← New search

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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
60,000 miles · Jan 5, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

EVER SINCE WE TURNED OVER SIXTY THOUSAND MILES ON OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2009 WE HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHERE OUR CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL STOP WORKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS: PULL OVER, SHIFT INTO PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN. AT THIS POINT T…

Read full complaint

EVER SINCE WE TURNED OVER SIXTY THOUSAND MILES ON OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2009 WE HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHERE OUR CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND THE GAS PEDAL WILL STOP WORKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS: PULL OVER, SHIFT INTO PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN. AT THIS POINT THE CEL WILL GO OFF AND IT WILL BE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CAR STALLED OR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WAS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS DAMP, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS WEATHER RELATED. WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WE DROPPED THE CAR OFF SO THAT THE MECHANIC COULD DO A TEST DRIVE. AFTER AN ENTIRE DAY OF DRIVING, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, OR PULL A DIAGNOSTIC CODE SO THEY GAVE OUR KEYS BACK AND SAID WE CANT DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU. THEY THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE NEXT TIME OUR CAR STALLS, IDLE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DO NOT TURN IT OFF. REALLY!? THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE TAKING A 500 MILE ROAD TRIP AND EXPERIENCED THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN AFTER ABOUT 250 MILES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE IN TRAVELING TO OUR DESTINATION AND ONCE COMING HOME. THE CAR SHUT DOWN ONE TIME ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 70 MPH, HAVING TO MAKE A DOUBLE LANE CHANGE AND PULL OVER TO AVOID GETTING HIT. THE OTHER WHILE EXITING THE EXPRESSWAY SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AND PULLING ONTO A CROSSING ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670186

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

FORD FOCUS 2009 APRIL 25, 2014 I HAD APPOINTMENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS OIL IN MY SPARK PLUG WELLS AND I NEEDED A VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED. TOTAL BILL $376.65 THEN 5 DAYS LATER ON APRIL 30TH, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IT WOULD NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND WAS CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING REALLY BAD. T…

Read full complaint

FORD FOCUS 2009 APRIL 25, 2014 I HAD APPOINTMENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS OIL IN MY SPARK PLUG WELLS AND I NEEDED A VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED. TOTAL BILL $376.65 THEN 5 DAYS LATER ON APRIL 30TH, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IT WOULD NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND WAS CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING REALLY BAD. THE THROTTLE CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CHECKED THE MILES I HAD DRIVEN AND IT WAS EXACTLY 25 MILES SINCE THE OIL/TUNEUP/GASKET CHANGE. I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT OVER. IT WOULD HARDLY RUN SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THEN THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AT AN ESTIMATED $800 TO FIX IT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND IT WOULD BE A FEW DAYS. MAY 5, 2014, DEALERSHIP CALLED TO INFORM ME THE HOUSING FOR THE THROTTLE BODY IS ALSO BAD AND IT WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $54 TO REPLACE THAT WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586541

55,000 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO RESPONSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STEP …

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO RESPONSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STEP ON THE GAS BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND THE THROTTLE WAS ACTING NORMALLY. SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT, OVER A YEAR AGO, THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX MORE TIMES WITH THE LAST ONE BEING ON 11/14/11. I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 15 GOING NORTH UP THE HILL FROM BAKER, CA WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TRYING TO DODGE THE OTHER MOTORISTS AND THE BIG RIGS TO EVEN GET TO THE SHOULDER WAS VERY SCARY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. AS OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE STATED THERE IS NO CODE LEFT ON THE COMPUTER AFTER I RESTART THE CAR SO MY MECHANIC WANTS TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAPPENS, BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. I CAN'T BE WITHOUT MY CAR FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME SO I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436590

39,253 miles · Sep 25, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD FOCUS ON THE HIGHWAY, RUNNING APPROX. 55 MPH. ALL AT ONCE A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR, AND MY CAR DECELERATED TO APPROX. 10 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE CAR RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITHOUT WARNING. I TO…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD FOCUS ON THE HIGHWAY, RUNNING APPROX. 55 MPH. ALL AT ONCE A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR, AND MY CAR DECELERATED TO APPROX. 10 MPH. I PULLED IT OFF OF THE ROAD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE CAR RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITHOUT WARNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE WRENCH LIGHT WASN'T ON THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. YESTERDAY, THE CAR DID IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCE TO HAVE THE CODE READ, AND WAS TOLD IT CODED OUT A (TAC) THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL FAILURE. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ALSO DRIVE FOCUS' AND THEY ALL TELL ME THAT THEIRS IS DOING THE SAME THING. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GET FORD TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE ALSO HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THE MUSTANG, F-150, AND F-250 TO NAME A FEW. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427120

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2011
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

2009 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TICKING NOISE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ENGINE/EXHAUST NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, SOME FORD VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT A TICKING/PINGING NOISE FROM THE HOT EXHAUST AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THE EXHAUST COOLS DOWN, WH…

Read full complaint

2009 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TICKING NOISE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ENGINE/EXHAUST NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, SOME FORD VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT A TICKING/PINGING NOISE FROM THE HOT EXHAUST AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THE EXHAUST COOLS DOWN, WHICH IS DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING DURING HEATING AND COOLING CYCLES. THE TICKING/PINGING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. THE BRAKE FLUID LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE FLUID WAS LOW. THE TIRES WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ROUND, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TPMS LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOW PRESSURE IN ONE OF THE TIRES. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10411074

17,500 miles · Mar 5, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING OVER LEVEL PAVEMENT IN MY 2009 FORD FOCUS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT THE CURRENT SPEED (45MPH). I BRAKED, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. I DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHICH WAS EMPTY, AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE THEN SLOWED TO NORMA…

Read full complaint

DRIVING OVER LEVEL PAVEMENT IN MY 2009 FORD FOCUS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT THE CURRENT SPEED (45MPH). I BRAKED, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. I DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHICH WAS EMPTY, AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE THEN SLOWED TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. I THEN DROVE HOME AND CHECKED THE OPERATION, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317010

4,836 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE REPLACED IN NEW 2009 FORD FOCUS WITH ONLY 4,836 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311721

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.