NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
85 reportsClear category filter107,000 miles · Dec 20, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure
MY 2007 FORD FOCUS REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN WHO CAN PULL ON THE DOOR AND OPEN IT WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CAN NOT EVEN "CHILD LOCK" IT. IN ADDITION, ON TUESDAY NIGHT I WAS ROBBED OF ALL MY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THAT WERE IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR BECAUSE THE…
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MY 2007 FORD FOCUS REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN WHO CAN PULL ON THE DOOR AND OPEN IT WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CAN NOT EVEN "CHILD LOCK" IT. IN ADDITION, ON TUESDAY NIGHT I WAS ROBBED OF ALL MY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THAT WERE IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AND SOMEONE ACCESSED MY CAR THROUGH THE REAR DOOR AND POPPED THE TRUNK. THEY ALSO STOLE MY USPS RAIN GEAR AND IMPORTANT PAPERWORK I HAD IN MY CAR ( I AM A UNION REPRESENTATIVE). THERE IS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL A CHILD DIES FROM FALLING OUT ON THE FREEWAY TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489422
41,833 miles · Sep 4, 2012
Electrical System
AT 41,833 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT ON, THE RADIO WENT OFF AND 60 SECONDS LATER I LOST ALL POWER. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 0 TO 60. TOWED CAR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 45, 296 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED-LOST POWER WITHIN 60 SECONDS OF ABS LIGHT GOING ON THE FREEWAY. TOWED CAR. THE SH…
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AT 41,833 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT ON, THE RADIO WENT OFF AND 60 SECONDS LATER I LOST ALL POWER. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 0 TO 60. TOWED CAR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 45, 296 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED-LOST POWER WITHIN 60 SECONDS OF ABS LIGHT GOING ON THE FREEWAY. TOWED CAR. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND ALSO THE PCM HAD BURNED OUT. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND PCM. AT 45, 536 RED CHARGING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN, REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 45, 641 RED CHARGING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR IN. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. ALL REPAIRS DONE AT FORD DEALERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10473859
53,000 miles · Aug 26, 2012
Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT REMOVE FROM IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS BECAUSE I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472500
72,610 miles · Aug 8, 2012
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON WAY HOME FROM MISSOURI TO NORMAN, OK. REPLACED IT IN JOPLIN, MO. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AGAIN 7/17/12 ON MY WAY HOME FROM MO. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORMAN, OK AND GOT IT REPLACED ON 7/25. COST OVER $500. BATTERY LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN 8/3 AND I TOOK IT BACK IN. FORD DEALERSHIO STATED THEY COULD…
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ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON WAY HOME FROM MISSOURI TO NORMAN, OK. REPLACED IT IN JOPLIN, MO. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AGAIN 7/17/12 ON MY WAY HOME FROM MO. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORMAN, OK AND GOT IT REPLACED ON 7/25. COST OVER $500. BATTERY LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN 8/3 AND I TOOK IT BACK IN. FORD DEALERSHIO STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ALTERNATOR WITHIN 3 HOUR DRIVE AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY GOT ONE. THE GUY AT FORD INDICATED MAYBE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM SINCE HE COULDN'T FIND ONE. GOT IT REPLACED AGAIN 8/7/12. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469907
77,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40MPH AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40MPH AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO VERIFIED THE ALTERNATOR HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE AGAIN AND ADDED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/18/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10469404
61,000 miles · Jul 22, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT LOCK. DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL I WAS WITH A FRIEND AND HIS SON DRIVING DOWN OUR STREET AND MY FRIENDS SON OPEN THE REAR DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN IT SHOULD OF LOCKED WITH THE REST OF THE DOORS. CAN'T GET THE DOOR TO LOCK NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466918
53,887 miles · Jun 7, 2012
Electrical System
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2007 FORD FOCUS [XXX], IT'S A PRETTY GOOD LITTLE CAR. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT GOES OFF. THIS REPEATS. IT STARTED IN APRIL AND LASTED UNTIL THE CAR WOULDN'T START LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD D…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2007 FORD FOCUS [XXX], IT'S A PRETTY GOOD LITTLE CAR. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT GOES OFF. THIS REPEATS. IT STARTED IN APRIL AND LASTED UNTIL THE CAR WOULDN'T START LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, BILL UTTER FORD IN DENTON, TX. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD THE PREMIUMCARE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD AND LET ME KNOW IF IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY I'D STILL BE RESPONSIBLE AS FORD CONSIDERS THAT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND DETERMINED IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY FOR WHICH THEY CHARGED ME $246.61. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ALL RIGHT. UNTIL TUESDAY WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AND TURNED OFF. THIS TIME HOWEVER MY WIFE WAS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME AND SHE BROUGHT IT BACK. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM, BANKSTON AND THY EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT AND I PAID A $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE PREMIUMCARE WARRANTY. SO NOW, FOR ONE PROBLEM I'VE PAID $346.61, WHICH IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS IS NOT SO MUCH. BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME ABOUT $246.61 MORE THAN I NEEDED TO PAY. SO I CALLED BILL UTTER FORD AND WHILE THE MAN THAT ANSWERED WAS VERY NICE AND HAD REASONABLE CONCERNS ABOUT REFUNDING MY MONEY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAD REPLACED MANY ALTERNATORS IN FOCUSES (FOCII?) WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "FORD FOCUS INTERMITTENT BATTERY LIGHT" WHERE I RECEIVED 101,000 HITS. THAT IS MORE THAN A FEW. CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN A FEW. BILL UTTER SAYS THEY CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR IF IT TESTS OK UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL OR A SERVICE BULLETIN. 101,000 GOOGLE HITS APPARENTLY HASN'T WARRANTED A SERVICE BULLETIN. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10460934
78,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Electrical System
I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING AND MY CAR ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WHEN I WOULD PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE MECHANIC, THEY TOLD ME MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. THIS WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING COMMON AMONG 2007 FORD FOCUS OWNERS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS REPAIR SEEM PREMATURE BUT IT ALSO IS MUCH MORE EX…
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I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING AND MY CAR ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WHEN I WOULD PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE MECHANIC, THEY TOLD ME MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. THIS WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING COMMON AMONG 2007 FORD FOCUS OWNERS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS REPAIR SEEM PREMATURE BUT IT ALSO IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REPLACING MOST ALTERNATORS BECAUSE IT IS A DEALER ONLY PART. IF YOU THINK IT IS JUST ME HERE IS A WEBSITE WITH MORE COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/FOCUS/2007/ELECTRICAL/ALTERNATOR_DEAD.SHTML *JS
NHTSA ODI #10457077
30,630 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR HAD TOTAL FAILURE OF ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS FAILED, LIGHTS, RADIO, ANYTHING ELECTRICAL. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT STARTED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. TESTS INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. PRIOR TO THIS INCID…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR HAD TOTAL FAILURE OF ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS FAILED, LIGHTS, RADIO, ANYTHING ELECTRICAL. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT STARTED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. TESTS INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 30,630 MILES ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10450433
74,000 miles · Feb 16, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
PASSANGER REAR DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK WITH MANUAL OPERATION OR THE REMOTE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OUR KIDS CAN JUST OPEN THE REAR DOOR BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK FEATURE. THE LOCK IS JAMMED IN THE UNLOCK POSITION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2005 FOCUS DOOR LOCKS BUT NOT THE…
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PASSANGER REAR DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK WITH MANUAL OPERATION OR THE REMOTE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OUR KIDS CAN JUST OPEN THE REAR DOOR BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK FEATURE. THE LOCK IS JAMMED IN THE UNLOCK POSITION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2005 FOCUS DOOR LOCKS BUT NOT THE 2007? THE LATCH LOCK ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME FROM 2000-2007 FORD MODEL YEARS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE REPORTING THIS ISSUE ALL OVER THE WEB. I HOPE PEOPLE START REPORTING THIS MORE ON THIS SITE. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $500 TO REPLACE THE JAMMED UNLOCKED DOOR LATCH THAT REQUIRES THE COMPLETE LATCH ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. I'M ALSO NOT HAPPY THAT ANYONE CAN GET AT MY CHILD BY JUST PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE. IF YOU CAN'T LOCK THE REAR DOOR IT MAKES IT REAL EASY FOR SOMEONE TO HARM OUR CHILDREN. I ALSO CAN'T IMAGINE OUR CHILDREN UNKNOWINGLY PULLING ON THE HANDLE AND FALLING OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCK THE REAR DOOR. I CAN'T AFFORD THE $500 BUCKS-- OUR CHILDREN ARE AT RISK. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT RECALLING THIS ISSUE AND WILL SUFFER DEARLY FROM THE LAWSUITS THAT COME THEIR WAY. LAST FORD I EVER BUY PERIOD!!! PROTECT THE CONSUMER FORD!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448249
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO