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2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,115 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Ford Focus drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2009 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

Jul 012019

Focus

  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts without warning. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the ignition switch and housing were replaced. A few months later, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic and had the starter replaced. A few months later after the repair, the failure recurred, and the contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic who replaced the ignition switch and housing for a second time. After the failure occurred for the fourth time, the initial independent mechanic instructed her to place the vehicle in neutral to see if the restarted. The vehicle was started in neutral and the mechanic replaced the neutral safety switch. Despite the repair, the failure recurred. A dealer was notified of the failure and a representative acknowledged that the failure was a known issue; however, there were no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as the dealer. The manufacturer was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Belleville, MI, USA

problem #37

Feb 112020

Focus

  • 150,000 miles
The transmission started to hesitate shifting then wouldnt go past third shift and then completely stopped working while driving on the road.

- Boscobel, WI, USA

problem #36

Dec 102019

Focus

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently shift into neutral at various speeds. The contact had to wait until he could shift into the correct gear in order to continue driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Woodstock, MD, USA

problem #35

Dec 312018

Focus

  • 43,165 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had just got in my car to go grocery and I started up my engine and shifted into drive. However, I was going up to 5000 rpms just to go 30mph and it didn't feel right when I was driving, so I pulled over and stopped the car. When I did this, I noticed that the car was only functional in drive. I wouldn't allow me to reverse and the wheels were locked in neutral. So, I called for my parents for help. We knew there was something wrong with the transmission, so we used a code reader to see if the car was giving an error message but it didn't have one and put in new transmission fluid. After looking online, we noticed that the Ford focuses from 2010-2015 were also have transmission issues. So we had it towed to a Ford dealer and service center location. We told them the issues we were have and paid for diagnostics but they do anything different from what we had done. I was told my year was not one of the recalled ones, so I would have to pay about 5,00 to replace it. However, I told them that it had less than 50,000 miles and a transmission should at least be able to last until 50,000 but they said they couldn't help me and I would have to pay full price.

- Burlington, TX, USA

problem #34

Apr 032017

Focus

  • 122,700 miles
Check engine and wrench light flashed while driving 70 mph in interstate and suddenly lost some power. This issue came up without any other symptoms. My mechanic unable to find the issue and resolve the code error. Later on I find out all the Ford Focus having the similar problem and Ford did not recall for this issue.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #33

Jul 112016

Focus

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #32

May 072016

Focus

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Statesboro, GA, USA

problem #31

May 042016

Focus

  • 58,282 miles
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.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #30

Sep 122015

Focus

  • miles
The car had been running perfect then after a motor mount was replaced the car started then went dead immediately. The car will turn over but it isn't firing right now it gave no warning. The computer read a throttle actuator trouble code and that's all. The car will keep turning over after I release the key it has not done this before now we had some trouble with the ignition locking up and we have to turn it really hard to start get the key in the starting position. The ignition system is one of the problems and the throttle body will update when I find out more.

- Gilbertown, AL, USA

problem #29

Jul 292015

Focus

  • 81,000 miles
I had $2765 worth of transmission repair on a 2009 Ford Focus transmission with 81,000 miles on it. The car was properly serviced. I purchased a piece of junk.

- Soddy Daisy, TN, USA

problem #28

Aug 032015

Focus

  • 149,950 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on freeway at steady 70mph, engine dropped to idle speed. No prior indication of trouble. Vehicle was slowing down. Wrench light was on. Accelerator pedal had no effect. I put in the clutch pedal, and coasted until I reached an area area where I could pull off to the side. This was in a tight construction area. Fortunately, I was in the right lane and not near other vehicles at the time of the incident. Otherwise the outcome might have been very different. When I was stopped, the engine continued to run, but accelerator had no effect. With no alternative, I shut off the engine. I then started the engine. Operation appeared normal with no wrench light on. I got off the freeway and checked connected my code reader. No diagnostic codes. During some subsequent driving, there have been no further events or indication of problems. I am getting a Ford oem throttle body to replace my existing. This is apparently a known Ford problem that has avoided a recall despite the potential dangers associated with this type of failure.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #27

Feb 272015

Focus

  • 57,000 miles
I was driving approximately 60 mph on the highway (in the far left lane) with cruise control on when my car suddenly appeared to die and the wrench light came on.the car began to decelerate and would not accelerate regardless of how hard I pressed down on the gas pedal. I then had to Dodge traffic as I attempted to pull off to the right side of the road (across two lanes during traffic) while my car continued to decelerate. This, at first, happened rarely, but now occurs 2-3 times every time I drive as much as 15 miles. I have read countless forums about others with the same car having the exact same problems, and yet Ford is doing absolutely nothing about it. This can be an extremely terrifying and potentially dangerous in the right circumstances. Far too many people are having throttle body/actuator problems for this not to be a design flaw on Ford's part, and, from what I've heard, they're refusing to honor others' warranties. I just so happen to be just outside my warranty; what a "coincidence." I'm now looking at a $600 out of pocket repair I simply can't afford at this time. So instead I'm forced to continually look forward to having my car suddenly die in the middle of highway traffic.

- Washougal, WA, USA

problem #26

Apr 012015

Focus

  • 57,000 miles
On cold start RPM's fluctuate several hundred RPM's. brought to dealership but no codes were present. Tech suspected dirty throttle body. Part not under warranty because no codes when scanned. Problem continues especially on cold start but occasionally while in drive at a stop.

- Norton, MA, USA

problem #25

Nov 102010

Focus

  • 2,011 miles
I purchased my vehicle in 2010, at the time the vehicle had 37,000 miles. A less than a month later the transmission failed. It would not move in any gear, when I placed my foot on the gas it would not move but then it jolted with great force. It also grinds really hard when you're shifting gears. I called the dealer and they agreed to fix the vehicle. I was told that a new transmission was put in the car. About a year later the same problem with the transmission happened. The car was stopped and would not move in any gear. I took it to Ford again and they said a bolt was loose and they fixed it. A few days later the same problem I took it back to Ford and they found that there were metal shavings in the transmission. Yesterday my wrench light came on and my transmission is doing the same thing it did the first two times. Since purchasing the vehicle a little over 5 years ago I have put less 35,000 miles on this car. It should not be having transmission issues. The transmission is the only problem I've had and continue to have with this vehicle.I I am very concerned about this issue and do not feel safe driving my vehicle. I do not understand why this issue keeps happening.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #24

Dec 112012

Focus 4-cyl

  • 45,690 miles
Automatic transmission was slipping out of gear. Car would be running at about 40 mph and the RPM would increase and whir. Car would lose speed and slow down then speed up again. Car was only three years old with 45+ miles on it and transmission was replaced at no cost to owner. (under warranty) now in December 2014, the replaced transmission with 35+ miles and two years, failing again. Gears slipping and car unable to drive safely. Car parked in owner's driveway. Dealer contacted and will not cover replacement of new transmission. Why should a five year old car be in need of it's third transmission?

- Lucas, TX, USA

problem #23

Oct 062014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 30,300 miles
While starting to drive out of the driveway and down the neighborhood street, the vehicle began to stall, the "wrench" light came on the instrument panel, and the vehicle had to be immediately returned home. Restarting the vehicle later in the day, the issue was gone. The issue happened again in the driveway after starting the vehicle. A call was made to the nearest dealership to schedule a repair. The issue happened again, while attempting to drive the vehicle to the dealer for repair. Three separate times the vehicle had to be shifted in neutral to restart the car during a three mile drive.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #22

Dec 192013

Focus

  • 30,000 miles
The car was on the interstate traveling at 55 mph ; the engine stalled and restarted, when existing to see whether it would gain speed, the car slipped out of gear. It went into reverse, backing up. After trying to correct it. The car sped up almost causing a major accident, the car restarted with the shift out of drive, I drove the car three blocks to my home. I left the car wherever it stopped, the next day, I tried to drive it; the car placed in drive went in reverse backing up. I left it there and had wrecker company to take it to a transmission shop on union avenue. They inspected the car and said it would take $2,0000 to get the transmission repaired. Since, the car was under engine warranty from Acura dealers of memphis, I had the wrecking company to take the car back to the dealership. They sold me a 2013 Toyota corolla which is experiencing the same problem. Now, I have another car from the sane dealership which apparently sells used cars with transmission problems.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #21

Aug 202014

Focus

  • 87,000 miles
At any random moment, the car's wrench light comes on and the car either dies or begins to run horribly. This can happen in town or on the highway - accelerating or on cruise control - it doesn't matter. Turning the car off (if it didn't die) and turning it back on, the wrench light goes off and the car runs again. Code indicates a throttle body issue but after taking it to a mechanic twice, they have not been able to get a code or figure out the issue. This has been going on for over a year. This can really be a dangerous issue if it happens while passing or turning into an intersection. Etc.

- Rosalia, KS, USA

problem #20

May 012013

Focus

  • 90,000 miles
Car randomly goes into "limp mode" while driving, usually at highway speeds. Wrench light goes on indicating a throttle body issue. This has occurred about 10 times now over the past few months. After turning car off, then on again, there is no longer a light and car runs fine. Twice I've taken the car in after such an occurrence and neither the dealership or local mechanic could find any indication of a error light.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #19

May 062014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
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?

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

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