VehicleVerdict

2000 Ford Focus electrical system problems

The 2000 Ford Focus has 1,450 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 28% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

1,450

Electrical System complaints

28%

Share of year

24

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Focus electrical system complaints by model year1,450 complaints1999: 2 complaints2000: 1,450 complaints2001: 535 complaints2002: 300 complaints2003: 541 complaints2004: 185 complaints2005: 118 complaints2006: 50 complaints2007: 88 complaints2008: 57 complaints2009: 47 complaints2010: 46 complaints2011: 28 complaints2012: 409 complaints2013: 311 complaints2014: 286 complaints2015: 70 complaints2016: 94 complaints2017: 38 complaints2018: 47 complaints
Focus electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V288000Electrical SystemNovember 6, 2002 · 291,854 units

Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ZETEC ENGINES, LOOSE OR BROKEN ATTACHMENTS AND MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES COULD LEAD TO CABLE INSULATION DAMAGE.

Consequence

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.

00V411000Electrical SystemDecember 6, 2000 · 74,500 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DECKLID WIRE HARNESS CAN FATIGUE AND DEVELOP BROKEN WIRES IN THE BEND AREA OF THE WIRE HARNESS.

Consequence

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.

What owners report

“WHILE PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · July 14, 2006 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2000 Ford Focus have?

NHTSA has 1,450 complaints about the 2000 Ford Focus electrical system — 28% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2000 Ford Focus electrical system?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the electrical system: 00V411000, 02V288000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.