2009 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
229 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
45,690 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 229 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Power Train | 38 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
| Suspension | 24 |
| Wheels | 22 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 16 |
Electrical System: 41; Power Train: 38; Vehicle Speed Control: 33; Suspension: 24; Wheels: 22; Air Bags: 19; Engine: 16; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 53 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 31 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 53; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 40 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 5; 2010: 24; 2011: 24; 2012: 26; 2013: 19; 2014: 46; 2015: 21; 2016: 16; 2017: 13; 2018: 13; 2019: 12; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2023: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10402163 · 2011-05-20 (May 20, 2011)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10413182 · 2011-07-17 (July 17, 2011)
UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, REPLACED TIRES AT 20,000 MILES AT 34,000 MILES I'M ALMOST READY TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I TOOK THIS FORD FOCUS IN SO MANY TIMES, HAD 4 ALIGNMENTS. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THEY SAID I MUST HAVE HAD A ACCIDENT SINCE THEY NOTICED THERE WAS A SCRAP ON MY BUMPER. (A SCRAP AND A IMPACT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS ISN'T IT?) WELL, I WAS TOLD THAT BEFORE I BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO CHECK THE FRAME. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FRAME DAMAGE ON THIS CAR. I CALLED FORD AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY W…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259220 · 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, A FOCUS, I TRIED TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT; WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED MOMENTARILY. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR DID STOP. HOWEVER, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH (MID JANUARY TO MID FEBRUARY, 2009), AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF REAR-ENDING A STOPPED CAR.--THIS WAS AFTER I LEFT ABOUT DOUBLE THE STOPPING SPACE THAT WOULD BE NORMAL FOR A STOP.. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM,WITH N…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266428 · 2009-04-22 (April 22, 2009)
TL*-CONTACT RENTED A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT AND EXITING ONTO A RAMP THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT THE WHEELS LOCK CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO THE PRECEEDING VEHICLE . THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1070 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1055. UPDATED 05/26/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE HEARD A LOT OF NOISES AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, AS THE OUGH THE DOOR WAS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. WHEN SHE EXITED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436590 · 2011-11-21 (November 21, 2011)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO RESPONSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STEP ON THE GAS BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND THE THROTTLE WAS ACTING NORMALLY. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT, OVER A YEAR AGO, THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315505 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
DRIVING AT NORMAL HWY SPEED, THE RENTAL CAR (2009 FORD FOCUS) WANDERED AS IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG IN THE WHEELS OR STEERING WHEEL AND THEN FLIPPED OVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY ENTIRE FAMILY ALMOST PERISHED THAT DAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351327 · 2010-08-23 (August 23, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,555 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 18,150. UPDATED 11/12/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458120 · 2012-05-11 (May 11, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, BUT FORD STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10795334 · 2015-11-22 (November 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
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10795334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854268 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)
FUEL TANK RUSTED WHERE THE HALVES MEET AND LEAKS FUEL. CANNOT FILL OVER HALF WAY. STARTED AS A GAS SMELL LAST YEAR, DISCOVERED A DRIP THIS YEAR. TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349109 · 2020-08-13 (August 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
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11349109 at NHTSA ↗