RoadVitals

2009 Ford Focus Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
45
Latest Aug 13, 2021
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.
20%
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.
0
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 45 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts without warning. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the ignition switch and housing were replaced. A few months later, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic and had the starter replaced. A few months later after the repair, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic who replaced the ignition switch and housing for a second time. After the failure occurred for the fourth time, the initial independent mechanic instructed her to place the vehicle in neutral to see if the restarted. The vehicle was started in neutral and the mechanic replaced the neutral safety switch. Despite the repair, the failure recurred. A dealer was notified of the failure and a representative acknowledged that the failure was a known issue; however, there were no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as the dealer. The manufacturer was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11428924
Incident
Jul 1, 2019
Mileage
170,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 13, 2020

THE FUEL PUMP KEEP DISABLING! WHEN TRYING TO CRANK THE CAR IT WILL CONTINUE TO TURN OVER AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN PULLED BACK OUT OF THE START POSITION

NHTSA ID
11349109
Incident
Aug 11, 2020
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT SON STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,827.

NHTSA ID
11330138
Incident
Jun 19, 2020
Mileage
122,827 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2020

WHEN I TRY TO START MY CAR, SOMETIMES IT WON'T TURN OVER WHEN TURNING THE KEY. I HAVE TO TRY A FEW TIMES IF NOT MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO START AND IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME.

NHTSA ID
11301476
Incident
Jan 23, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Nov 12, 2019

MY CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE DOORS LOCK AND DO NOT UNLOCK. AFTER HOURS OF SEARCHING THE MANUAL AND GOOGLE I FIGURED OUT HOW TO BYPASS THE AUTOMATIC LOCK AND TURNED THAT OFF SO MY DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK WHILE I DROVE. THAT WORKED FOR A WHILE BUT, THEN THE DOORS JUST STOPPED OPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR FOCUS.

NHTSA ID
11279639
Incident
Dec 15, 2016
Mileage
65,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 14, 2019

MY IGNITION IS NOT WORKING. I TURN THE KEY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND THE CAR WON'T START. THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE BATTERY IS CHARGED, THE AIR WORKS, BUT THE VEHICLE WON'T START. I USED TO BE ABLE TO GET IT STARTED BUT I NOW HAVE BLISTERS ON MY HAND FROM TRYING TO START THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
11268271
Incident
Oct 14, 2019
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2019

THIRD TIME HAVING A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH! CAR WILL TURN ON BUT WON'T START, COSTING MORE TO FIX THAN THE CAR IS WORTH.

NHTSA ID
11234649
Incident
Jul 18, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2018

IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY.KEY HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES TO START CAR WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA ID
11142604
Incident
May 20, 2018
Electrical
Filed Jul 25, 2018

PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION DOESN'T ALWAYS START THE CAR...I'VE HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME AFTER TRYING FOR 30 MINUTES. ONLY TO HAVE IT START WHEN MY HUSBAND TRIED. ITS BEEN AN ISSUE EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT IT. CURRENTLY HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ID
11113475
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2018

INSERT KEY, TURN TO START, WILL NOT START, HAVE TO PUSH IN KEY HARD FOR THE IGNITION TO START CAR

NHTSA ID
11079064
Incident
Mar 12, 2018
Electrical
Filed Dec 27, 2017

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN OR START THE CAR. IF I DO NOT PLAY WITH THE STEERING WILL IT WILL NOT START. I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE THIS HARD TO START A CAR.

NHTSA ID
11056785
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2017

THE IGNITION ,AT TIMES DOSE NOT START CAR. BATTERY STAYS CHARGED.

NHTSA ID
11042964
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
84,323 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 2017

IGNITION SWITCH WORN PARTS, COMMON COMPLAINT RECALL EARLIER MODELS, PROBLEM PERSISTS IN 2009 FOCUS. WARRANTS RECALL AND FORD FIX.

NHTSA ID
11031687
Incident
Oct 4, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 2017

THE DOORS BECOME LOCKED AND YOU CANNOT OPEN THEM FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ALL UNLOCKING DEVICES TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK THEM. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND HE GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET OUT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
11015369
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
82,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 2, 2017

AIR BAG LIGHT IS STUCK ON RANDOMLY MAKES A "DINGING" SOUND. TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR OUT AT A RAPID SPEED, IGNITION SWITCH WILL GET STUCK AN ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER-CAN'T FIND A CAUSE. AND THE A/C STOPPED WORKING THIS WEEK, MECHANIC LOOKING FOR A LEAK UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THESE ISSUES AND WHY THEY ALL STARTED WITH IN PAST MONTH. EACH PROBLEM THEY CAN'T FIND SOLUTIONS OR TELL ME IT'S PROBABLY A SENSOR OR THE HEAT. THEY HOOK IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWS NOTHING WRONG?!?!

NHTSA ID
11012457
Incident
Jul 20, 2017
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 2017

ALL 4 DOOR LATCHES AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CAN'T GET OUT OR GET IN THROUGH ANY DOORS AT TIMES. IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY DAY. THEY WON'T OPEN WITH FOB OR MANUALLY. I SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL AND GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11000935
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
128,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE IGNITION WOULD TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID
11000382
Incident
Apr 1, 2017
Mileage
85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 5, 2017

REAR DOORS ARE JAMMED OR STUCK ON LOCK, FOR NO REASON. POWER LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK THEM AND DOING SO MANUALLY DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THESE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE NOR THE OUTSIDE. MY CHILD LOCKS ARE NOT ON. I ALSO KEEP MY CAR DUST FREE AND LUBRICATED. THIS COULD BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND WERE TO BE LOCKED IN MY CAR. MY CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WHENEVER I PLEASE AND WHENEVER IS NEEDED. THE FACT THAT I CANNOT EVEN UNLOCK THEM MANUALLY IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10939833
Incident
Jan 4, 2017
Mileage
86,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 5, 2017

REAR DOOR LOCKS APPEAR TO BE JAMMED OR PERMANENTLY LOCKED. WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCKS OR MANUALLY. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY OUT OF NOWHERE. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE ALSO BROKE SO I AM ONLY ABLE TO USE ONE DOOR ON MY VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HENCE WHY I SAID THEY APPEAR TO BE JAMMED FOR NO REASON. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF I WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND GET LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR.

NHTSA ID
10939828
Incident
Jan 4, 2017
Mileage
86,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2016

OKAY THE VEHICLE IS 2009 BUT ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES. SOMETIMES I HAVE DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TRYING TO START CAR. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO TRY AND JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. YESTERDAY I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF , TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR AND THE ALARM OR WARNING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, SHUT THE DOOR, IT STILL WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, SO I PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION TO TURN IT ON THEN OFF AGAIN, AND THAT WORKED BUT I STILL HAVE OCCASIONAL ISSUES WITH STARTING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10863282
Incident
Apr 24, 2016
Mileage
58,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE ON THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,700.

NHTSA ID
10860722
Incident
Aug 2, 2011
Mileage
39,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 31, 2015

AT APPROX. 50,000 MILES THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN EVENTUALLY UNABLE TO TURN KEY OVER. HAD A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED AND NOW SIX MONTHS LATER IT'S STARTING TO GO OUT AGAIN. VERY POOR QUALITY SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
10817282
Incident
Sep 11, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE HAVING THE REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/02/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10808016
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 22, 2015

SOMETIMES THE CAR DOESN'T CRANK OR START AND IT HAS HAPPENED AROUND 6 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011. IT ISN'T THE BATTERY BECAUSE I HAVE JUST REPLACED IT BUT SEEMS LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH OR CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED

NHTSA ID
10795334
Incident
Nov 22, 2015
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2015

THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING PERFECT THEN AFTER A MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED THE CAR STARTED THEN WENT DEAD IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR WILL TURN OVER BUT IT ISN'T FIRING RIGHT NOW IT GAVE NO WARNING. THE COMPUTER READ A THROTTLE ACTUATOR TROUBLE CODE AND THAT'S ALL. THE CAR WILL KEEP TURNING OVER AFTER I RELEASE THE KEY IT HAS NOT DONE THIS BEFORE NOW WE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION LOCKING UP AND WE HAVE TO TURN IT REALLY HARD TO START GET THE KEY IN THE STARTING POSITION. THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE THROTTLE BODY WILL UPDATE WHEN I FIND OUT MORE.

NHTSA ID
10763403
Incident
Sep 12, 2015

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 .