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.
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 29, 2010
MY GRANDDAUGHTER OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES DO NOT WORK. IT WAS TAKEN IN TWICE TO BE FIXED. THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM DUST AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY $900 TO UPGRADE THE LOCKS AND LATCHES. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY BECAUSE I AM VERY WORRIED THAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT MY GRAND DAUGHTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
Suspension, Tires, Oct 25, 2010
PRE MATURE TIRE WEAR, RIGHT REAR TIRE WORE OUT AT 25,000 MI. WORE OUT IN 3 AREAS DIAGONALLY ACROSS TIRE FACE. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. NEW TIRES REBALANCED TWICE. 45,000 MI. ON VEHICLE NOW. *TR
Tires, Oct 17, 2010
I RECENTLY HAD FOUR (4) NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY 2009 FORD FOCUS. IN THE PROCESS, ONE OR MORE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WERE DAMAGED. THE TIRE STORE HAS 'WELDED' THE BROKEN ITEM BACK INTO PLACE, A TEMPORARY FIX AT BEST. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS ARE APPARENTLY FRAGILE AND VULNERABLE TO THE TYPES OF STRESS PUT ON THE AUTO WHEELS DURING TIRE CHANGES. I ASSUME THAT THE "FIX" MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME, AND ALSO THAT DURING FUTURE TIRE REPLACEMENTS, OTHER SENSORS WILL BE DAMAGED. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW TWO OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE SUFFERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS DURING TIRE CHANGES. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Sep 15, 2010, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING 45 MPH WHICH IN TURN CAUSED ME TO SLAM INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVERS SEAT I WAS SITTING ON WAS BENT AND MOVED BACK. THE AIR BAG DEVICE UNDER THE SEAT WAS DETACHED AND DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO THE SEAT AND FOR AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 23, 2010, crash
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 IN THREE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKES THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE STORM DRAIN PIPE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED AND IT PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. UPDATED 11/24/10
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 6, 2010
DOOR LATCHES AND DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. HAVE HAD THEM FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY STILL CONSTANTLY ACT UP AND WON'T WORK. *TR
Suspension, Aug 5, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AND WERE REPLACED AT 29,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY BOUNCE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR TRANS AXLE WAS SLIGHTLY OFF YET WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Visibility, Jul 26, 2010
WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2009 FORD FOCUS HOME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE HEAR A LOUD NOISE. SCARED ALL OF US. THEN I HEAR GLASS FALLING ON THE COVER OF SUNROOF. THE THING HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED!!! NOT CRACKED BUT SHATTERED! THANK GOD THAT I HAD THAT COVER CLOSED BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE GLASS DID NOT FALL INTO SMALL CIRCLES LIKE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE GLASS SHOULD HAVE. THE ODD THING IS THE GLASS IS PUSHED OUTWARD LIKE SOMEONE KICKED FROM THE INSIDE. IT IS A 2009 STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK PICTURES AND EMAILED THEM TO HEADQUARTERS FOR A DECISION IF THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT. IT CAME BACK DENIED. THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. SO I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF IT ALL EXCEPT $50. BUT THE MORE RESEARCH ONLINE I'M FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING. PEOPLE ARE JUST DRIVING WITH ALONE THE HIGHWAY AND IT EXPLODES. MOST OF THEM HAVE THEIR SUNROOFS CLOSE BUT SOME HAVE HAD THEM SLIDE ALL THE WAY OPEN AND THEY HEAR SOMETHING, TO ONLY SLIDE IT CLOSE AND SEE IT IS SHATTERED. SO IF YOU HAVE A SUNROOF AND DRIVING WITH IT CLOSED ON THE HIGHWAY... MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THE COVER PULLED CLOSED. I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT THE GLASS COULD HAVE DONE TO THE GIRLS IF IT HAD BEEN OPEN. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 21, 2010
THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE UNABLE TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE THE LOCK IN A TIMELY MANNER, RESULTING IN DELAYS WITH INGRESS/EGRESS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Jun 29, 2010
I DRIVE A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I WILL HAVE THE WRENCH LIGHT COME ON. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR LOSES POWER. I TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT ABOUT A MINUTE AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. AT THAT TIME THE FAULT CLEARS AND THE CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'VE DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 25 TO 40 MILES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY, AND WITH THE CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILES, BUT UNDER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY I'M HAVING TO PAY TO FIND NOTHING WRONG. I KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR THOUGH. IT LOOKS LIKE OTHERS MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jun 8, 2010
CAR FREQUENTLY REVS ENGINE HIGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WHEN AT IDLE THE ENGINE REVS FROM 400-1100RPMS UNCONTROLLABLY. HAS OCCASIONALLY DROPPED ALL POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD DEALER SAID THE PCM IS BAD AND THAT THERE'S A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER SAYS FORD MOTOR WILL NOT RELEASE A REPLACEMENT PART. I'VE LOUDLY COMPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Suspension, Jun 3, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH TIRES ON THE DRIVER' SIDE WERE WEARING DUE TO AN UNKNOWN SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER SHE WOULD NEED FOUR NEW TIRES, STRUTS, AND OTHER UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,638 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Tires, May 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES AND REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 27, 2010
APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, DID NOT COME TO A STOP, AS THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE(MOTOR REVVED UP BEYOND 1500 RPM. GOT THE AR UNDER CONTROL, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. RESTARTED THE CAR 4 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE MOTOR WAS RACING. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD.I DID NOT TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO SEE HOW FAST THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE AS TRAFFIC WAS TOO CONGESTED. DID NOT WISH TO TAKE A CHANCE AND DRIVE THE CAR . I CALLED FOR AN EMERGENCY TOW AND HAD THE CAR DELIVERED TO MY FORD DEALER WHERE IT IS BEING LOOKED OVER. A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED ON 4/16/2009 THE DEALER AT THAT TIME COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. (ODI # 10328218). *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 18, 2010
APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 30MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGHER SPEED AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND STOOD ON THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AS I WENT ABOUT 6 FEET INTO THE INTERSECTION HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 07/2009. THIS IS FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. INFORMED DEALER AND CAR WILL BE LOOKED AT 04/22/2010. *TR
Tires, Apr 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM MONITOR WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE WARNING INDICATOR THE TIRES COMPLETELY DEFLATED AND NEARLY SHREDDED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM MONITOR OPERATED PROPERLY AND THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE MEASURED 15 PSI, ALTHOUGH THE ACCURATE PRESSURE SHOULD MEASURE BETWEEN 26 TO 27 PSI. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,274. THE CURRENT WAS MILEAGE WAS 33,512.
Air bags, Mar 17, 2010, crash, fire
WAS HIT IN FRONT END DOING 8,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. TOOK TO BOB THIBODEAU AND QUESTIONED AIR BAGS AS TO WHY AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME, BLACK BOX WOULD EXPLAIN. LEFT AT BOB THIBODEAU FOR REPAIRS TO BODY AND TWO WEEKS LATER, I CALLED TO SEE WHAT THE HOLD UP WAS, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING WELDED ON. BOB THIBODEAU SETTLED ONLY FOR THE COST OF MY LOAN, WITH NO EXPLANATION ABOUT AIRBAGS. FURTHERMORE, NUMEROUS CONTACTS WERE MADE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NO RESPONSE FROM THEM REGARDING THESE TACTICS. *TR
Suspension, Tires, Mar 12, 2010
NEAR MISS. I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 FORD FOCUS 7 MONTHS AGO; IT HAD 25 MILES ON IT. I HAVE PUT 18,000 MILES ON IT SO FAR, MOSTLY IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE BACK STARTS THUMPING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOUT 1000 MILES AGO SO TODAY I TAKE IT IN TO BILL KNIGHT FORD, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR (74133) , AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A REAR END ALIGNMENT AND 2 NEW TIRES. AMAZING ENOUGH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIRES IN STOCK- I'M GUESSING CAUSE EVERYONE THAT TRADED IN THE CLUNKERS 7 MONTHS AGO (TO BUY A FOCUS), ALREADY BEAT ME TO THE DEALER SHIP. IS IT JUST ME OR DOES THE $17,000 CAR HAVE PROBLEMS? *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 5, 2010, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO PERSONAL INJURY. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Mar 5, 2010
DRIVING OVER LEVEL PAVEMENT IN MY 2009 FORD FOCUS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT THE CURRENT SPEED (45MPH). I BRAKED, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. I DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHICH WAS EMPTY, AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE THEN SLOWED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. I THEN DROVE HOME AND CHECKED THE OPERATION, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
Steering, Wheels, Mar 2, 2010, crash
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
Visibility, Mar 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 BELIEVE SOMETHING HIT IT. I SAID NO. I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND 3 OTHER FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. ITS UNSAFE. I COULD HAVE HAD LITTLE PIECES OF GLASS IN MY EYE!!! OR IF I HAD A PASSENGER THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ALL THESE LITTLE SHARDS OF GLASS ON THEM. COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 18, 2010
ENGINE REPLACED IN NEW 2009 FORD FOCUS WITH ONLY 4,836 MILES. *TR
Air bags, Feb 1, 2010, crash
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 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.