IllustrationDriving on hiway and vehicle shifted gears. Would no shift normally afterwards. Tried several times. Left myself and granddaughter in hiway in danger. Had local mechanic inspect the vehicle. Was told defective shifting linkage. Has occurred multiple times.
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →204Owner complaints
Model-year median: 864.5
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2006 Ford Focus
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 204 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 47 reports
- Air Bags: 39 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 25 reports
- Structure: 15 reports
- Latches/locks/linkages: 14 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
320–25K
3725–50K
3650–75K
2775–100K
31100–150K
10150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
12 reportsShifting linkage, was driving and went to shift into next gear and nothing. Clutch engaged, shifter goes in slot but doesn't stay it won't lock into gear, further examination found rubber clip and plastic clip from linkage broken and had fallen to topside of transmission.
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE RPMS SKY ROCKETED. TURNS OUT IT WAS A BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CABLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO GET "STUCK". AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS ALSO BOGGING OUT AND SHUTTING ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THROWIN…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE RPMS SKY ROCKETED. TURNS OUT IT WAS A BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CABLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO GET "STUCK". AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS ALSO BOGGING OUT AND SHUTTING ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THROWING A P071? CODE WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH O2 LEVELS.THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A BROKEN "BREATHER HOSE" WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR INTAKE. BOTH PARTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN. AFTER REPLACING THE "BREATHER HOSE", CCM THROTTLE CABLE, AND ALSO AN O2 SENSOR THE OVERALL COST FOR PARTS WAS $300 AND LABOR WAS $300. THANKFULLY NO INJURIES.
TAMARA RECALL. MY OUTSIDE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE BECAUSE THE MECHANISM IS PLASTIC. NO ONE CAN FIX IT CORRECTLY AND IT KEEPS BREAKING SO NOW I CAN'T GET MY CAR INSPECTION DONE.
MY KEY WONT WORK ANYMORE. CAR WONT START. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION. WHEN I WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR IT JUST WOULDLN'T START UP THE CAR. ON THE DASHBOARD THE CAR AND LOCK LIGHT CAME ON AND KEPT FLASHING. I TRIED DIFFERENT WAYS AND NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME
CABIN FILTER - FILTER IS EXCLUDED IN THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC WINDOWS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY . AIRBAG- WAS NEVER INSPECTED BY DEALER
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PASSENGERS. FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY KNOWING THAT YOUR PASSENGERS ARE SAFELY SECURED AND NOT AT RISK FOR ACCIDENTALLY OPENING DOOR AND THRUST OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DOOR WAS ACIDENTALLY OPEN WHILE IN MOTION.
KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION DUE TO BROKEN PLASTIC RING ON GEAR SHIFT IT BROKE IN SEVERAL PIECES AND WILL NOT GO UP SINCE THE WHOLE PLASTIC SLEEVE IS BROKEN TOO SHIFT WILL NOT GO IN PARK ALL THE WAY SO KEY IS STUCK I HAVE TO LEAVE KEY IN IGNITION
THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE. THE DOOR WILL LATCH, BUT THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT CAN OPEN AN UNLOCKED DOOR WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
GAS PEDAL STICKS. *TR
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.