2002 Ford Escort vs 2002 Ford Focus
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Escort | 2002 Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 33 | 939 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 24 | 143 |
| Investigations | 0 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 82 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 20 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26 | 20–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 54,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Ford Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 277 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 103 |
| Suspension | 4 | 109 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 72 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 64 |
| Tires | 3 | 62 |
| Power Train | 5 | 58 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 58 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 46 |
| Stalling | 6 | 119 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 24 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 23 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 17 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 17 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 14 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 9 |
2002 Ford Escort
2002 Ford Focus
Compare all Ford Escort vs Ford Focus years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.