2001 Ford Focus: common problems and reliability

The 2001 Ford Focus has 1815 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and fuel system. Owners most often flag timing belt needs replacement at 90,000 miles: recurrent.

Safety record for the 2001 model year

1,815
Owner complaints
14
Recalls
174
Crash reports
50
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2001 Ford Focus vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2001 a good year for the Focus?

Across the 15 Focus model years we track, complaint volume runs from 11 (1999) to 5,225 (2014). With 1,815 complaints, the 2001 Focus sits abovethe model's median of 1,018.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

electrical system
503
fuel system
302
gasoline
278
engine and engine cooling
252
service brakes
198

Recalls affecting the 2001 Focus

equipment

Campaign 12E007000

RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTS

exterior lighting

Campaign 09E012000

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMEN

exterior lighting:headlights

Campaign 08E050000

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF F

exterior lighting

Campaign 06E049000

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBE

What owners report on the 1st generation Focus

Owners regard the 1999-2005 Ford Focus as a solid, reliable economy car that can easily exceed 200,000 miles with proper care, and many report it costing little to maintain over long ownership periods. The car is praised for being cheap to buy and run, and for

  • Timing belt needs replacement at 90,000 miles: Recurrent
  • Water pump necks break easily: Isolated
  • Worn suspension pieces (struts, tie rods): Recurrent
  • Heater core failure: Isolated
  • Rubber and plastic components degrade with age: Recurrent

Owner insights for the 1st generation Focus. Read the full 1st generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Focus listings typically run $6,725–$9,794 across 2006 to 2018 model years.

Other Focus model years

Compare every Focus year side by side to see how 2001 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Focus against its rivals