# NHTSA recall 02V288000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 02V288000
- Manufacturer's number: 02S41
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 2002\-11\-06
- Owners notified: 2003\-02\-10
- Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
- Units potentially affected: 291854

## What is wrong

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


## What can happen

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.


## The 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.


## Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2000 FORD FOCUS](/makes/ford/focus/2000/recalls.md). Built 1999\-07\-19 to 2001\-05\-31.
- [2001 FORD FOCUS](/makes/ford/focus/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-07\-19 to 2001\-05\-31.

## Investigated as PE02032 and EA02014

This recall followed 2 NHTSA investigations. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE02032: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2002\-03\-12, closed 2002\-07\-31. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
- EA02014: Engineering analysis, opened 2002\-07\-31, closed 2002\-11\-13. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V288000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V288000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [0245](/bulletins/636065.md), 2002-11-05, Service bulletin
- [13164](/bulletins/6091982.md), 2000-11-17, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V288000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V288000)

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