29 complaints reported

2009 Ford Focus Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
29
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2020

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT SON STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,827.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2020
Jan 2020

WHEN I TRY TO START MY CAR, SOMETIMES IT WON'T TURN OVER WHEN TURNING THE KEY. I HAVE TO TRY A FEW TIMES IF NOT MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO START AND IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2020
Oct 2019

MY IGNITION IS NOT WORKING. I TURN THE KEY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND THE CAR WON'T START. THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE BATTERY IS CHARGED, THE AIR WORKS, BUT THE VEHICLE WON'T START. I USED TO BE ABLE TO GET IT STARTED BUT I NOW HAVE BLISTERS ON MY HAND FROM TRYING TO START THIS CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2019
Jul 2019

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2019
Oct 2018

IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY.KEY HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES TO START CAR WHEN PARKED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2018
Jul 2018

PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION DOESN'T ALWAYS START THE CAR...I'VE HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME AFTER TRYING FOR 30 MINUTES. ONLY TO HAVE IT START WHEN MY HUSBAND TRIED. ITS BEEN AN ISSUE EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT IT. CURRENTLY HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Mar 2018

INSERT KEY, TURN TO START, WILL NOT START, HAVE TO PUSH IN KEY HARD FOR THE IGNITION TO START CAR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2018
Dec 2017

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN OR START THE CAR. IF I DO NOT PLAY WITH THE STEERING WILL IT WILL NOT START. I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE THIS HARD TO START A CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Aug 2017

THE DOORS BECOME LOCKED AND YOU CANNOT OPEN THEM FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ALL UNLOCKING DEVICES TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK THEM. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND HE GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET OUT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2017
Jun 2017

ALL 4 DOOR LATCHES AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CAN'T GET OUT OR GET IN THROUGH ANY DOORS AT TIMES. IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY DAY. THEY WON'T OPEN WITH FOB OR MANUALLY. I SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL AND GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT!!!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2016
Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE IGNITION WOULD TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Apr 2017

IGNITION SWITCH WORN PARTS, COMMON COMPLAINT RECALL EARLIER MODELS, PROBLEM PERSISTS IN 2009 FOCUS. WARRANTS RECALL AND FORD FIX.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2017
Mar 2017

THE IGNITION ,AT TIMES DOSE NOT START CAR. BATTERY STAYS CHARGED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE ON THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,700.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2011
Apr 2016

OKAY THE VEHICLE IS 2009 BUT ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES. SOMETIMES I HAVE DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TRYING TO START CAR. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO TRY AND JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. YESTERDAY I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF , TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR AND THE ALARM OR WARNING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, SHUT THE DOOR, IT STILL WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, SO I PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION TO TURN IT ON THEN OFF AGAIN, AND THAT WORKED BUT I STILL HAVE OCCASIONAL ISSUES WITH STARTING THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2015

AT APPROX. 50,000 MILES THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN EVENTUALLY UNABLE TO TURN KEY OVER. HAD A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED AND NOW SIX MONTHS LATER IT'S STARTING TO GO OUT AGAIN. VERY POOR QUALITY SWITCH.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2015
Nov 2015

SOMETIMES THE CAR DOESN'T CRANK OR START AND IT HAS HAPPENED AROUND 6 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011. IT ISN'T THE BATTERY BECAUSE I HAVE JUST REPLACED IT BUT SEEMS LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH OR CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2015
Oct 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,101.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2015
Mar 2015

WHAT IT IS THAT BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS NOW IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT ALLOW MY KEY TO TURN OVER THE CAR TO START IT. I HAVE TOO JIGGLE IT TO FINALLY GET IT TO STRART MY CONCERN IS SOMETHING GOING WRONG AND CAUSING A MAJOR PROBLEM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2013
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE HAVING THE REPAIRS PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/02/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
Jan 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE IGNITION FOR THE SECOND TIME. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START DUE TO THE FAULTY IGNITION LOCK MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,421.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2014
May 2014

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2014
Jan 2014

ON HOT DAYS, THE FORD FOCUS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. IT TAKES 30-45 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STOPS AGAIN. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER, IT ACTS AS THOUGH THE STARTER MOTOR IS GOING OUT. FORD IS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS WHILE IN THE SHOP, SO THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. INVESTIGATING, I SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FOR 2000-2012 FOCUSES. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START UNTIL THE CAR WAS 4-5 YEARS OLD. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE SHOWING THIS SYMPTOM, I HAVE POSTED SEVERAL. I FEAR THAT IF I AM AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE STOPS THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. OR, IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2014
Dec 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD, RADIO, POWER WINDOW, AND THE BUTTON CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND SUDDENLY THEY BECAME DIM INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE BRIGHT THEY WERE BLINDING AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE DEFECT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Ford Focus has 29 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.