2001 Ford Focus Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 66about this part
- Share
- 4%of 1,761 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 66 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2001 Ford Focus, 4% of the 1,761 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving with cruise control set at 60 MPH when car accelerated gaining speeds over 75. I pulled over, shut down engine, lifted hood and saw accelerator linkage was stuck. I cleared linkage, started engine and car ran normally. This happened 3 more times on later dates with cruise control engaged. Car starts accelerating until I stop vehicle, shut off engine, and free up linkage/metal.”
NHTSA complaint #10468103, filed 2012-07, 115,500 miles“Sticking accelerator pedal 2001 Ford Focus se. 2.0l l4 dohc driving down the interstate heading to work and was going to set the cruise. I couldn't get it to activate tried speeding up and slowing down and setting - didn't operate. A few moments later a car merged in front of me from the on ramp. I slowed down let traffic on the left go by. I then merged to left lane and depressed the accelerator and it stuck at/near full throttle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10340186, filed 2010-06, 123,150 miles“While driving down the montauk highway 27, I reached the speed of 50 MPH. Approximately 5 minutes after reaching 50 and placing my car in cruise control, the car unexpectedly began to rapidly accelerate. I could not slow the car down, had to turn the ignition key off and stopped in the middle of the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #10086306, filed 2004-08, 44,000 miles“No event LED to this failure. I was driving on the freeway when my accelerator cable broke. Luckily, I was in a lane that allowed me to coast to the shoulder; however, a defect such as this is a safety concern. This could have caused me to get into a car accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10129411, filed 2005-07, 45,000 miles“While passing a car while driving down a two lane road, my accelerator pedal continued going down to the floor on its own. I tapped the brakes, checked to see if there were any obstructions by the pedal, tried everything I could to free the accelerator pedal but nothing worked. By this time the car was traveling in excess of 80 MPH and applying the brakes were not slowing the car down at all. Finally I put the car in neutral and while the engine kept racing at full throttle, I turned off the ignition and coasted to the side of the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #10420858, filed 2011-08, 192,247 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 27 | 3% |
| 2017 | 37 | 4% |
| 2016 | 36 | 3% |
| 2015 | 42 | 4% |
| 2014 | 164 | 6% |
| 2013 | 112 | 5% |
| 2012 | 166 | 4% |
| 2011 | 9 | 8% |
| 2010 | 50 | 17% |
| 2009 | 33 | 14% |
| 2008 | 14 | 6% |
| 2007 | 27 | 7% |
| 2006 | 25 | 12% |
| 2005 | 45 | 10% |
| 2004 | 18 | 5% |
| 2003 | 14 | 1% |
| 2002 | 21 | 2% |
| 2001 | 66 | 4% |
| 2000 | 170 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Focus
496 complaintsFuel system
318 complaintsEngine cooling
243 complaintsBrakes
199 complaintsSuspension
150 complaintsAir bags
147 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
90 complaintsSteering
86 complaintsTires
74 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
66 complaintsBody and structure
60 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
59 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Focus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology