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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,637 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Ford Focus electrical problems

electrical problem

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2001 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #89

Mar 292021

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Keeps shut off N over heating

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #88

Sep 022020

Focus

  • 108,000 miles
On 9/2/2020 around 10 pm in Michigan I was making a pizza delivery, I pulled into the subdivision where I had to make the delivery, all the sudden my car completely shut off. I couldn't accelerate or brake. I got my car fo saftey away from the houses because my first instinct was safety. I grab my phone to call my boss, I thought my car juat broke down. Then I saw smoke and sparks. I called the emergency services and the cars smoke got darker and the flames got bigger. I was very scared. All my windows exploded and the car melted to ground. By the looks of my photo the fire started near the battery and cables. Ever since that night, I've been scared of fires, hot surfaces, and weary around cars. I'm lucky to be alive but it was very dangerous as the flames reached about 10 feet high. Luckily it did not catch anything near by on fire.

- Gregory, MI, USA

problem #87

May 272020

Focus

  • 68,000 miles
There are numerous electrical problems with my rear lights. My license plate lights will not work at anytime and sometimes none of the rear lights work at all.

- Kokomo, IN, USA

problem #86

Jun 132020

Focus 4-cyl

  • 91 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Keeps over heating.

- Villas, NJ, USA

problem #85

Apr 042018

Focus

  • 0 miles
Was on my way to the va hospital 04/04/2018 started car, it would shake vigorously. Check engine light and oil fuel light keep coming on and off. Had a complete tune up. Going to the va hospital on 4/16/2018 start car, check engine light came on and fuel light came on again. Had inner tire rods replaced. Going to a va appt, on 05/10/2018 start car check engine light cam on, cv valves replaced. 5/30/2018 on my way again to the va hospital, start car check engine light came on again. Please advise, since it very difficult to miss and reschedule appts at the va hospital. Thank you.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #84

Dec 252017

Focus

  • 147,725 miles
This car has electrical issues, the dash and tag lights flicker, the car has been turning off while I'm driving with my son in the car over 3 times now, on the highway and on main street, its so scary I've had panic attacks and got a stress rash on my face. Im so scared that I can't drive it, I've had the fuel pump replaced, spark plugs, motor filter.I just try to keep getting it repaired costing me my bills money being a single parent. I'm overwhelmed and don't know what to do.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #83

Mar 142017

Focus

  • 25 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No dash light tail lights or markrr lights

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #82

Nov 102016

Focus

  • 94,500 miles
Ignition key gets stuck and will not turn. Ford has known of this problem should have to pay for repairs and reimbursement.

- Sellersburg, IN, USA

problem #81

May 132015

Focus

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. While driving at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle started to jerk and the contact smelled smoke. The battery warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped on the side of the road and the ignition was turned to the off position as the contact exited the vehicle. The contact observed flames under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle restarted without being prompted and started rolling forward. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 02V288000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #80

Mar 022015

Focus

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Brookings , SD, USA

problem #79

Dec 022014

Focus

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It start with door busting all the time, then I switch it off..now it want crank, just bust.

- Mcbee, SC, USA

problem #78

Jul 292014

Focus

  • 162,600 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the warning indicators did not illuminate on the dashboard. The failure occurred numerous of times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and recommended the replacement of the faulty wiring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate mileage was 162,600.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #77

Dec 212013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 138,000 miles
Key does not turn properly in ignition cylinder and door locks.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #76

Mar 262014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
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. So, this issue happens while the vehicle is being driven!!! therefore, a diligent owner who checks their lights regularly will not know it happens until (a) said person gets hit from behind, or (B) gets pulled over by law enforcement. Here are a few links for your reference: Link: www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T574_ds546293. link: www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php"S=2146E9390be4cc339ae4F6438baf3812&T=104972. Link: www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?P=1250643. Link: www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?T=149053. Link: www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?T=268411. Link: www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php"T=206427

- Attica, NY, USA

problem #75

Apr 012014

Focus

  • miles
2001 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to electrical system failure. The consumer stated the vehicle was a lemon. Over the past 2 years alone, he has spent $2,000 in non-routine repairs. Every time there was an issue, the vehicle was taken to the repair shop for the problem, but was never fully fixed. On one occasion, the vehicle started smoking and the wiring caught on fire.. the consumer was informed, the vehicle needed all new wiring, after the dash lights and tail lights went out 3 times. Also, the cruise control and all the lights inside the vehicle stopped working.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #74

Jan 052014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
Sunday 05 Jan 2014 I had recently parked my car, turned it off, and was outside of my vehicle (2001 Ford Focus) when I began to notice smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. I was confused at first, as the car was completely off for a few minutes before any problems began. Within a matter of two minutes the smoke had increased, thickened, and began to smell. My friend was nearby and had noticed that something was not right. He came over and we both took a couple steps toward the front of the car to figure out what was going on. Immediately flames burst up from the hood. At this point we instantly ran from the vehicle, dialing 911. The flames got worse as we waited from a distance for the fire department to arrive. At this point I was unsure as to whether the car would completely blow up or not, as the flames became worse with every minute. The fire department arrived within approximately five minutes. They were able to put the fire out in a few minutes, but had to break the window and then pry the hood open in order to do so. After the fire was completely out and the scene was safe I was able to talk with the firemen. They showed me under the hood and said the fire seemed to be something electrical and looked as if it had started near the front right of the vehicle under the hood (somewhere close to the passenger headlight). They also explained, as I had already assumed, that the vehicle was unsalvageable.

- Petersburg, MI, USA

problem #73

Jul 242013

Focus

  • 155,000 miles
I've had my 2001 Ford Focus for years now and I have had problems with my ignition (got that replaced) and my windshield wipers work when ever they want to and will sometimes turn on its own. Also my trunk will not open at all. I've taken it to different places to get it fixed and no one has been able to open it. I purchased this vehicle so that I could save on gas but all I'm doing is wasting a crap load of money on just repairing everything.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #72

Sep 052012

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the front driver's side floor mat became wet. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the condenser box to the air conditioning unit was cracked and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was unknown.

- Raynham, MA, USA

problem #71

Mar 012013

Focus

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact was able to move the key in the ignition, but there was no response. The failure recurred frequently and without warning. The contact stated that the battery was drained and he would often jump start the vehicle, which would temporarily resolve the failure. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop for diagnosis but were the technicians were unable to duplicate the failure. The battery was replaced. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 85,000.

- Satellite Beach , FL, USA

problem #70

Mar 092013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 67,014 miles
The right front door lock is jammed or stuck, I cannot open the door from the inside or outside, the other 3 door locks work fine.

- Canoga Park, CA, USA

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