2009 Ford Focus Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Focus, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical4514.8%
- Powertrain (other)3812.5%
- Driver assistance3310.9%
- Suspension258.2%
- Engine237.6%
- Airbags227.2%
- Other / unspecified227.2%
- Interior & seats196.3%
- Fuel system175.6%
- Tires & wheels175.6%
- Body & structure123.9%
- Steering93.0%
- Brakes93.0%
- Visibility62.0%
- Seat belts51.6%
- Transmission10.3%
- Exterior lighting10.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HESITATE SHIFTING THEN WOULDNT GO PAST THIRD SHIFT AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT AS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
THIS IS GETTING ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! I AM ON MY SIXTH SET OF TIRES!! THEY WEAR UNEVEN AFTER LESS THAN 20K MILES MAKING A MORE THAN ANNOYING WOBBLE. I HAVE GOTTEN NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND NEW SWAY ARM LINKS. DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW BEARINGS ANOTHER ALIGNMENT AND ANOTHER SET OF TIRES! AT THIS POINT I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 ON REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE ALL RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE!!! THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX! I HAVE SEEN TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON HERE INVOLVING THE SAME ISSUE, SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT RELATED TO MY DRIVING. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! I DID NOT BUY THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT FOR 26K TO HAVE TO KEEP DUMPING MONEY INTO IT! THE FACT THAT FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THIS BEING A HORRIBLE ASSEMBLY/PLANNING/PRODUCT IS APPALLING AND I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN!! *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE CLOCK SPRING FAULT. AIRBAG POTENTIALLY NOT FUNCTIONAL.
FRONT END COLLISION AT 45-50 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT REAR HUB CAME OFF CAR ON FREEWAY, CROSSED OVER TO OTHER SIDE, AND KILLED ANOTHER DRIVER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND HE HAD HIS 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NEXT TO HIM. I GUESS THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE 2001 FORD FOCUS, FORD KNEW ABOUT IT, BUT YET FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, RESULTING IN THIS MANS DEATH. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE HELD CRIMINALY RESPONSIBLE.
HAD AND ACCIDENT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF PAYING ON THE CAR, WHICH WAS SEPT. 2009.. INSIDE OF TIRED BALD, TOOK TO FORD TO HAVE OIL CHANGED, AND SUPPOSED LOOK OVER, BUT WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE INSIDE WARN TIRES. BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT, FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, HAVE HAD TO BUY TIRES EVERY SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE CAR WEARS THEM OUT, CONSTANT REPAIRS THAT NEVER SEEM TO FIX THE CAR HANDLING ISSUES.. HAD FAR TOO MANY REPAIRS FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS OF HAVING THE CAR..
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated while parked in the driveway, the contact opened both rear doors; however, while attempting to close the doors, the doors failed to latch securely. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the latch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK AND WERE INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT A MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
incident [XXX], Parking in front of Physical Therapy clinic, suddenly the motor revved and car shot across the sidewalk and went through the wall of the clinic. No one was there and no one was hurt. Insurance was notified. (Hartford) Googling Auro malfunctions for Ford Focus, I come across several things which could have malfunctioned and caused "unpredictable acceleration. Car had within 2 weeks had been to automotive shop for maintenance. I think this was a serious malfunction and should have been noticed. thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE IN LATE SUMMER 2011. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS OF MY 2011 PURCHASE THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR MONITOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2014 THE TPSM HAD FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS THIS - IT WAS THE.....5TH TIME... I'VE HAD A TPSM FAIL AND REPLACED. MY FOCUS HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
TWO TIRES, WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THEM, HAVE BOTH WORN DOWN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES THAT WE TOOK OFF PREVIOUS TO THESE DID THE SAME THING. CAR HAS BEEN ALIGNED AND TIRES ARE ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rocker panels rust out and cause the lifting points on the car unable to be used. Mechanics refuse to work on my car due to not being able to lift the vehicle per manufacturer lifting points.
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.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY, BUT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH OR THE STEERING FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER IN 2009. THE CAR STEERING WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE ROAD. I WAS SWITCHING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ROAD WAS UNEVEN AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO STOP WORKING. ALSO THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS A RENTAL CAR.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact felt the front passenger’s side brake was seizing. The contact stated there was smoke coming from the brakes. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and waited for the vehicle to cool down and the vehicle started operating normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact had the brakes replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
OCCASIONALLY, WITHOUT WARNING OR PREDICTION, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, MY BRAKE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL NEARLY TO THE FLOOR WHICH REDUCES BRAKING TIME AND ABILITY. BRAKING TYPICALLY RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER EACH INCIDENT. AT NO POINT DOES AN ABS OR BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COME ON. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 1 OR 2 TIMES DURING MY COMMUTE EACH WAY TO WORK, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES AWAY OR A 1 HOUR DRIVE TIME WITH TRAFFIC.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND A/C FAN WOULD NOT GO ON WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HOT INSIDE FROM BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDER THE HOT SUN. I COULD START THE VEHICLE AND THE A/C BUT THE WIPERS AND FAN WOULD NOT TURN ON. ONCE ON THE ROAD, THE WIPERS STILL WOULD NOT WORK NOR THE A/C FAN. I PARKED IN THE NEARBY LIBRARY LOT AND WAITED FOR THE RAIN TO STOP AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE TO GO DOWN. THEN THE WIPERS STARTED TO WORK. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & GOT AN APPT FOR 8-7-18 TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT NOW THE REPAIR DEPT WANTS ME TO REPLICATE THE DEFICIENCY. I HOLD THE DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE THAT HAPPENS IF THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR ON TIME..
SUNROOF SHATTERED: MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY HIT A FEW POT HOLES AND MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED. NOTHING HIT IT IS JUST MADE A CRASHING SOUND. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AND I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK IT...BUT NOW IT WILL NOT LOCK ...IT IS NOT LATCHING LIKE A SPRING OR SOMETHING ISNT WORKING...I WAS STATIONARY TRYING TO EXIT MY CAR AT MY APARTMENT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK AND REMAIN SECURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 50 TO 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF IT WAS STALLING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BY PASSERS IN OTHER VEHICLES ALERTED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .