There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2000 Ford Focusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
ENGINE STALLS WHILE MOVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 20MPH. DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET AND FORD NEEDS TO REIMBURSE ALL OWNERS... MY ENGINE IS NOW CUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING AT ANY SPEED AND I AM AFRAID FOR NOT ONLY MY OWN LIFE BUT MY 7 YEAR OLD AND NEWBORN DAUGHTERS AS WELL.... CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS SUCH AS OVERHEATING, SMOKING ENGINE, FRIED FUEL SYSTEM, VALVES, SENSORS, RESISTORS, MOTORS, HOSES, WIRES, FUSES, COOLING/HEATING, DOOR LATCHES AND THIS CAR PRACTICALLY SPEEDING UP ON ITS OWN AND NOT STOPPING... I FEEL SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP US ALL.... PLEASE... I AM BEGGING!!!! *TR
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.
ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER AND SURGING. I LOST POWER AND WAS ESCORTED OFF THE HIGHWAY BY A SHERIFF DEPUTY . *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026