NHTSA has 3,686 owner complaints on file for the 2000 Ford Focus, received from 1999 to 2024. The most-reported system is electrical system (1,343 complaints, 36%), followed by engine (490) and service brakes (420). Owners reported 248 crashes, 119 fires, 155 injuries and 9 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 61,516 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004, with 672 received that year. 11 safety recalls cover this model year.
3,686NHTSA complaints
11safety recalls
248crashes reported
119fires reported
155injuries
9deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Ford Focus?
Owners report electrical system problems most often: 1,343 of 3,686 NHTSA complaints (36%), followed by engine (490) and service brakes (420).
How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Focus have?
NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for the 2000 Ford Focus. The most recent is 05V030000 (latches, locks and linkages, 2005-02-01).
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Focus problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 61,516 miles, across 1,570 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2000 Ford Focus?
Yes. Owners reported 248 crashes, 119 fires, 155 injuries and 9 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Electrical system
1,343
36%
18
65
9
62,000
Engine
490
13%
14
37
8
58,450
Service brakes
420
11%
30
6
14
31,203
Fuel system
411
11%
13
8
3
51,500
Suspension
390
11%
22
5
8
63,563
Power train
225
6%
15
3
6
38,610
Latches, locks and linkages
201
5%
6
2
4
72,000
Air bags
191
5%
127
7
90
76,441
Speed control
170
5%
26
1
12
67,750
Steering
168
5%
13
4
3
61,573
Structure
138
4%
6
1
5
61,500
Visibility and wipers
118
3%
5
4
5
60,000
Wheels
113
3%
5
2
5
71,573
Equipment
112
3%
4
4
2
44,500
Unknown or other
100
3%
9
2
4
50,000
Tires
88
2%
9
0
1
37,770
Exterior lighting
60
2%
3
1
1
57,500
Seat belts
54
1%
13
4
13
35,650
Seats
31
1%
2
0
3
50,750
Interior lighting
13
<1%
1
2
2
32,350
Parking brake
7
<1%
2
0
1
70,000
Child seat
2
<1%
0
0
0
–
Electronic stability control
2
<1%
1
0
0
103,981
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
05V030000 · Latches, locks and linkages · 2005-02-01
Defect: 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…
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: Certain passenger vehicles have loose pinch bolts that secure the lower control arm to the steering knuckle have been reported.
Risk: 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.
Defect: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage.
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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…
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A decklid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness.
Risk: This could result in either a loss of individual lamp functions, or in the case of a short of the broken wires that causes a fuse to open, in the loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function. Loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the decklid wire harness.
Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear wheel hub retaining nuts can loosen and allow the left rear wheel and brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle.
Risk: This condition could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear wheel bearings and install a rear wheel retention cap to prevent left rear wheel separation. Owner notification began october 12, 2000. 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.
Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control and automatic transmission. A speed control cable could have a core wire that is long enough to catch on the sleeve at the throttle body end of the cable during wide-open throttle acceleration.
Risk: A throttle that does not return to idle could result in reduced vehicle control and, potentially, a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the speed control cable. Owner notification began october 12, 2000. 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.
Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the resultant hic(d) value at one target location ap1, located on the trim panel at the juncture of the a-pillar and roof side rail, may be greater than design intent.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an occupant contacting that location may not be provided the interior impact protection intended.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the left and right side b-pillar and a-pillar trim panels, revise the headliner edge near the tops of the a-pillars to accept the new a-pillar trim panels with their energy absorbing tubes, and install the new a-pillar and the old b-pillar trim panels.
Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable end fitting can allow water to enter the speed control servo assembly. If this occurs, corrosion in the servo assembly could develop and cause intermittent speed control operation or prevent the throttle from returning to idle.
Risk: A throttle that does not return to idle could result in unexpected acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the speed control cable (with a new cable that incorporates a glass-filled end cap) and inspect the assembly for internal corrosion. Servos with evidence of corrosion will also be replaced. Owners are advised not to use the speed control until the vehicles are repaired.
2000 ford focus se. Consumer writes in regards to engine and electrical problems. [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11302010, received 2020-01-27
The key would no longer turn in the ignition, leaving me and my baby niece stranded far away from home. We parked the vehicle and when we returned, we found ourselves stranded, because the ignition lock could no longer be operated. Apparently this is a known problem with ford focus locks! [redacted]
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 10935305, received 2016-12-14
My car is stalling its jumping when I take off. I get stranded at convient stores, doctors appointments. After I get it up to 60 mph its ok
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11349061, received 2020-08-13
2000 ford focus se. Consumer writes in regards to engine and electrical problems. [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11302010, received 2020-01-27
I've been experiencing an electrical issue. I have lost power to my break lights completely. There was no warning lights or signs at all. I was pulled over and made aware by a police officer that my break light were out. I proceeded to try to replace the light itself which did not work, it only…
Service brakes · NHTSA complaint 11429848, received 2021-08-20
I had turned on my vehicle and the airbag light came on and stayed on. Originally, the airbag light would come on when I started the car in the mornings and then shut off when the car had been driven for a short period. I had an independent mechanic that I have used for 8 years investigate the…
Service brakes · NHTSA complaint 10524775, received 2013-07-14
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.