 for the Ford Focus line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 763.3 complaints per model year across the 20 Ford Focus model years on this register; 171 complaints reported a crash and 46 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2002 (330); the most recent in the file is dated 14 Mar 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 9 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 24 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: If not latched properly, the door may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
Remedy: Dealers will have a lower rocker seal added to the door and have the rear door latches evaluated free of charge. A latch that passes the evaluation will be lubricated to prevent future corrosion. A latch that does not pass the evaluation will be replaced. In addition, a sticker will be affixed to the rear doors advising the owners to use the recommended lubricant. The recall began on march 9, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 05S27).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: This may cause engine hesitation, loss of power, surging, and other similar symptoms. Over time, the filter may become sufficiently blocked to cause the engine to stall, which could result in a crash.
Remedy: This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the safety act. All owners will be notified of the problem, and dealers will replace the fdm with a new design at no charge if the owner reports that the vehicle exhibits any of the identified symptoms. The free replacement will be available for a period of 10 years following the original purchase of the vehicle, with no mileage limit. Owner notification is expected to begin during november 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 03N01).
Defect, as filed: Certain passenger vehicles have loose pinch bolts that secure the lower control arm to the steering knuckle have been reported.
Consequence: Loose pinch bolts could exhibit noise, vibration and, in extreme cases if left uncorrected, separation of the joint or fracture of the ball joint stud, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering knuckle pinch bolt for tightness and correct as necessary. Owner notification began february 10, 2003. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 02S42).
Defect, as filed: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage.
Consequence: This, in turn, could cause the battery cables to short resulting in heat damage to the cables. Besides heat damage, the "check engine" light may illuminate, the vehicle may fail to start, or smoke, melting, or fire could also occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the battery cables for the condition of the cable insulation and proper tightening of the terminal ends. As necessary, cables will be rerouted, retaining clips installed, and damaged battery cables replaced. Owner notification began february 10, 2003. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 02S41).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 01S24).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: If the seat back unexpectedly reclines while the car is being driven, it could result in loss of vehicle control.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat back recliner handle spring for the driver and front passenger seats. Owner notification began april 3, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 01S13).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: If the seat is then returned to the upright position without re-engaging the hinge pivot, the seat and seat belts may not provide the intended level of performance in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised seat back hinge pivot.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00S55).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2001 Ford Focus (black) against all 2001 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2001 | Focus line | All 2001 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 220.5 | 190.7 | 98.8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 124.1 | 41.8 | 35.4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 106.2 | 50.3 | 116.8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 84.4 | 43.5 | 87.2 |
| Suspension | 64.8 | 44.4 | 78.6 |
| Air Bags | 63.5 | 41.6 | 64.8 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 517 | 220.5 | 190.7 | 98.8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 291 | 124.1 | 41.8 | 35.4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 249 | 106.2 | 50.3 | 116.8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 198 | 84.4 | 43.5 | 87.2 |
| Suspension | 152 | 64.8 | 44.4 | 78.6 |
| Air Bags | 149 | 63.5 | 41.6 | 64.8 |
| Power Train | 92 | 39.2 | 159.3 | 93.1 |
| Steering | 86 | 36.7 | 74.8 | 41.4 |
| Tires | 75 | 32 | 18.7 | 33.1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 | 28.6 | 40.7 | 44.4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 67 | 28.6 | 39 | 11.8 |
| Structure | 61 | 26 | 45 | 69.2 |
| Visibility | 58 | 24.7 | 15.7 | 35.9 |
| Unknown or Other | 39 | 16.6 | 39.3 | 19.7 |
| Equipment | 35 | 14.9 | 11 | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting | 34 | 14.5 | 10 | 31.3 |
| Engine | 29 | 12.4 | 48 | 15.9 |
| Wheels | 27 | 11.5 | 15.5 | 12.4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 25 | 10.7 | 4.4 | 6.5 |
| Seat Belts | 24 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 18.6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 | 8.5 | 27.1 | 6.8 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 17 | 7.2 | 2.4 | 4.4 |
| Seats | 13 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 13.7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 3 | 6.4 | 18.2 |
| Parking Brake | 6 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 6.8 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 3 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0.5 |
1,752 unique complaints, 2,345 component mentions; 136 injuries and 8 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQ10001 | Audit query | Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit | unknown or other | 18 Nov 2010 | 28 Dec 2015 | — |
| EA02023 | Engineering analysis | FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION | suspension:front:control arm | 9 Sep 2002 | 19 Feb 2003 | — |
| EA02022 | Engineering analysis | ENGINE STALLING | fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump | 9 Sep 2002 | 16 Jan 2004 | 03V482000 |
| EA02017 | Engineering analysis | BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT | air bags | 16 Aug 2002 | 15 Aug 2003 | — |
| EA02014 | Engineering analysis | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | electrical system | 31 Jul 2002 | 13 Nov 2002 | 02V288000 |
| PE02044 | Preliminary evaluation | FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM | suspension | 1 May 2002 | 9 Sep 2002 | — |
| PE02040 | Preliminary evaluation | ENGINE STALLING | engine and engine cooling | 4 Apr 2002 | 9 Sep 2002 | — |
| PE02026 | Preliminary evaluation | INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT | air bags | 28 Feb 2002 | 18 Sep 2002 | — |
| PE02020 | Preliminary evaluation | AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRES | air bags | 11 Feb 2002 | 16 Aug 2002 | — |
Other Ford Focus model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 NHTSA | 0 | 11 | — |
| 2000 | 11 | 3,678 | 3,789,813 |
| 2001 | 7 | 1,752 | 3,185,855 |
| 2002 | 1 | 932 | 589,932 |
| 2003 | 1 | 970 | 589,932 |
| 2004 | 1 | 376 | 589,932 |
| 2005 | 1 | 427 | 589,932 |
| 2006 | 0 | 194 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 364 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 222 | 45 |
| 2009 | 0 | 211 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 256 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 97 | — |
| 2012 | 7 | 2,600 | 5,938,190 |
| 2013 | 11 | 1,324 | 6,126,509 |
| 2014 | 12 | 1,271 | 6,169,878 |
| 2015 | 9 | 293 | 6,300,188 |
| 2016 | 10 | 185 | 1,876,765 |
| 2017 | 10 | 71 | 1,929,573 |
| 2018 | 7 | 32 | 1,807,349 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford Focus model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Focus have?
7 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 05V030000, was reported to NHTSA on 1 Feb 2005 and concerns latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch. Across all model years the Ford Focus line has 36 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2001 Ford Focus?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 9 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2001 Ford Focus complain about most?
Electrical System: 517 of 2345 component mentions (220.5 per 1,000). Next is fuel system, gasoline with 291. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 24 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 24 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.