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2006 Ford Focus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Focus are lower than the model-year median of 864.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

173 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports

What owners actually said

204 reports
12,356 miles · Oct 11, 2008
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT END COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245135

34,400 miles · Sep 19, 2008
Electrical System

2006 FORD FOCUS ZX4 MODEL SES. IGNITION KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. CAR WILL START BUT KEY WILL NOT COME OUT. CAR CAN BE PUT INTO GEAR WITH SWITCH IN OFF POSITION. SAFETY PROBLEM CAR HAS 35,000 MILES. DEALER DID WARRANTY REPAIR TODAY - WE ARE PICKING THE CAR UP TONIGHT SO I DON'T KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE REPAIR YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242956

27,500 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Suspension

27500 MILES, 2006 FOCUS ZX3, I NOTICED AS GOING OVER SPEEDBUMPS AND PARKING INTO PARKING SPOT, MY CAR MADE CREAKING NOISES AS IF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP AND IT TOOK THEM A WHILE AND EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND RUST ON THE SPRINGS. THEY FILED OFF THE RUST AND PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER…

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27500 MILES, 2006 FOCUS ZX3, I NOTICED AS GOING OVER SPEEDBUMPS AND PARKING INTO PARKING SPOT, MY CAR MADE CREAKING NOISES AS IF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP AND IT TOOK THEM A WHILE AND EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND RUST ON THE SPRINGS. THEY FILED OFF THE RUST AND PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER, NO MORE CREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238507

48,665 miles · Aug 7, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2006 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON AND WOULD NOT COME OUT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP I FOUND OUT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BRAKE/SHIFT INTERLOCK HAD BOTH FAILED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN IN FORD FOCUS CARS. I HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS…

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MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2006 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON AND WOULD NOT COME OUT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP I FOUND OUT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BRAKE/SHIFT INTERLOCK HAD BOTH FAILED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN IN FORD FOCUS CARS. I HAD BOTH PARTS REPLACED, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS NOT QUITE THREE YEARS OLD YET. THE PARTS ARE WORKING FINE NOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED THOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237390

12,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Suspension

BOUGHT CAR WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT IN 2007. NOTED VIBRATION AND PULL TO THE RIGHT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGNMENT AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS PERFECT. AFTER ANOTHER MONTH AND HAVING TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES DUE TO BALD SPOTS, TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOWED ME THE COMPUTER PRINT OUT AN…

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BOUGHT CAR WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT IN 2007. NOTED VIBRATION AND PULL TO THE RIGHT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGNMENT AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS PERFECT. AFTER ANOTHER MONTH AND HAVING TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES DUE TO BALD SPOTS, TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOWED ME THE COMPUTER PRINT OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT. SECOND SET OF TIRES NOW PREMATURELY WEARING AND CAR CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. TIRES ROTATED EVERY 6,000 MILES AND ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. LIKE THE CAR BUT FEEL UNSAFE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231176

73,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Electrical System

2006 FORD FOCUS ZX3 SE REAR HATCH DOOR WIRING ---BROKEN WIRES AND WIRE INSULATION. FIRST STARTED WITH PLATE LIGHTS BLOWING OUT. NOW ALL PARKING LIGHTS,TAILLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ARE OUT---BLOWING FUSES!!! OUT OF CURIOSITY I PULLED DOWN THE RUBBER BOOT OF THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE REAR HATCH DOOR AND FOUND BROKEN WIRES AND INSUL…

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2006 FORD FOCUS ZX3 SE REAR HATCH DOOR WIRING ---BROKEN WIRES AND WIRE INSULATION. FIRST STARTED WITH PLATE LIGHTS BLOWING OUT. NOW ALL PARKING LIGHTS,TAILLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ARE OUT---BLOWING FUSES!!! OUT OF CURIOSITY I PULLED DOWN THE RUBBER BOOT OF THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE REAR HATCH DOOR AND FOUND BROKEN WIRES AND INSULATION. WENT TO FORD WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, FOUND NO RECALLS AT ALL FOR MY CAR!!!!! UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM FROM 8 YEARS AGO NOV - DEC OF 2000!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230297

13,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, MY VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. ON THE 20TH OF APRIL, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS; TOP SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. AS A RESULT, WE CHOSE TO RETURN HOME IMMEDIATELY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. ON THE 21ST, AROUND 10:15 A.M., I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE V…

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ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, MY VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. ON THE 20TH OF APRIL, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS; TOP SPEED WAS AROUND 20 MPH. AS A RESULT, WE CHOSE TO RETURN HOME IMMEDIATELY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. ON THE 21ST, AROUND 10:15 A.M., I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES, THE ENGINE BEGAN CUTTING OUT COMPLETELY AND THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR. I GOT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND PULLED INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. I FOUND A NEARBY STORE FROM WHICH I COULD CALL HOME. WHEN I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE DUE TO SMOKE. I RETURNED TO THE STORE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. BY THE TIME I STEPPED BACK OUTSIDE, THERE WERE VISIBLE FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225441

60,253 miles · Apr 11, 2008
Power Train

FORD 2006, FOCUS ZXW, WHEN PARKING THE CAR, THE MOVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICK TO PARK DOES NOT LOCK IN ALL THE TIME. IT DOES SEEMS TO PARK, CAR DOES NOT ROLL, BUT TRANS MISSION STICK EASILY MOVE AWAY AND FLL INTO OTHER GEARS, AND THE CAR MOVES. WHEN IT DOES NOT LOCK UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. MOST OF THE TIME AFTER ABOU…

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FORD 2006, FOCUS ZXW, WHEN PARKING THE CAR, THE MOVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICK TO PARK DOES NOT LOCK IN ALL THE TIME. IT DOES SEEMS TO PARK, CAR DOES NOT ROLL, BUT TRANS MISSION STICK EASILY MOVE AWAY AND FLL INTO OTHER GEARS, AND THE CAR MOVES. WHEN IT DOES NOT LOCK UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. MOST OF THE TIME AFTER ABOUT UP TO 3 MIN LATER YOU HEAR A TING SOUND THEN IT LOCKS. ONCE IT LOCKS KEY CAN BE REMOVED. I ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2003 FORD FOCUS 2 YEARS EARLIER, DEALER REPLACED THE LOCK THEN IT WOULD RELEASE THE KEY, EVERY TIME I PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224250

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK INSIDE OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WILL STAY STUCK FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN ONE DAY IT WILL JUST COME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224149

45,074 miles · Apr 3, 2008
Tires

ONE TIRE RUPTURED HOLE IN SIDEWALL RESULTING IN FLAT DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. TOOK TIRE IN TO BE REPLACED. NONE OF OTHER TIRES REVIEWED BY TIRE CENTER. INDEPENDENT COMPANY FOUND REMAINING TIRES TO HAVE "BUBBLED" SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES FROM SAME BATCH. TIRES ARE ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD AND TIRE CENTER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BA…

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ONE TIRE RUPTURED HOLE IN SIDEWALL RESULTING IN FLAT DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. TOOK TIRE IN TO BE REPLACED. NONE OF OTHER TIRES REVIEWED BY TIRE CENTER. INDEPENDENT COMPANY FOUND REMAINING TIRES TO HAVE "BUBBLED" SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES FROM SAME BATCH. TIRES ARE ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD AND TIRE CENTER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BATCH IS DEFECTIVE. (HOW COULD ALL FOUR TIRES GO BAD IN TWO MONTHS?) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223224

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.