RoadVitals

2006 Ford Focus Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest May 14, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 204 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 14, 2018
Crash reported

HELLO NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE A VEHICLE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE FORD FOCUS 2006 SEDAN ZX4 THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SEPTEMBER 20, 2017. WHILE DRIVING WITHIN A SERVICE ROAD, THE VEHICLE'S STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING UPON MULTIPLE INSTANCES OVER THE SAME DAY OF PURCHASING AND THROUGH OUT THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 22 - SEPTEMBER 30TH. AS A RESULT, I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OF LANSING POWER MOTORS INC. FOR AN INSPECTION SEPTEMBER 23, 2017. UPON COMPLETION OF THE INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT "NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE" AND SUGGESTED TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. ON OCTOBER 30, 2017 I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH I THINK WAS DUE TO BAD ELECTRICAL BRAKES WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING T-BONED BY ANOTHER DRIVER WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL OR STOP COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AS OF MAY 14, 2018. IN ADDITION, NOTICED THAT ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED WHILE THE CAR STALLED AND DURING START-UP OF THE VEHICLE. UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE CAR NOT BEING RECALLED, DUE TO RECEIVING A MAILED NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE RECALL OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER. CAN PROVIDE THE NAME UPON CONTACT REGARDING THE VEHICLE COMPLIANT SUBMISSION OF THE FORM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, CONSIDERATION, AND I HOPE THAT THIS INFORMATION MAY ASSIST YOU REGARDING THE CREATION OF A VEHICLE COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID
11093622
Incident
Sep 21, 2017
Mileage
1,302 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10673021
Incident
Jan 16, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 26, 2011

I PURCHASED 2006 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IN MAY OF 2006. IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON IT. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS VERY LOUD AND ROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW AND NEEDED SOME TIME TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER THREE AND HALF YEARS NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I CALLED FORD COMPANYAND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER. (I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I ALSO STATED THAT IT STOPS SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT UP IF I HAVE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. THE DEALER INFO: FORD BREDEMANN 2038 WAUKEGAN ROAD GLENVIEW, IL 60025 (847) 510-5585). I LEFT THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND WHEN I CAME TO PICK IT UP I WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ON GOOD CONDITION. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED LIKE TIRES..ETC.. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD INSTANCES ON THE ROAD WHERE I ALMOST COULD HAVE ENDED UP KILLED JUST BECAUSE THE CAR WONT ACCELERATE. IT HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. 2ND PROBLEM IS STEERING WHEEL. IT IS SO STIFF THAT ITS HARD TO TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT. I FEEL LIKE IT IS SO UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR..NOT JUST UNSAFE FOR ME BUT FOR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WAS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10437315
Incident
Oct 19, 2010
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED TWO OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCURRED ON A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

NHTSA ID
10326461
Incident
Apr 14, 2010
Mileage
131,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2008

2006 FOR FOCUS 2.0 I-4 BLEW OUT SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD N WITH IGNITION COIL. END RESULT FINDING THAT THE CAR HAD THE WRONG SPARK PLUGS FROM THE FACTORY. AND FORD WONT FIX THEIR MISTAKE. THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253123
Incident
Dec 9, 2008
Mileage
35,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2008
Fire reported

ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, MY VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. ON THE 20TH OF APRIL, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS; TOP SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. AS A RESULT, WE CHOSE TO RETURN HOME IMMEDIATELY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. ON THE 21ST, AROUND 10:15 A.M., I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES, THE ENGINE BEGAN CUTTING OUT COMPLETELY AND THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR. I GOT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND PULLED INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. I FOUND A NEARBY STORE FROM WHICH I COULD CALL HOME. WHEN I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE DUE TO SMOKE. I RETURNED TO THE STORE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. BY THE TIME I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE, THERE WERE VISIBLE FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225441
Incident
Apr 21, 2008
Mileage
13,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2007

I'VE HAD MY 2006 FOCUS ST FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT ENGINES PUT IN IT. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR THREW A PISTON ROD DOWN THE BOTTOM OF MY ENGINE AND OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS POOR CASTING ON THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS WAS AT ABOUT 4,000 MILES. THEN AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES IT DID THE SAME THING ONLY THIS TIME I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT BLEW. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE ...AGAIN. WHAT HAPPENED IS MY ROD BEARINGS WENT OUT WHICH IS MOST LIKELY WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO COMPLETELY THROW A PISTON ROD. NOW I AM ON MY 3RD ENGINE AND HOPING THAT THIS ONE STICKS. THE MECHANICS ARE VERY PUZZLED WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY HAVE RUN ALL THE DIAGNOSTICS TO PROVE I HAVEN'T BEEN RACING AND I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. FORD IS TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. GOOD NEWS IS 2 MORE TIMES IT'S A LEMON. BAD NEWS IS I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH MISSED TIME AT WORK AND THE INCONVENIENCE OF IT ALL. BEWARE BUT, THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE AMONG FOCUS OWNERS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10183862
Incident
Feb 28, 2007
Mileage
4,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VENTING SYSTEM BLEW WHITE FLAKES AND DUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS ACTIVATED. THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THE HEATER WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLEANED INSIDE THE VENTING SYSTEM BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE WHITE FLAKES CONTINUED BLOWING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT A CLEANING AGENT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO CLEAN METAL KNOWN AS SOLDERING FLUX MAY BE THE CAUSE OF WHITE FLAKES COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE EVAPORATOR COIL HOUSING WAS REPLACED ON 04/07/06. THE EVAPORATOR COIL HOUSING WAS CLEANED ON 04/21/06. THE VEHICLE VENTING SYSTEM WAS CLEANED AGAIN ON 05/23/06, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS CAUSING A RESPIRATORY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10160954
Incident
Mar 29, 2006
Mileage
280 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .