NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
391 reports157,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructureCrashInjury
MY CAR WAS HIT HEAD ON, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FELLED TO HOLD AND ALL THE SLACK CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HIT THE DASH. THE AIR BAGS FELLED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT OR WORSE, COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND WOULD GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE IN SIX WEEKS. RECEIV…
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MY CAR WAS HIT HEAD ON, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FELLED TO HOLD AND ALL THE SLACK CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HIT THE DASH. THE AIR BAGS FELLED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT OR WORSE, COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND WOULD GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE IN SIX WEEKS. RECEIVED A PHONE CALL A FEW DAYS LATER TELLING ME TO WORK WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET IT REPAIRED. I ASKED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR DRIVING THIS CAR FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH AN DEFECTED SEAT BELT WITH I PURCHASED NEW. FORD SHOWED NO INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592960
76,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Visibility
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE KNOB TO CHANGE YOUR AIR SETTING TO DEFROST BROKE, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSE MY WINDSHIELD TO ICE UP AND FOR ME TO GO IN THE DITCH.I TOOK THE CAR INTO FORD 3 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED UNTIL THEY TOLD ME THE MAIN BOX THAT CHANGES WHICH DIRECTION THE AIR COMES OUT WAS BROKEN ($2,000 FIX) AND THE MECHANIC SA…
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I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND THE KNOB TO CHANGE YOUR AIR SETTING TO DEFROST BROKE, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSE MY WINDSHIELD TO ICE UP AND FOR ME TO GO IN THE DITCH.I TOOK THE CAR INTO FORD 3 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED UNTIL THEY TOLD ME THE MAIN BOX THAT CHANGES WHICH DIRECTION THE AIR COMES OUT WAS BROKEN ($2,000 FIX) AND THE MECHANIC SAID ITS COMMON ON FOCUS'S. I ASKED WHY IT WASN'T RECALL AND THEY SAID ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I RESPONDED "SO YOUR WINDSHIELD FREEZING OVER AND GOING IN THE DITCH BECAUSE OF IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE?" THEN HE AGREED, BUT I GUESS FORD DOESN'T STILL. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10592383
40,000 miles · May 6, 2014
Structure
I HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE HANDLE WOULD "STICK OR CATCH". I WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE AND TRY AGAIN, SOMETIMES THIS WOULD SOMETIMES I HAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED ALONG WITH ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS RESOLVED. I WAS TOLD DOOR HAD NO PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PE…
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I HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE HANDLE WOULD "STICK OR CATCH". I WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE AND TRY AGAIN, SOMETIMES THIS WOULD SOMETIMES I HAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED ALONG WITH ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS RESOLVED. I WAS TOLD DOOR HAD NO PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED ON AND OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. THIS PAST SUNDAY I WENT TO ENTER CAR AND ALMOST PULLED DOOR HANDLE OFF AS IT SEEMED TO RELEASE FROM EQUIPMENT IT WAS ATTACHED TO. I NOW CANNOT OPEN THAT DOOR AND HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH PASSENGER DOOR. MILEAGE ATTACHED IS APPROXIMATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10586731
36,000 miles · Apr 10, 2014
EngineStructureCrashInjury
MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT, HE WAS THE THIRD CAR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRST CAR CLAIMS THAT ANOTHER CAR AHEAD OF HER STOPPED SHORT AND TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE SECOND CAR TO HIT HER IN THE BACK. MY SON COULDN'T STOP IMMEDIATELY SO HE HIT THE SECOND CAR IN THE BACK., THEN THE FOU…
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MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT, HE WAS THE THIRD CAR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRST CAR CLAIMS THAT ANOTHER CAR AHEAD OF HER STOPPED SHORT AND TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE SECOND CAR TO HIT HER IN THE BACK. MY SON COULDN'T STOP IMMEDIATELY SO HE HIT THE SECOND CAR IN THE BACK., THEN THE FOURTH CAR HIT [XXX] ON THE BACK WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO DENT THE WHOLE HOOD AND BROKE THE RADIATOR AND CAVE THE FRONT BUMPER INTO THE MOTOR. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. MY SON HAD TO GO IN THE AMBULANCE SINCE HIS CHEST WAS HURTING AND HIS NECK GOT STIFF AND SORE THAT HE COULDN'T MOVE IT. HOWEVER I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T ENGAGE EVEN WHEN MY SONS CAR GOT HIT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO DENT HIS WHOLE FRONT END. PLEASE ADVICE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578940
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
CPSC:I1430512A. 2007 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR REV'S UP AND ACCELERATED WITH HER OUT FOOT BEING ON THE GAS. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO APPLY BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE, IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10578731
94,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Air BagsEngineStructureCrashFireInjury
MY CAR WAS IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS WE HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON GOING AT LEAST 50 MPH. I WASN'T THE DRIVER. AT IMPACT BOTH THE DRIVER AND MYSELF HAD OUR HEADS CRASH INTO THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER SMASHED HIS HEAD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT THE AREA ABOVE THE GLOVE BOX. MY HEAD ALSO HIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE CAR …
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MY CAR WAS IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS WE HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON GOING AT LEAST 50 MPH. I WASN'T THE DRIVER. AT IMPACT BOTH THE DRIVER AND MYSELF HAD OUR HEADS CRASH INTO THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER SMASHED HIS HEAD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT THE AREA ABOVE THE GLOVE BOX. MY HEAD ALSO HIT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT WITH AN ACCIDENT OF THAT MAGNITUDE, NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. ALL 4 PASSENGERS RECEIVED MULTIPLE SEVERE INJURIES. I'M AWARE THAT IN SOME SITUATIONS AIR BAGS CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE, BUT IN THIS CASE I'M SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN US VIOLENTLY SLAMMING OUR HEADS AND FACES ONTO THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL. I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN SEEING WHY THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T CONSTRICT US FROM MOVING THAT FAR FORWARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10577297
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2014
SuspensionTires
I HAVE A 2007 FORD FOCUS, I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TIRES 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE MECHANIC SAID ALL FOCUS EAT REAR TIRES. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THANKS FORD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10576407
80,000 miles · Mar 22, 2014
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO FASTEN PROPERLY. IT SEEMS TO CLICK INTO PLACE, AND THERE'S NO WARNING LIGHT OR CHIME, BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT COMES LOOSE AGAIN AFTERWARD WHILE I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES I CAN TELL THAT SOMETHING SEEMED MAYBE OFF -- I'LL GIVE IT A TUG, AND MAYBE HALF OF THOSE TIMES I HAD A SUSPICION, IT PO…
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THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO FASTEN PROPERLY. IT SEEMS TO CLICK INTO PLACE, AND THERE'S NO WARNING LIGHT OR CHIME, BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT COMES LOOSE AGAIN AFTERWARD WHILE I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES I CAN TELL THAT SOMETHING SEEMED MAYBE OFF -- I'LL GIVE IT A TUG, AND MAYBE HALF OF THOSE TIMES I HAD A SUSPICION, IT POPS FREE. IT'S HAPPENED PROBABLY ABOUT 10 TIMES IN THE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR (SINCE 2010), MOST RECENTLY TODAY (3/22/14), SO IT'S NORMALLY FINE. AND IT ALWAYS GOES IN FINE AGAIN AFTERWARD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER BUCKLES ARE ALSO AFFECTED, BUT I'M NORMALLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10574202
100,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Power Train
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARKING WHEN MY GEAR SHIFTER FELL APART IN MY HAND. LITERALLY THREW UP A SPRING AND THE BUTTON POPPED OFF I MANAGED TO GET IT ACROSS THE STREET TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTSWHERE THE WORKER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO KIND OF FIX IT FOR ME. I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT BEING ON THE ROAD AND IT FALLING APART AGAI…
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I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARKING WHEN MY GEAR SHIFTER FELL APART IN MY HAND. LITERALLY THREW UP A SPRING AND THE BUTTON POPPED OFF I MANAGED TO GET IT ACROSS THE STREET TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTSWHERE THE WORKER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO KIND OF FIX IT FOR ME. I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT BEING ON THE ROAD AND IT FALLING APART AGAIN THIS IS SO UNSAFE. THANK YOU [XXX] THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS HERE ON THE SAME THING. ALSO THIS CAR HAS HESITATED WHEN DRIVING AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. FRIGHTENING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568158
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, HEAD, AND SPINAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, HEAD, AND SPINAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10564414
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