DEFECTFILE
Vehicles / Ford / Focus / 2009

2009 Ford Focus

229 federal complaints (323 component records) · 0 recall campaigns on file · 16 service bulletins
See all 20 model years of the Ford Focus →
Engine
2.0L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
FWD
EPA economy
24 city / 35 hwy
Federal complaints
229
Recall campaigns
0
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Electrical system
47
Power train
39
Speed control
33
Suspension
25
Engine & cooling
24
Wheels
22
Air bags
22
Latches & locks
18
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 18 complaints01 years old: 32 complaints2 years old: 25 complaints3 years old: 21 complaints4 years old: 25 complaints5 years old: 31 complaints56 years old: 20 complaints7 years old: 13 complaints8 years old: 13 complaints9 years old: 13 complaints10 years old: 8 complaints1011 years old: 4 complaints12 years old: 2 complaints13 years old: 0 complaints14 years old: 2 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 1 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 228 of 229 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 37 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 44 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 33 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 22 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 25 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 8 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 10 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 6 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 2 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 1 complaints200,000+ miles: 1 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 189 of 229 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Electrical system

47 complaint records
"THIRD TIME HAVING A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH! CAR WILL TURN ON BUT WON'T START, COSTING MORE TO FIX THAN THE CAR IS WORTH...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →

Power train

39 complaint records
"THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HESITATE SHIFTING THEN WOULDNT GO PAST THIRD SHIFT AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →

Speed control

33 complaint records4 crash reports
"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..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
SSM 54601
Feb 2026
Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code.
SSM 52476
Apr 2024
EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery.
SSM 47009
Jan 2018
EquipmentThe Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE).
SSM 46332
Jan 2017
EquipmentREPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET SYNC/NAVIGATION KIT OR MODIFYING ORIGINAL SYNC/NAVIGATION PARTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED NOR SUPPORTED ON ANY FORD, MERCURY OR LINCOLN VEHICLE.
SSM 46132
Oct 2016
Service BrakesSOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED.
Show 11 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
SSM 46085
Sep 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns.
ASI-44707
Sep 2014
Power TrainFORD: AFTER POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON WITH SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P06B8, P068A, P2610, IF KEY NOT LEFT FOR 30 SECONDS IN OFF POSITION FOLLOWING PROGRAMMING ON SOME MODEL 2009-15 VEHICLES. *PE
ASI-44649
Jul 2014
EquipmentFORD: A JOB AID WAS DEVELOPED AND NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE PTU INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL FLUID LEAKAGE FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. *PE
SIS-21841
Apr 2011
Air BagsCOMM-TRANS LUND: SOME 2009-2011 MODELS MAY HAVE THE AIR BAG INICATOR FLASHING WITH A STORED TROUBLE CODE. THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM
AS-21769
Mar 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION. *RM
SB-21510
Sep 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlFORD: ONE SOME 2008-2010 FOCUS VEHICLES THERE MAY BE AN INOPERABLE SPEED CONTROL. *RM
TB-21399
Jul 2010
TiresFORD: PREMATURE FRONT/REAR TIRE WEAR AND/OR VEHICLE DRIFT ON WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. IF PERFORMING AN ALIGNMENT, RECORD ALL ALIGN-MENT ANGLES PRIOR TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS, AND ENTER IN WARRANTY CLAIM IF APPLICABLE. *PE
TB-21400
Jul 2010
SteeringFORD: EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH WHEELS ONLY; STEERING FOLLOWS ROAD IRREGULARITIES AND/OR RUTS. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SEEMS TO FOLLOW ROAD IRREGULARITIES. FIRST, COMPARE TO A SIMILAR VEHICLE UNDER THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS.
TSB-20932
Aug 2009
Power TrainFORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A PARTS NO CRANK/NO START CONDITION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 9DTC) P1260 IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND U0100 IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (IC). *PE
TSB-08-22-2
Feb 2009
Fuel SystemFORD: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0456 (VERY SMALL EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED; VERY SMALL LEAK 0.020" (0.51 MM) DIAMETER). *PE
TSB-0819-9
Sep 2008
SteeringFORD: SOME VEHICLES BUILT ON OR AFTER 10/3/05 MAY EXPERIENCE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF THE POWER STEERING (P/S) SYSTEM LEAKING AND/OR SYSTEM NOISY. *PE

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
  2. Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
  3. Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
  4. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Ford Focus →