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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

What owners actually said

229 reports
79,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Power Train

MY CAR LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER. I WAS TOLD MY THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN WHERE OTHER FORD MODELS MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND A WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN GRANTED. WHY NOT ON THIS VEHICL…

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MY CAR LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER. I WAS TOLD MY THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN WHERE OTHER FORD MODELS MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND A WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN GRANTED. WHY NOT ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596231

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2014
SteeringWheelsCrashInjury

AFTER BREAKING MY LEG AS A RESULT OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MISALIGNED WHEELS ON SNOWY/ICY ROADS AND THEREBY LOSING CONTROL (REPORT FILED), I HAVE GONE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAS ALLOWED ME TO VISUALLY INSPECT OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WHAT I HAVE FOUND HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN 4 …

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AFTER BREAKING MY LEG AS A RESULT OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MISALIGNED WHEELS ON SNOWY/ICY ROADS AND THEREBY LOSING CONTROL (REPORT FILED), I HAVE GONE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAS ALLOWED ME TO VISUALLY INSPECT OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WHAT I HAVE FOUND HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN 4 DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES. THE WHEELS ON A 2009 FORD FOCUS PHYSICALLY CAN NOT BE PUT INTO ALIGNMENT. THE ADJUSTER ARMS ARE TOO SHORT. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE WHEELS, WHICH "TOE IN", FIGHT AGAINST EACHOTHER FOR ROAD CONTROL. THIS CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, AND ON ICE AND SNOW WILL CAUSE A VERY RAPID LOSS OF CONTROL AT ANY SPEED. THE DEGREE OF THAT LOSS OF CONTROL WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF "TOE IN", BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY EVEN A LITTLE LOSS OF CONTROL ON A SLIPPERY ROAD IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE FACT THAT THE ADJUSTER ARMS ARE TOO SHORT TO PROVIDE TRUE ALIGNMENT INDICATES A DESIGN FLAW. THE FACT THAT IT CAN, AND HAS, CAUSED ACCIDENTS INDICATES THAT IT IS A DANGEROUS ONE. THE FACT THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED DRIVING ONE OF THESE DEATH TRAPS ON A SNOWY ROAD IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. PLEASE MAKE FORD DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594969

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2014
Electrical System

GOING 75 MPH WHEN CAR LOST POWER. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED SEEMS TO WORK FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LUCKILY IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I'M GOING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE IS LESS TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593982

37,000 miles · May 10, 2014
Steering

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK LEADING TO LOUD NOISES WHEN RUNNING CAR. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HASN'T DONE JACK ABOUT IT FOR ABOUT 5 OR MORE YEARS. THERE IS EITHER A PROBLEM WITH THE O-RING OR POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FOUND THERE COULD BE MORE ISSUES LIKE THE POWER STEERING FAILING. A RECALL IS NEEDED ASA…

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POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK LEADING TO LOUD NOISES WHEN RUNNING CAR. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HASN'T DONE JACK ABOUT IT FOR ABOUT 5 OR MORE YEARS. THERE IS EITHER A PROBLEM WITH THE O-RING OR POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FOUND THERE COULD BE MORE ISSUES LIKE THE POWER STEERING FAILING. A RECALL IS NEEDED ASAP!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587596

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…

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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

62,340 miles · Apr 30, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPED WORKING.(THANKFULLY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME.) I COASTED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR REMAINED IDLING, HOWEVER I STILL HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES A…

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AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPED WORKING.(THANKFULLY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME.) I COASTED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR REMAINED IDLING, HOWEVER I STILL HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS OFF AND I ONCE AGAIN HAD THROTTLE CONTROL. I EASED THE CAR BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY BUT NOTICED THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY HOLDING A CONSTANT AND STEADY SPEED. THERE WERE INTERMITTENT SUBTLE SURGES AND PAUSES IN THE SPEED. ONCE I REACHED MY DESTINATION I HAD A FORD DEALERSHIP RUN A DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND IT WAS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE SENSOR. I HAD CONTACTED A NUMBER OF NATIONAL PARTS SUPPLIERS AND THEY COULD NOT SELL ME JUST THE SENSOR BUT WOULD HAVE TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY HAD A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. SINCE REPLACING THE THROTTLE SENSOR I HAVE PUT OVER 1200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD TO THIS POINT NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585677

26,140 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

I HAVE A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING A WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON AND PRESSING ON THE GAS THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. WHEN TAKING IT TO MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE P2111 AND THE THROTTLE CAP WAS STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM AND THE ESCAPE HAD THEM RECALLED ALREADY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 26,000 …

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I HAVE A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING A WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON AND PRESSING ON THE GAS THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. WHEN TAKING IT TO MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE P2111 AND THE THROTTLE CAP WAS STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM AND THE ESCAPE HAD THEM RECALLED ALREADY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS A 3 YEAR WARRANTY UNFORTUNATELY NOT COVERED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585562

15,000 miles · Apr 26, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING...AND WENT OFF..GRADUALLY CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED...BOB RIDINGS FORD HERE IN DECATUR SAID THEY COULD NOT CHECK IT UNLESS THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYED ON...WHICH NEVER HAPPENED...GRADUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN...AND STALLED DOWN AT A …

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WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING...AND WENT OFF..GRADUALLY CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED...BOB RIDINGS FORD HERE IN DECATUR SAID THEY COULD NOT CHECK IT UNLESS THE WRENCH LIGHT STAYED ON...WHICH NEVER HAPPENED...GRADUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN...AND STALLED DOWN AT A PLACE I COULD NOT GET OFF ROAD TO RESTART...LUCKILY NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. NEXT THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON...BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE GARAGE TO BE CHECKED, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF...SAID PALMER FROM PALMER TIRE AND AUTO CHECKED IT AND GOT ONE CODE WHICH HE TRIED TO GET FORD TO HELP HIM WITH..BEFORE HE COULD HEAR BACK (IF EVER HE WOULD HAVE) I TOOK IT TO BOB RIDINGS IN TAYLORVILLE (I HAD BAD EXPERIENCE WITH ONE IN DECATUR)AND THEY CALLED SAID TO GET HIS DIAGNOSIS..AND DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT BOTH HAD REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL ON OTHER FOCUS CARS WHICH FORD MOTOR DID NOT RECOMMEND DOING! THIS COST ME $569.10 WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY IF IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2011; AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AS IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC., I THINK FORD OWES ME...AND PROBABLY OTHERS...AND IS A PROBLEM WARRANTING A RECALL! I GUESSED AT MILEAGE AND TIME BUT KNOW THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THE YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT ONLY HAD 9000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT...MAKING IT HAVE AROUND 15,000 WHEN PROBLEM BEGAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585034

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2014
Suspension

VEHICLE HAS MUCH GREATER TIRE WEAR THAN NORMAL ON REAR TIRES. THIS IS A RESULT OF THE WRONG CAMBER ON THE REAR WHEELS OF THIS CAR!! FORD MANUFACTURED IT THIS WAY!!! THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS WITH NEW CONTROL ARMS, WHICH FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST. WITH THE WRONG CAMBER, EACH REAR TIRE ACQUIRES CUPPING EIT…

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VEHICLE HAS MUCH GREATER TIRE WEAR THAN NORMAL ON REAR TIRES. THIS IS A RESULT OF THE WRONG CAMBER ON THE REAR WHEELS OF THIS CAR!! FORD MANUFACTURED IT THIS WAY!!! THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS WITH NEW CONTROL ARMS, WHICH FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST. WITH THE WRONG CAMBER, EACH REAR TIRE ACQUIRES CUPPING EITHER ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE TREAD ON THE TIRE. I HAVE SEVERE CUPPING ON THE INSIDE LR AND MODERATE CUPPING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TREAD ON THE RR. THIS WEAR PATTERN PRODUCES AN OUT OF BALANCE CONDITION AND AS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED, I FEEL THAT I'VE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT !! *TT

NHTSA ODI #10582866

67,000 miles · Apr 6, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY SAY PROBLEM IS WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577734

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.