Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Ford Focus steering problems

Owners reported steering problems in 53 complaints for the 2002 Ford Focus, 4% of the complaints on file.

At a glance

Complaints
53 4% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
45,000 miles 25 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
12 and 0
Injuries and deaths
7 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2002 Ford Focus Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 45,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 7 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 5 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 5 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 2 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 45,000 miles
Based on 25 complaints that include mileage. 64% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles7
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles5
60k to 80k miles5
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles2
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 25 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 45,000 miles, and 64% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 12 crashes, 7 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

Dt: the consumer stated while driving at 35 MPH the vehicle began to vibrate. The steering wheel was hard to turn and the consumer lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle fish tailed across the road and struck a mail box. At some point during the skid or impact with the mail box, both rear wheels dislodged from the vehicle. Additionally, the bolts holding the rear seat dismembered and the rear seat was ejected from the vehicle. One of the vehicle occupants died as a result of the accident and another was injured.

Reported at 34,000 miles, May 2004 CrashInjuryDeath

Problem I'm still having and was reported to dealership is car pulls to left, ( not corrected) back end of car or tires bounce on road and especially when hitting a bump, cannot stay on road in slush or snow, back end is all over road, ( nothing done) tires are completely groved in many spots on the tires, caused by rear end bouncing on road, firestone won't replace they say it is focas's rear end and it wears out the tires, dealer or ford won't do anything about rear end or tires, car vibrates badly, rear doors…

Reported at 15,002 miles, October 2002

Other problems reported for the 2002 Ford Focus

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all Ford models