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
229 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Aug 22, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE CLOCK SPRING FAULT. AIRBAG POTENTIALLY NOT FUNCTIONAL.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 7, 2018
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..
Air bags, Jul 26, 2018, crash
FRONT END COLLISION AT 45-50 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH
Electrical system, 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.
Structure, Jul 12, 2018
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INCAPACITATED. PART INSIDE DOOR BRAKES AND DOOR BECOMES LOCKED IN PLACE. HAVE TO CLIMB OUT WINDOW OR OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN AN EMERGENCY THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED ONCE AND IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN PART ISHARD TO FIND AND COSTLY TO REPLACE ( FOR WHAT IT IS). PART IS PLASTIC. LUKE PROBABLY FONCTION BETTER IF REPLACEMENT WAS METAL.
Air bags, Jul 7, 2018
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CALLED THE FORD DEALERS IN BOTH CARSON CITY AND RENO NEVADA. BOTH DEALERS STATE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO DO THE RESULTS.
Service brakes, Apr 6, 2018
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.
Electrical system, Mar 14, 2018
INSERT KEY, TURN TO START, WILL NOT START, HAVE TO PUSH IN KEY HARD FOR THE IGNITION TO START CAR
Steering, Service brakes, Feb 15, 2018, crash
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.
Air bags, Jan 8, 2018
THE AIRBAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON ONE DAY AND IT DOES NOT GO OUT. I RESEARCHED IT ON GOOGLE AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON IN FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN MY RESEARCH I LEARNED ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, IF THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IF NEEDED.
Electrical system, 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.
Electrical system, Nov 3, 2017
THE IGNITION ,AT TIMES DOSE NOT START CAR. BATTERY STAYS CHARGED.
Electrical system, Oct 4, 2017
IGNITION SWITCH WORN PARTS, COMMON COMPLAINT RECALL EARLIER MODELS, PROBLEM PERSISTS IN 2009 FOCUS. WARRANTS RECALL AND FORD FIX.
Electrical system, 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.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2017, crash
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..
Electrical system, Air bags, Wheels, 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?!?!
Electrical system, 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!!!!!!
Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2017
SIDE DOOR LATCH OPENS WHILE DRIVING AND OR DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED AFTER OPENING WHILE PARKED
Electrical system, 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.
Power train, Apr 5, 2017
CHECK ENGINE AND WRENCH LIGHT FLASHED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY LOST SOME POWER. THIS ISSUE CAME UP WITHOUT ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS. MY MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE AND RESOLVE THE CODE ERROR. LATER ON I FIND OUT ALL THE FORD FOCUS HAVING THE SIMILAR PROBLEM AND FORD DID NOT RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, Jan 8, 2017
THE AIRBAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON ONE DAY. I RESEARCHED IT ON GOOGLE AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON IN FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. MY MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE STATING IT MUST BE DONE AT A FORD DEALETSHIP OUT AND THE PROBLEM IS IN THE BRAIN /MODULE OF THE CAR. FOR THESE REASONS I THOUGHT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN MY RESEARCH I LEARNED ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, IF THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IF NEEDED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, 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.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, 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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 17, 2016
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY...IN THE PAST YEAR...ALL DOOR HANDLES HAVE BECOME BROKEN...I CAN NOT GET INTO VEHICLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE...I HAVE TO LEAVE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE ON RAINY DAYS I HAVE TO LEAVE BACKSEAT DOWN TO ENTER THROUGH THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE TO GET INTO VEHICLE...THE BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE...I AM CURRENTLY 28 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND IS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER MY VEHICLE...NOT TO MENTION HOW UNSAFE IT IS AND WILL BE ONCE MY CHILD IS BORN.
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS NOT REMAINING SHUT PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE BUNGEE CORDS TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,292.