Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance 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.
33
Latest Aug 15, 2016
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.
14%
of 229 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 driver-assistance
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE IDLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE ONLY IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHT DIMMED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,600.
NHTSA ID
10896116
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
44,600 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 11, 2016
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY LOSING THROTTLE CONTROL DOWN TO 35 MILES AN HOUR THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND. YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT AND WAVY CAR WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. COASTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR 10 MINUTES. STARTED CAR AND TESTED PEDAL. EASED BACK ON FREEWAY. SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR.
NHTSA ID
10883934
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 11, 2015
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DROPPED OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND COASTED TO 5 MILES PER HOUR. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO RESULT. WE WERE LUCKY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH NEARBY CARS AND COASTED OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO A PARK AND RIDE LOT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD BY FORD DEALER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS FORD CERTIFIED PREOWNED CAR IS STILL COVERED BY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BUT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THROTTLE BODY. NUMEROUS ACTIONS WITH FORD REGARDING FAULTY THROTTLE BODIES IS WIDELY REPORTED AND WE BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A FORMAL RECALL FOR 2009 FORD FOCUS. REPAIR IS $875 WHICH WE BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE COVERING.
NHTSA ID
10747996
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
88,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 30, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported
BEFORE TAKING A RIGHT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED MY BLINKER ON (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD INSTEAD OF TURNING. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPEEDED UP EVEN MORE. I FINALLY CRASHED INTO A FENCE ONTO PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEN I CAME TO A FULL STOP WHEN I HIT AN SUV. THIS CRASH COMPLETELY DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY 2009 FORD FOCUS.
NHTSA ID
10731389
Incident
Jun 26, 2015
Mileage
1,174 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 5, 2015
EVER SINCE WE TURNED OVER SIXTY THOUSAND MILES ON OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2009 WE HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHERE OUR CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL STOP WORKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS: PULL OVER, SHIFT INTO PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN. AT THIS POINT THE CEL WILL GO OFF AND IT WILL BE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CAR STALLED OR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WAS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS DAMP, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS WEATHER RELATED. WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WE DROPPED THE CAR OFF SO THAT THE MECHANIC COULD DO A TEST DRIVE. AFTER AN ENTIRE DAY OF DRIVING, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, OR PULL A DIAGNOSTIC CODE SO THEY GAVE OUR KEYS BACK AND SAID WE CANT DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU. THEY THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE NEXT TIME OUR CAR STALLS, IDLE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DO NOT TURN IT OFF. REALLY!? THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE TAKING A 500 MILE ROAD TRIP AND EXPERIENCED THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN AFTER ABOUT 250 MILES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE IN TRAVELING TO OUR DESTINATION AND ONCE COMING HOME. THE CAR SHUT DOWN ONE TIME ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 70 MPH, HAVING TO MAKE A DOUBLE LANE CHANGE AND PULL OVER TO AVOID GETTING HIT. THE OTHER WHILE EXITING THE EXPRESSWAY SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AND PULLING ONTO A CROSSING ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ID
10670186
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 18, 2014
AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE ALL OF THE SUDDEN SPUTTERED AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE WRENCH LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND NEARLY GETTING SIDESWIPED, SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING RESET THE ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES IN A 20 MINUTE SPAN. THE CHECK ENGINE FAILURE CODE ACQUIRED FROM ADVANCE AUTO WAS P2112 THROTTLE BODY STUCK OPEN. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE P2112 AND P2111 FAILURE CODES AND THAT THEY ARE AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 4 OTHER MODELS OF FMC VEHICLES. FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART. *TR
NHTSA ID
10648538
Incident
Oct 17, 2014
Mileage
104,634 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 19, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 FORD FOCUS COUPE APPROX 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 10 IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT AT 3PM WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. I WAS IN THE 2ND TO THE LEFT-HAND LANE AND THE RAPID DECELERATION VERY NEARLY CAUSED A MULTI-CAR COLLISION WITH THE CARS BEHIND TO MY RIGHT AND LEFT AS THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SWERVED TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY CODES OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME AS IS. THIS CAR IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10637459
Incident
Sep 16, 2014
Mileage
77,142 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 19, 2014
I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD DIED AND I WAS COASTING UNTIL I REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL RUNNING BUT AT AN IDLE SPEED. I "COASTED" FOR 10 MILES AFRAID TO TURN IT OFF AND BE STRANDED. I GOT IT HOME AND TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT ACTED AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG AND HAD GOOD ACCELERATION. IT DID IT AGAIN YESTERDAY (07/18/2014) WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. SCARED ME TO DEATH AS I WAS SURROUNDED BY SEMI-TRAILERS AND HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THERE WAS LARGE TIRE PARTS AND RAN OVER THEM. I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. I NOTICED AFTER THE "COASTING" INCIDENT THAT MY FUEL MILEAGE INCREASED TO 46 MPG. ON THE AVERAGE. IT WAS AROUND 35 BEFORE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10614757
Incident
Jul 17, 2014
Mileage
39,596 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2014
THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE WAS IDLING BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT REST FOR A MINUTE. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FINE. THIS HAPPENED SIX TIMES (LOSING POWER) ON MY WAY HOME. I WAS TRAVELING TO AN EVENT AND HAD DRIVEN 200 MILES WHEN I HAD TO TURN AROUND. THIS WAS A DRIVING HAZARD - ESPECIALLY ON A HIGHWAY! FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10606775
Incident
Jun 28, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Jun 17, 2014
Crash reported
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A SCHOOL LOT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH. FOR NO REASON WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE THE CARS ENGINE UNEXPLAINED RACED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD STRIKING THE BACK OF A PICKUP. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THAT VEHICLE AND I HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE SENDING IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THIS TIME I HAD NO CONTROL AS THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY HUSBAND WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT REACHED OVER AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. ALL THE VEHICLES THAT WERE STRUCK WERE PARKED AT THE TIME. HOWEVER THERE WERE CHILDREN WALKING INTO THE SCHOOL FOR AN AWARDS CEREMONY. THERE WAS SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO ALL THE VEHICLES. IN THE FALL OF 2013 THIS HAPPENED TO THE ENGINE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A BALL FIELD,AGAIN WITH CHILDREN PRESENT. MY HUSBAND HAD TO REACH OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE. UPON CHECKING WITH FORD THEY STATED THAT THERE WEER NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. SPRAY SILICONE TO THE THROTTLE BODY!!! AFTER THE MAY 29TH INCIDENT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST AGAINST THE FORD MOTOR CORP. FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN THE SUIT A LIST OF THEIR MAKES AND MODELS WERE LISTED. IN MY CASE THE FORD FOCUS YEARS 2008-2010 WAS LISTED.. MY CLAIMS ADJUSTER WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD THE SAME PRINT OUT. I ASKED IF MY INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD SUBROGATE AGAINST FORD AND HE POLITELY SAID NO AS IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE. I'AM APPALLED THAT THE FORD CO. HAD NO RECALL, AS OF THIS DATE THERE ARE NONE FOR THIS YEAR AND FAILED TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO ALL THESE VEHICLE OWNERS. I'AM THANKFUL THAT THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURY TO ANY CHILDREN WALING IN THE LOT OR BALL FIELD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME? *TR
NHTSA ID
10598758
Incident
May 29, 2014
Mileage
39,800 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 4, 2014
AS REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHERS, MY 2009 FORD FOCUS WILL UNPREDICTABLY GO INTO "LIMP? OR FAILSAFE MODE, WITH POWER SURGES OR HESITATIONS AND THE WRENCH & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER THEN ENGINE IS RE-STARTED THE CAR WILL RUN NORMALLY FOR VARIOUS PERIODS OF TIME, SOMETIMES MILES, DAYS OR WEEKS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN NOVEMBER 2012, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER, BUT BECAUSE THE WRENCH OR ENGINE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON, THEY WERE UNABLE TO READ ANY CODES OR OTHERWISE DIAGNOSE. IN MAY 2013, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE LIMP / FAILSAFE MODE WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE WRENCH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. ON MAY 11, 2013 CAR WAS DELIVERED TO A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT ON. THIS DEALER ?CLEANED? THE THROTTLE BODY EVEN THOUGH AS I NOW UNDERSTAND THE THROTTLE BODY IS A SEALED UNIT. JUST OVER 4 WEEKS AFTER THE MAINTENANCE I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE LIMP MODE AND WRENCH LIGHTS. AT THIS TIME I STARTED TO KEEP TRACK OF EACH INSTANCE. FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH THE CAR EXPERIENCED FREQUENT POWER SURGES/HESITATION AND INSTANCES OF LIMP MODE. THE CAR THEN WENT 1 MONTH WITHOUT ANY REPEAT OF THAT EXPERIENCE. AFTER SEVERAL MORE INSTANCES OF THE PROBLEM IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2013, THE ISSUE DISAPPEARED FOR OVER 6 MONTHS, UNTIL APRIL 2014. I NOW HAVE A LOG DOCUMENTING APPROX 25 ? 30 INSTANCES OF LIMP MODE OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 8 WEEKS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH WARM OR COLD, IN ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS, SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING FOR ONLY 1 MINUTE OR AFTER A LONG DRIVE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND RE-START AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AGAIN AS OTHERS HAVE COMMENTED, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY A RECALL. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AT WHICH TIME THEY WILL LIKELY REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR APPROX $600, AFTER STICKING ABOUT $300 TO THE 1ST 2 SERVICE CALLS.... THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ID
10596256
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Mileage
57,800 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 5, 2014
FORD FOCUS 2009 APRIL 25, 2014 I HAD APPOINTMENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS OIL IN MY SPARK PLUG WELLS AND I NEEDED A VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED. TOTAL BILL $376.65 THEN 5 DAYS LATER ON APRIL 30TH, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IT WOULD NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND WAS CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING REALLY BAD. THE THROTTLE CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CHECKED THE MILES I HAD DRIVEN AND IT WAS EXACTLY 25 MILES SINCE THE OIL/TUNEUP/GASKET CHANGE. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT OVER. IT WOULD HARDLY RUN SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THEN THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AT AN ESTIMATED $800 TO FIX IT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND IT WOULD BE A FEW DAYS. MAY 5, 2014, DEALERSHIP CALLED TO INFORM ME THE HOUSING FOR THE THROTTLE BODY IS ALSO BAD AND IT WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $54 TO REPLACE THAT WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10586541
Incident
Apr 30, 2014
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2014
AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPED WORKING.(THANKFULLY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME.) I COASTED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR REMAINED IDLING, HOWEVER I STILL HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF AND I ONCE AGAIN HAD THROTTLE CONTROL. I EASED THE CAR BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY BUT NOTICED THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY HOLDING A CONSTANT AND STEADY SPEED. THERE WERE INTERMITTENT SUBTLE SURGES AND PAUSES IN THE SPEED. ONCE I REACHED MY DESTINATION I HAD A FORD DEALERSHIP RUN A DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND IT WAS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE SENSOR. I HAD CONTACTED A NUMBER OF NATIONAL PARTS SUPPLIERS AND THEY COULD NOT SELL ME JUST THE SENSOR BUT WOULD HAVE TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY HAD A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. SINCE REPLACING THE THROTTLE SENSOR I HAVE PUT OVER 1200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD TO THIS POINT NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. *JS
NHTSA ID
10585677
Incident
Apr 22, 2014
Mileage
62,340 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Apr 6, 2014
VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY SAY PROBLEM IS WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10577734
Incident
Apr 4, 2014
Mileage
67,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 12, 2014
I PURCHASED MY 2009 FORD FOCUS FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN STOCKTON, CA. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR IN THE FAST LANE, WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR WENT IN TO (WHAT MY MECHANIC CALLED) LIMP MODE. THE CAR INSTANTLY WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 15 MPH - VERY SCARY! AGAIN, THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY COMMUTE TRAFFIC. DEFINITELY A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER INTO THE SLOW LANE AND LIMP OFF THE FREEWAY, DOING 15 MPH FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE. QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT WITHOUT BEING SLAMMED INTO BY OTHER VEHICLES. ALL I COULD DO WAS COAST. I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE EXIT RAMP. THE CAR IDLED VERY ROUGH. I TURNED IT OFF, WAITED FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. OUR MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES IN THE COMPUTER. APPARENTLY, THEY WERE CLEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. AFTER THIS EVENT OCCURRED A FEW MORE TIMES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT HIGH SPEEDS, I DECIDED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME SO MY MECHANIC COULD COME AND CHECK THE CAR FOR CODES WHILE IT WAS STILL RUNNING. IT WAS LIKE CLOCK WORK. THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR CLOSE TO ONE HOUR AND MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CODES WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED (BY OUR LOCAL MECHANIC) TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $600. LOOKS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THERE HAVE PROBABLY BEEN FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM. A RECALL IS IN ORDER!!! *TR
NHTSA ID
10568743
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 7, 2014
WE OWN A 2009 FORD FOCUS. RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY IN JUNE OF 2012 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, APPROX. 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR DECELERATED DOWN TO ABOUT 40 AND WOULD NOT GO BEYOND THAT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED US FULL PRICE FOR A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT. I KNOW THAT OTHER MAKES IN 2009 WERE EXTENDED ON THE WARRANTY FOR THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET REIMBURSED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10567782
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
36,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE HAD SEIZED IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ID
10562755
Incident
Feb 2, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AS THE SERVICE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. *TR
NHTSA ID
10558352
Incident
Nov 12, 2013
Mileage
72,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 5, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED, DRIVER LOSES ALL CONTROL OF GAS PEDAL AND HAS TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IGNITION OFF IN ORDER TO RESTART CAR TO RESET CONTROL OF GAS PEDAL. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 5 MONTHS. ON OCT 2 IT HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON THE SAME DRIVE THAT DAY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS LUCKY THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS AND IT HASN'T CAUSE US AN ACCIDENT. BUT NOW WE MUST GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE FATE WILL CATCH UP TO YOU AT THE WRONG TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS. AFTER RESEARCH SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH HAS A NON REPLACEABLE SENSOR ON IT THAT CONTROLS A SIGNAL TO THE GAS PEDAL. TO REPAIR IT THE THROTTLE BODY HAS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I HAVE CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND THEY SHOW NO CONCERN OR INTEREST IN FINDING OUT IF THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM THEY MAY KILL SOMEONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES THAT IS NOT AWARE OF THIS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10546827
Incident
May 4, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 9, 2013
THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST OCCASION, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE FOCUS AT AROUND 50 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STOPPED ACCELLERATING (IT DIDN'T STALL) AND THE WRENCH PANEL LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, SO SHE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN FINE, AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. THREE WEEKS LATER WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH WHEN THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED, THE CAR JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, AND AGAIN WE WERE LUCKY WE WEREN'T IN AN ACCIDENT AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. WE RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I CALLED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND PROVIDE ME A RENTAL CAR. AFTER A WEEK, THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO HAVE IT HAPPEN TO THEM. I TOLD THEM IT WAS UNREASONABLE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED THREE WEEKS APART, AND THE CHANCES OF IT HAPPENING WERE SLIM WITHIN A WEEK. I WAS TRYING TO URGE FORD TO COVER THIS SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAD 54K MILES ON IT, AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEY SAID SINCE THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT, THEY COULDN'T FIX IT, AND EVEN IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT, IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED SINCE ITS NOT UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF, AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE 99.9% SURE ITS A THROTTLE BODY (THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES TOLD ME THEY'RE GETTING TONS OF THROTTLE BODY REPAIRS COMING IN AND THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER), THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER. THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THESE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FROM HAPPENING. NOW I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR ON MY OWN SO MY WIFE CAN DRIVE A SAFE VEHICLE. SO FORD'S DEFECTIVE PART HAS ALREADY PUT MY WIFE AND I IN DANGER, AND NOW IS COSTING ME MONEY I DON'T HAVE! *TR
NHTSA ID
10534518
Incident
May 25, 2013
Mileage
54,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2013
CAR WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE (WRENCH LIGHT) WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ALMOST LED TO ACCIDENT. MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE VEHICLE, WITH HER SIDE EXPOSED TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR LOST CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THROTTLE. RETURNED HOME IMMEDIATELY. WENT OUT TO START IT LATER, NO WARNING LIGHTS, RAN FINE. 2 DAYS LATER, IT WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE ON THE FREEWAY, THIS TIME CEL CAME ON. CODE P2135, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. PART REPLACED, PROBLEM HASN'T RECURRED. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM (THERE IS A TSB). I WOULD REGARD IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE BASED ON THE FAILURE RATES OF WIDESPREAD (ALBEIT ANECDOTAL) EVIDENCE. THOUGH IT ISN'T UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, IT STILL IS A LOSS OF CONTROL; THIS SYSTEM IS DRIVE-BY-WIRE, THE SAME AS TOYOTA. I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION FOR RECALL. BELOW ARE EXPERIENCED SHARED ON VARIOUS FORUMS REGARDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED (2008-2011 FOCUS): WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=271461 WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=317251&HIGHLIGHT=THROTTLE+BODY WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=298322&HIGHLIGHT=THROTTLE+BODY WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=291391&HIGHLIGHT=THROTTLE+BODY WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=290333&HIGHLIGHT=THROTTLE+BODY WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=257103&HIGHLIGHT=P2112 WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=262099&HIGHLIGHT=P2112 WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=174484&HIGHLIGHT=WRENCH+LIGHT WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2009/CRUISE-CONTROL-PROBLEMS.PHP WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2008/VEHICLE-SPEED-CONTROL-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://BIT.LY/18CCW56 HTTP://BIT.LY/16TOXCC HTTP://BIT.LY/19AQTPN HTTP://BIT.LY/18CCH08 HTTP://BIT.LY/11IK0MU ...AND COUNTLESS MORE ON WWW.FORDFOCUSFORUMS.COM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10513400
Incident
May 18, 2013
Mileage
61,280 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 28, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT ANKLE AND FOOT. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,285. *TR
NHTSA ID
10504818
Incident
Mar 18, 2013
Mileage
86,285 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 25, 2013
GAS PEDAL WANTS TO STICK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10494653
Incident
Jan 9, 2013
Mileage
122,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Nov 5, 2012
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY IN PASSING LANE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON,NOTICED VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN. APPLIED PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL,NO ACCELERATION. I HAD TO GET OFF ROAD QUICKLY BECAUSE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP;ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN DOING SO. VEHICLE IDLED ROUGH AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. I SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO START IT UP AGAIN AND HAD ACCELERATION CONTROL AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER SHIP AND THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING SEVERAL OF THESE THROTTLE BODIES ON FORD VEHICLES LATELY AND THEY EXCEPT A RECALL.MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORD KNOWS THIS ISSUE EXIST,GET IT RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10483347
Incident
Oct 25, 2012
Mileage
28,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME FRIDAY AND I NOTICE A LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH AND IT LOOK LIKE A WRENCH, SO AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOWDOWN, SO I PRESSED THE ACCELERATION BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SPEEDUP AND IT ACTED AS THO THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE RIGHT LANE AND OVER TO THE SIDE OFF, THE FREEWAY AFTER I STOP THE CAR, THEN I TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON AND THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMAL,IF I ACCELERATED SLOWLY IT ACTED LIKE THE TRANS WAS SLIPPING,AND AFTER I GOT HOME I WAS GOING TO BACK THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT MOVE., THIS IS A 2009 FORD FOCUS, AND AFTER READING THE REVIEWS ON LINE I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY THAT THIS HAVE HAPPEN TO, AND THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE IN ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH. AND THIS HAPPENED FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS MOD OF VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10470446
Incident
Aug 10, 2012
Mileage
81,401 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.
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