10 of the
1,198 complaints about the 2002 Ford Focus are about the
seat belts — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
44,500 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE U-TURN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY EMERGENCY ROOM TO BE TREATED WITH BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK INJURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10604779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,006 milesST. Paul, MN
SEAT BELTS
FAILED TO RETRACT TO THE RATCHET. LEFT WITH LOOSE NON FUNCTIONAL LENGTHY BELT NOT PROTECTING ME FROM POSSIBLE CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10451554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesNEW Albany, INCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTW. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT EXTENDED OUTWARD AND FAILED TO SECURE PROPERLY. THE CRASHED CAUSED ONE INJURY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #10444569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesSacramento, CA
SEAT BELTS
MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHREDDED. I HAD TO REPLACE IT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND PURCHASE A NEW ONE FROM FORD. MY AUTO MECHANIC INSTALLED THE NEW SEAT BELT FOR ME. THE BELT NEEDED REPLACING, AS IT WAS CONTINUING TO SHRED (IN STRANDS) AND ONLY HAD ABOUT ONE-THIRD TO HALF OF ITS WIDTH REMAINING. THE LENGTH OF THE SHREDDING WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 14 INCHES LONG. IT DEFINITELY POSED A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE, EVEN IN VERY OLD AUTOMOBILES THAT I OWNED. SEAT BELT MATERIAL FADING FROM SUNLIGHT, YES, SHREDDING, NEVER. MY AUTO MECHANIC AT MY REPAIR SHOP HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10261069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manassas, VACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MONDAY FEB 11TH AT 7:15 AM. MY SEATBELT WAS BROKEN DURING THE IMPACT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS CONSIDERED A "TOTAL LOSS", THEREFORE I CAN NOT FIX THE DAMAGES TO IT. IF MY SEATBELT BROKE DUE TO THE IMPACT, THEN WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY?
NHTSA complaint #10218015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hinckly, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT:CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REAR DOOR PROBLEMS. THE TWO REAR PASSENGER DOORS WERE FIXED AS PART OF RECALL. CONSUMER SAID THAT ON REAR DOOR ONE THE LATCHES BROKE,, AND IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE REAR DOOR WILL COME OPEN. WHEN CLOSING THE REAR DOOR IT MUST BE SLAMMED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE DOOR WILL STAY SHUT, AND EVEN THEN WHILE DRIVING IF VEHICLE WAS JARRED BY A BUMP OR HOLE, DOOR WILL STILL COME OPEN. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THEY WILL NOT LATCH MOST THE TIME. BUT WHEN THEY DO LATCH THEY WILL NOT COME UNLATCHED TO RELEASE PASSENGER. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER MUST PAY TO HAVE SEAT BELTS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10126127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado Springs, COCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, BALL JOINT AREA ON MY FORD FOCUS 2002 CAME LOOSE AND WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. WHEN CAR HIT WALL THE AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN AND SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE ACCIDENT. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10086749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,820 milesVienna, VACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE SLOWING DOWN DUE TO INTENSE TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY WE WERE VIOLENTLY HIT BY A CAR DRIVING BEHIND US. THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED - THE BOTTOM REAR OF THE CAR AND TIRES WERE TOTALLY CRUSHED, THE ROOF WAS BENT IN THE MIDDLE, ALL WINDOWS BURST, AND DOORS WERE JAMBED SHUT. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO CHEST. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS CONSTRAINED US IN THIS CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10045564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesWarrington, PACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 50 MPH IN THE REAR END. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
NHTSA complaint #10006710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, OHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE HIT A RETAINING WALL AT 65 MPH, THEN ROLLED A FEW TIMES. SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER, AND DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #8015303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.