IllustrationALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN...CANNOT GET INTO THE CAR UNLESS I LEAVE A WINDOW DOWN...ON RAINY DAYS I HAVE TO LEAVE BACK SEATS DOWN AND GET IN THROUGH THE TRUNK OF VEHICLE...FROM 2015-2016...CAR WAS STATIONARY...I WOULD TRY TO OPEN DOOR THE HANDLE WOULD BREAK YOU CAN THE PIECE THAT BREAKS FALL ON THE INSIDE OF DOOR
2009 Ford Focus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Focus are lower than the model-year median of 864.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
460–25K
5325–50K
3150–75K
3175–100K
23100–150K
5150K+
189 reports with mileage · 40 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
229 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE IDLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE ONLY IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE IDLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE ONLY IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHT DIMMED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BY PASSERS IN OTHER VEHICLES ALERTED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BY PASSERS IN OTHER VEHICLES ALERTED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY LOSING THROTTLE CONTROL DOWN TO 35 MILES AN HOUR THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND. YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT AND WAVY CAR WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. COASTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR 10 MINUTES. STARTED CAR AND TESTED PEDAL. EASED BACK ON FREEWAY. SCARED TO D…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY LOSING THROTTLE CONTROL DOWN TO 35 MILES AN HOUR THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND. YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT AND WAVY CAR WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. COASTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR 10 MINUTES. STARTED CAR AND TESTED PEDAL. EASED BACK ON FREEWAY. SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER IN 2009. THE CAR STEERING WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE ROAD. I WAS SWITCHING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ROAD WAS UNEVEN AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO STOP WORKING. ALSO THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS A RENTAL CAR.
THE THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEGUN GOING OFF ( TWICE NOW) BUT ONCE TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON IT DOES NOT COME ON. WHEN IT COMES ON IT LOOSES POWER AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. IT HAS ONLY DONE IT AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND GOING (MOVING) AT A NORMAL PACE OF ABOUT 45 TO 55 MILES AND HOUR. IT HAS NOT GONE OFF AT A TIM…
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THE THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEGUN GOING OFF ( TWICE NOW) BUT ONCE TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON IT DOES NOT COME ON. WHEN IT COMES ON IT LOOSES POWER AND THERE ARE ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. IT HAS ONLY DONE IT AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND GOING (MOVING) AT A NORMAL PACE OF ABOUT 45 TO 55 MILES AND HOUR. IT HAS NOT GONE OFF AT A TIME THAT ALLOWS IT TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A PROFESSIONAL AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO REGISTER WHEN HOOKED TO THE COMPUTER,. THE LIGHT IS NO LONGER ON AND DOES NOT NOT ILLUMINATE IN AROUND TOWN DRIVING.
OKAY THE VEHICLE IS 2009 BUT ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES. SOMETIMES I HAVE DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TRYING TO START CAR. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO TRY AND JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. YESTERDAY I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF , TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR AND THE ALARM OR WARNING WOUL…
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OKAY THE VEHICLE IS 2009 BUT ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES. SOMETIMES I HAVE DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TRYING TO START CAR. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO TRY AND JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. YESTERDAY I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF , TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR AND THE ALARM OR WARNING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, SHUT THE DOOR, IT STILL WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, SO I PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION TO TURN IT ON THEN OFF AGAIN, AND THAT WORKED BUT I STILL HAVE OCCASIONAL ISSUES WITH STARTING THE CAR.
DRIVING AT 45 MPH SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION, WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN BUT EXTREMELY SCARY. THEN YOU REGAINED ACCELERATION AND CONTINUED ONLY TO LOSE IT REPEATEDLY. TOOK CAR TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN, BUT THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM.
THE BACK DOOR LOOKS STAY LOCKED, YOU CAN NO LONGER UNLOCK WITH KEY POD NOR MANUALLY ON THE INSIDE. BACK SEAT IS USELESS TO ME NOW. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS THINGS LIKE CHANGING FUSES SEEING IF I COULD FORCE UNLOCK. BUT I DON'T USE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS SO DON' T THINK THAT IS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE ON THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,700.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.