2009 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 229 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 26 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
45 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 10, 2015
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT STEADY 70MPH, ENGINE DROPPED TO IDLE SPEED. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF TROUBLE. VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. I PUT IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL, AND COASTED UNTIL I REACHED AN AREA AREA WHERE I COULD PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. THIS WAS IN A TIGHT CONSTRUCTION AREA. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND NOT NEAR OTHER VEHICLES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. OTHERWISE THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. WHEN I WAS STOPPED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, BUT ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. WITH NO ALTERNATIVE, I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN STARTED THE ENGINE. OPERATION APPEARED NORMAL WITH NO WRENCH LIGHT ON. I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND CHECKED CONNECTED MY CODE READER. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES. DURING SOME SUBSEQUENT DRIVING, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER EVENTS OR INDICATION OF PROBLEMS. I AM GETTING A FORD OEM THROTTLE BODY TO REPLACE MY EXISTING. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM THAT HAS AVOIDED A RECALL DESPITE THE POTENTIAL DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE.
Electrical system, Aug 3, 2015
WHAT IT IS THAT BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS NOW IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT ALLOW MY KEY TO TURN OVER THE CAR TO START IT. I HAVE TOO JIGGLE IT TO FINALLY GET IT TO STRART MY CONCERN IS SOMETHING GOING WRONG AND CAUSING A MAJOR PROBLEM
Electrical system, Mar 10, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,101.
Electrical system, Jan 23, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Electrical system, Oct 1, 2014
ON HOT DAYS, THE FORD FOCUS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. IT TAKES 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STOPS AGAIN. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER, IT ACTS AS THOUGH THE STARTER MOTOR IS GOING OUT. FORD IS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS WHILE IN THE SHOP, SO THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. INVESTIGATING, I SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FOR 2000-2012 FOCUSES. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START UNTIL THE CAR WAS 4-5 YEARS OLD. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE SHOWING THIS SYMPTOM, I HAVE POSTED SEVERAL. I FEAR THAT IF I AM AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE STOPS THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. OR, IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE IGNITION FOR THE SECOND TIME. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START DUE TO THE FAULTY IGNITION LOCK MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,421.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 21, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION CYLINDER AND THE HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD TURN IN THE IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON. UPDATED 12/16/2014 *JS
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, 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
Electrical system, May 25, 2014
GOING 75 MPH WHEN CAR LOST POWER. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED SEEMS TO WORK FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LUCKILY IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I'M GOING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE IS LESS TRAFFIC. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 29, 2014
I HAVE A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING A WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON AND PRESSING ON THE GAS THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. WHEN TAKING IT TO MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE P2111 AND THE THROTTLE CAP WAS STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM AND THE ESCAPE HAD THEM RECALLED ALREADY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS A 3 YEAR WARRANTY UNFORTUNATELY NOT COVERED. *JS
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 26, 2014
WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING...AND WENT OFF..GRADUALLY CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED...BOB RIDINGS FORD HERE IN DECATUR SAID THEY COULD NOT CHECK IT UNLESS THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYED ON...WHICH NEVER HAPPENED...GRADUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN...AND STALLED DOWN AT A PLACE I COULD NOT GET OFF ROAD TO RESTART...LUCKILY NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. NEXT THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON...BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE GARAGE TO BE CHECKED, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF...SAID PALMER FROM PALMER TIRE AND AUTO CHECKED IT AND GOT ONE CODE WHICH HE TRIED TO GET FORD TO HELP HIM WITH..BEFORE HE COULD HEAR BACK (IF EVER HE WOULD HAVE) I TOOK IT TO BOB RIDINGS IN TAYLORVILLE (I HAD BAD EXPERIENCE WITH ONE IN DECATUR)AND THEY CALLED SAID TO GET HIS DIAGNOSIS..AND DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT BOTH HAD REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL ON OTHER FOCUS CARS WHICH FORD MOTOR DID NOT RECOMMEND DOING! THIS COST ME $569.10 WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY IF IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2011; AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AS IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC., I THINK FORD OWES ME...AND PROBABLY OTHERS...AND IS A PROBLEM WARRANTING A RECALL! I GUESSED AT MILEAGE AND TIME BUT KNOW THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THE YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT ONLY HAD 9000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT...MAKING IT HAVE AROUND 15,000 WHEN PROBLEM BEGAN. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 9, 2014
EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN OTHER ENTRIES ON THIS SITE, AND SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE NYTIMES TODAY ABOUT GM CARS (ALTHOUGH MINE IS A FORD- PROBABLY THE SAME FAULTY COMPONENT IS IN BOTH GM AND FORD). NUMEROUS TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WILL INEXPLICABLY "STALL OUT"- THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND NO LONGER ACCELERATES. FIRST TIME WAS WITH MY WIFE DRIVING WITH OUR BABIES ON THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS TERRIFIED, AND DID A HEROIC JOB OF GETTING OVER TO THE SHOULDER. SHE TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED TO ME ON A COUNTRY ROAD- WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY DROVE IT OVER A HUNDRED MILES AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. IN ANOTHER WEEK OR SO, IT DID IT TWICE IN ONE DAY, BOTH CITY DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I'D PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, COME TO A STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC. THEY DROVE IT ANOTHER 75 MILES WITH THE SAME LACK OF DIAGNOSIS. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON AN EMPTY STRETCH OF OPEN ROAD GOING ABOUT 40, AND I WAS ABLE TO JUST SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE COASTING AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE NEVER ACTUALLY STOPPING IT. REALIZING THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN STOPPING TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, THIS IS HOW I HAVE RESTARTED THE CAR AND RESUMED ACCELERATION IN THE SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS DONE IT SINCE. BUT I AM A VERY SKILLED DRIVER- SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE WHILE COASTING IN TRAFFIC IS DEFINITELY NOT A SOLUTION FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM NOT ADVISING ANYONE TO DO IT. I'VE PUT A TON OF MILES ON THIS CAR QUICKLY, SO OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2009 FOCUSES MAY NOT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. BUT MORE WILL LIKELY BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE IT AS THEIR CARS GET OLDER. PLEASE RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 24, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD, RADIO, POWER WINDOW, AND THE BUTTON CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND SUDDENLY THEY BECAME DIM INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE BRIGHT THEY WERE BLINDING AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE DEFECT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 25, 2013
GAS PEDAL WANTS TO STICK. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2012
(COMPLAINT #2) DIFFICULTY IN INSERTING AND REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION. REPOSITIONING STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES "LOCKS" AND "UNLOCKS" IGNITION KEYHOLE ALLOWING FOR KEY INSERTION AND KEY REMOVAL. COMPLAINT #1 SUBMITTED AS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT AND WANTED TO INCLUDE 1ST COMPLAINT WITH THE 2ND ONE - TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO START POSITION GLIDES RATHER THAN "CLICKS" TO EACH POSITION. IGNITION KEY FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE IGNITION TUMBLERS ARE STRIPPED. DELAY BETWEEN START AND VEHICLE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTING WHEN KEY GLIDES TO START POSITION. THIS DELAY IS A SIGN THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION PART. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2012
(COMPLAINT #1) TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO START POSITION GLIDES RATHER THAN "CLICKS" TO EACH POSITION. IGNITION KEY FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE IGNITION TUMBLERS ARE STRIPPED. DELAY BETWEEN START AND VEHICLE ENGINE ACTUALLY STARTING WHEN KEY GLIDES TO START POSITION. THIS DELAY IS A SIGN THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION PART. COMPLAINT #2 IS BEING SUBMITTED AS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT AND WANTED TO INCLUDE 2ND COMPLAINT WITH THE 1ST ONE - DIFFICULTY IN INSERTING AND REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION. REPOSITIONING STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES "LOCKS" AND "UNLOCKS" IGNITION KEYHOLE ALLOWING FOR KEY INSERTION AND KEY REMOVAL. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 2, 2012
I PURCHASED THE ABOVE VEHICLE IN 2009 NEW. I HAVE DRIVEN IT 43000 MILES SO FAR AND 2 TO 3 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN. THE HORN IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME RIGHT FRONT TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. RAIN OR WATER HAD MANAGED TO GET INTO THE HORN DUE TO IT'S LOCATION. INSTEAD OF A LOUD SOUND YOU CAN BARELY HEAR IT SINCE WHEN I PULLED IT OFF, IT WAS FULL OF WATER. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM SINCE IT IS USED TO WARN OTHERS. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 3, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER TRYING MANY TIMES, THE KEY WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,028 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,500. UPDATED 08/03/12*LJ UPDATED 08/06/12
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, 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 THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 07/30/12 .....UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. BUT, WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. UPDATED 1/15/2013 *JS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE COMPONENT CHANGED. HOWEVER, THE CLOSEST COMPONENT, TO THROTTLE BODY SENSOR IS VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. UPDATED 03/18/13
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Sep 25, 2011
I WAS DRIVING MY FORD FOCUS ON THE HIGHWAY, RUNNING APPROX. 55 MPH. ALL AT ONCE A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR, AND MY CAR DECELERATED TO APPROX. 10 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE CAR RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE WRENCH LIGHT WASN'T ON THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. YESTERDAY, THE CAR DID IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCE TO HAVE THE CODE READ, AND WAS TOLD IT CODED OUT A (TAC) THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL FAILURE. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ALSO DRIVE FOCUS' AND THEY ALL TELL ME THAT THEIRS IS DOING THE SAME THING. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GET FORD TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE ALSO HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THE MUSTANG, F-150, AND F-250 TO NAME A FEW. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR