U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
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.

Electrical System

Power Train

Vehicle Speed Control

Suspension

Wheels

Air Bags

Engine

Latches/Locks/Linkages

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.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2023

2026

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10279690 · 2009-08-07 (August 7, 2009)

SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS FRACTURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279690 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10283191 · 2009-09-02 (September 2, 2009)

2009 FORD FOCUS HEADREST MIS- ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED ON TRIPS LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PAIN IN HER SHOULDERS FROM HAVING HER HEAD BENT FORWARD AND HAVING NO SUPPORT ON HER UPPER BACK WHEN SHE TRIED TO SIT STRAIGHT UP. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED HER HEAD QUICKLY, SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE HEADREST, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST OBSTRUCTED HER VISION. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER TURN THE HEADREST AROUND TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, BUT SHE DISCOVERED THAT COULD NOT BE DONE ON HER VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10283191 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10297151 · 2009-12-28 (December 28, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE PADS. SHE THEN NOTICED GREASE AND OIL ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BRAKE DUST WAS ACCUMULATING ON THE WHEELS. HE THEN ADDED THAT AFTER REPEATED USAGE THE GRINDING NOISE SHOULD DISAPPEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10303547 · 2010-02-01 (February 1, 2010)

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH THIS AM INVOLVING 3 DEER. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR IS SMASHED. HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. THIS IS DISTURBING TO ME, AND I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. MY CAR IS A 2009 FORD FOCUS SEL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 17,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303547 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10311721 · 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

ENGINE REPLACED IN NEW 2009 FORD FOCUS WITH ONLY 4,836 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311721 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10315205 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT 55-60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG, WELL MY SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOTHING HIT IT, THE ROADS WERE BARE, I WASN'T UNDER ANY TREES, NOTHING. THERE'S A BIG HOLE, AND SURROUNDING THE HOLE THE GLASS IS SHATTERED. I TOOK PICTURES OF IT. THE GLASS IS POINTED OUT, NOT IN. IF SOMETHING HAD FELL ON IT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF GLASS INSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WASN'T. ITS A BRAND NEW CAR! 2009 FORD FOCUS. HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT A YEAR. COMPANY WONT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315205 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.