315 complaints reported

2000 Ford Focus Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
315
Crashes
7
Fires
31
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2020

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2015
Jun 2017

2000 FORD FOCUS LX SEDAN - WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR. AT APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES AND WITHOUT WARNING WENT TO START UP AND HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF METALLIC SOUND AND THEN STALLED. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND HEARD MORE METALLIC SOUND. TURNED OFF ENGINE HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS IS #4 VALVE SEAT DROP FAILURE CAUSING EXTENSIVE SHRAPNEL DAMAGE. ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH SEE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE FOCUS SOHC 2L ENGINE VALVE SEAT DEFECT AND THEY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2017
Oct 2016 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE BATTERY WAS CONNECTED. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD ITS BATTERY REPLACED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE BATTERY CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2016
Oct 2015 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND HEAVY SMOKE APPEARED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND JUMPED OUT. THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE ENGINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2015
Feb 2015 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,450.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2015
Dec 2014 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2014
Mar 2014

ENGINE STALLS WHILE MOVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 20MPH. DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2014
Nov 2012

UPON STARTING MOTOR, NOISE AS ROCKS IN A BLENDER AND ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN. I HAVE LEARNED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. VALVE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE AND VALVE FALLS INTO PISTON, RUINING ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, BUT IGNORES IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2012
Aug 2012

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STARTED STALLING/SPUTTERING. WE JUST PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER AND LESS THEN ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WE PASSED WITH EXCELLENT EMISSIONS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE CYLINDERS WEREN'T WORKING PROPERLY AND CAUSED ONE OF THEM TO CRACK. 2 OF THE PARK PLUGS WEREN'T PROPERLY WORKING. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WE ONLY DROVE THE CAR TO AND FROM WORK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2012
Dec 2011 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND AFTER DRIVING TWO BLOCKS, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT A FIRE HAD STARTED NEAR THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000. A REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2011
Nov 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THERE WAS KNOCKING SOUND COMING IN THE ENGINE. THERE WAS ALSO HESITATION WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 130,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2005
Oct 2011 Fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE IT WAS CLASIFIED AS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2011
Sep 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WERE FRACTURES IN THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,327.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2011
Jul 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHERE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOCK -UP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY ON THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY FOR THIS FAILURE. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,530 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. FORM RETURNED NO CHANGE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2010
May 2011 Fire

TOTAL LOSS OF FORD FOCUS 2000 DUE TO THE CAR FIRE. NO SIGNALS OF OVERHEAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ALL FLUID LEVELS FINE. I WAS DRIVING FOR 30 MIN; WHEN RETURNED HOME AND STOPPED THE CAR, NOTICED A WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I DECIDED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO THAT - AFTER I LEFT THE CAR, IT WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. USED 1 FIRE DISPENSER ON IT, IT DID NOT HELP; CALLED 911, BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME (IN ABOUT 10 MIN), THE CAR WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2011
Apr 2011

DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE 2000 FORD FOCUS ON 03/01/2011 FROM A DEALERSHIP IN WICHITA, KANSAS. IN APRIL 2011 THE ROD WENT THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH 3 OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN WICHITA AND TOWANDA, KANSAS. TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 1/2 THE COST OF ANOTHER ENGINE AND LABOR, WHICH WAS OVER $4,000.00 (OUR SHARE WOULD BE OVER $2,000.00). STILL HAVING TO PAY THE LOAN ON A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING AND FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE, CAUSE THE CAR IS ON A LOAN THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE CALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH NO HELP. I'VE TRIED TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THE RODS GOING THOUGH THE ENGINES ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS CAR. NO LUCK. I LOOKED UP THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THIS CAR, IN FAIR CONDITION IS ONLY: $1,375.00 FOR TRADE-IN-VALUE. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN!!!!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2011
Nov 2010

I WENT TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS AFTER THE BIG SNOW STORM TO BE SURE IT STARTED AND IT DID, I LET IT RUN FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I SHUT IT OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT IT WAS STUCK, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET BECAUSE FRANKLY I JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP SINKING INTO THIS LOUSY CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2010
Oct 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH; YET, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2010
Jun 2010

ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY OR MAKING SHARP TURNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BATTERY CABLES ALSO GET HOT AND THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2010
Feb 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2010
Dec 2009

I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WITH NO SIGNS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE NEVER RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, SO I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS GIVEN A JUMP AND THE ENGINE STARTED, BUT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING MUCH LOUDER THAN USUAL. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CORRECTED, IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC TOMORROW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2009
Jul 2009

THE EARLY YEARS FORD FOCUS, 2000 - 2002 ARE EXPERIENCING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES THE VALVE SEAT ON THE INTAKE VALVE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VALVE SEAT CRACKS, BREAKS APART AND FALLS INTO THE CYLINDER DESTROYING THE PISTON, HEAD AND BLOCK CYLINDER WALL ON THE SINGLE OVER HEAD CAM (SOHC) 2.0 LITER ENGINES - VIN 'P'. IT IS SUCH A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS RUNNING OUT OF PARTS. AUTO PART STORES KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. PISTON RING MANUFACTURERS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. BOTH OF WHICH ARE SELLING PARTS AT VERY HIGH VOLUMES RELATED TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. MACHINE SHOPS ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STATE THAT IT GOES FURTHER BACK TO THE FORD ESCORT MODEL ALSO. SALVAGE YARDS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ARE GETTING 10 PHONE CALLS A DAY FOR USED SOHC ENGINES. SALVAGE YARDS ARE SELLING ANY AND ALL SOHC ENGINE AS SOON AS THEY GET THEM IN IN VEHICLES. OWNERS WHO CHOOSE TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINES WITH 'USED' SALVAGED ENGINES ARE ENCOUNTERING THE DROPPED VALVE SEAT PROBLEM AGAIN AS THE REPLACEMENT ENGINES FAIL AT APPROXIMATELY 100K MILES ALSO - JUST AS THE ORIGINAL HAD FAILED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS PROVIDING THE OPTION OF INSTALLING A SALVAGED ENGINE. COST FOR INSTALLING A SALVAGED ENGINE WITH UNVERIFIABLE MILES HAS BEEN QUOTED AT $1250 FOR THE ENGINE, $2500 TO $3000 TOTAL FOR INSTALLATION. THIS PROBLEM IS GREATER AND LARGER THAN THE 'FUEL PUMP' SAFETY ISSUE AND THE 'BRAKE' ISSUE. THE VALVE SEAT CAN AND DOES BREAK AT ANY TIME - THIS PROBLEM IS SHOWING UP IN LATER YEARS ALSO, 2003. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2009
Jul 2009 Fire

2000 FORD FOCUS ENGINE FIRE ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 4 AM. BY TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE IT WAS FULLY IN FLAMES. BURNT EVEY THING BUT THE TRUNK BEFORE IT WAS PUT OUT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2008
Apr 2009

CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF NHTSA IS STILL MONITORING THESE ISSUES WITH THE FORD FOCUS FIRES. *NJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 1901
Mar 2009

WHILE IDLING IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE, THROUGH A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK OF THE MOTOR CAUSING INSTANT AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND OR INJURY. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH 2000 MODEL YEAR FOCUS AND HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A SALVAGE MOTOR FOR ALMOST $2000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2000 Ford Focus has 315 Engine complaints on file. 7 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.