Model year
2001 Ford Focus
NHTSA lists 7 recalls and 1,761 complaints for the 2001 Ford Focus (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION (193), FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP (140), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH (129). NHTSA lists 9 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 24–28 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,400–$2,800, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 3,686 complaints
- 2001 1,761 complaints
- 2002 939 complaints
- 2003 977 complaints
- 2004 387 complaints
- 2005 441 complaints
- 2006 205 complaints
- 2007 391 complaints
- 2008 250 complaints
- 2009 229 complaints
- 2010 287 complaints
- 2011 113 complaints
- 2012 3,770 complaints
- 2013 2,112 complaints
- 2014 2,604 complaints
- 2015 1,022 complaints
- 2016 1,183 complaints
- 2017 900 complaints
- 2018 837 complaints
Recalls
05V030000 · Feb 1, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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…
03V482000 · Nov 19, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
02V289000 · Nov 6, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOOSE PINCH BOLTS THAT SECURE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
02V288000 · Nov 6, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ZETEC ENGINES, LOOSE OR BROKEN ATTACHMENTS AND MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES COULD LEAD TO CABLE INSULATION DAMAGE.
01V258000 · Aug 8, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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…
01V108000 · Mar 28, 2001
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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.
00V418000 · Dec 14, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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…
Complaints
1,761 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 172, fire flag on 47, injury field 136, deaths field 8. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE02020 | AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRES · AIR BAGS | Feb 11, 2002 | Aug 16, 2002 |
| PE02026 | INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT · AIR BAGS | Feb 28, 2002 | Sep 18, 2002 |
| PE02040 | ENGINE STALLING · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | Apr 4, 2002 | Sep 9, 2002 |
| PE02044 | FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM · SUSPENSION | May 1, 2002 | Sep 9, 2002 |
| EA02014 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Jul 31, 2002 | Nov 13, 2002 |
| EA02017 | BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT · AIR BAGS | Aug 16, 2002 | Aug 15, 2003 |
3 more actions are in the file and are not listed in this table.
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus · 2L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 30 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Focus · 2L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 29 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Focus · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 32 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Focus · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 30 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Focus Station Wagon · 2L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 30 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Focus Station Wagon · 2L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 29 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Focus Station Wagon · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 32 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Focus Station Wagon · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 30 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2001 Ford Focus at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.