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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 2
Average Mileage:
36,757 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2009 Ford Focus Owner Comments

problem #19

Aug 222018

Focus

  • 55,000 miles

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

Airbag light went off and diagnostics indicate clock spring fault. Airbag potentially not functional.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #18

Oct 312012

Focus

  • miles
Front end collision at 45-50 mph. Airbags did not deploy in crash

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #17

Jun 012018

Focus

  • miles
Takata recall I have called the Ford dealers in both carson city and reno Nevada. Both dealers state that they do not have the parts to do the results.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #16

Jun 212017

Focus

  • 39,000 miles

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

The airbag light suddenly came on one day and it does not go out. I researched it on google and it appears to be very common in Ford Focus vehicles. The safety issue is that in my research I learned although this is a common issue, if the light is on the air bag will not work if needed.

- Jefferson, WI, USA

problem #15

Jul 202017

Focus

  • 95,000 miles
Air bag light is stuck on randomly makes a "dinging" sound. Tires continue to wear out at a rapid speed, ignition switch will get stuck an engine will not turn over-can't find a cause. And the A/C stopped working this week, mechanic looking for a leak unable to figure out these issues and why they all started with in past month. Each problem they can't find solutions or tell me it's probably a sensor or the heat. They hook it up to the computer and it shows nothing wrong"!"!

- Seguin, TX, USA

problem #14

Jan 012017

Focus

  • 65,000 miles
The airbag light suddenly came on one day. I researched it on google and it appears to be very common in Ford Focus vehicles. My mechanic is unable to address the issue stating it must be done at a Ford dealetship out and the problem is in the brain /module of the car. For these reasons I thought there would have been a recall. The safety issue is that in my research I learned although this is a common issue, if the light is on the air bag will not work if needed.

- East Falmouth, MA, USA

problem #13

Nov 132009

Focus

  • miles

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

I was involved in a rollover in 2009. The car steering was loose and caused me to lose control on the road. I was switching lanes on the highway, the road was uneven and the steering seemed to stop working. Also the airbags did not deploy. It was a rental car.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #12

Aug 292015

Focus

  • 112,000 miles
I exited the highway via an off ramp and hit the breaks to slow down. My back end spun out of control and I hit the guardrail with the front driver's side of my car. My car was deemed a total loss, my air bag did not deploy.

- Dimondale, MI, USA

problem #11

Apr 022015

Focus

  • 12,500 miles
The contact owned a 2009 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, an oncoming vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle head-on. The driver side air bag deployed. The contact sustained neck and chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a collision depot. The failure mileage was 12,500.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #10

Mar 212015

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
My vehicle a Ford Focus 2009 because of poor visibility went off the road traveling North on hwy 76 (san diego county, palomar mt. Area). The car went off the road at the end of hwy 76 at hwy 79 in the mt. Palomar area near lake henshaw. The air bags failed to deploy despite the front end of the car being severely damaged.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 012013

Focus 6-cyl

  • miles

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

Airbag on front passenger side is bulging out of the seams...on top of the dash...I bought the car used and it was fine...there were no accidents to cause this, it just started busting through the leather seams...

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 062014

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 147,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key failed to turn in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch, ignition cylinder and the housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000. Updated 9/4/14 the consumer stated the key would turn in the ignition but the engine would not crank. Airbag light was always on. Updated 12/16/2014

- Forest, MS, USA

problem #7

Mar 182014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Hit in rear while stopped in traffic. Our vehicle was pushed into car in front of us. Front air bags did not go off - side air bags did.

- Sparta, NJ, USA

problem #6

Nov 022012

Focus 4-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
My 2009 Focus ses was seen by the dealer for the airbag light being constantly on in November 2011. They replaced the passenger side airbag module. This winter (2012) the airbag light has come on again. It apparently has something to do with hot/cold temps.

- North Augusta, SC, USA

problem #5

May 082012

Focus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The driver was traveling 80 mph and crashed into another vehicle. The front passenger side air bag failed to deploy. Both the driver and the passenger were killed. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure and current mileage was unavailable. The VIN was unavailable.

- Beggs, OK, USA

problem #4

Oct 292011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 44,576 miles
Problem failure of front airbags to deploy. Our 2009 Ford Focus was rear ended while stopped in traffic by a PT CRUISER traveling approx. 35-40 mph. The impact pushed the Focus into the auto in front smashing the Focus front end. The Focus was like an accordion smashed on both ends and had to be put on a tow truck flatbed as it was not drivable. The concern here is the airbags in the front did not deploy. The Focus had 44,000 miles and was maintained by a Ford dealership in northern Virginia. Ford has not been responsive as my questions are met with requests for excessive documentation. My only concern is why did the airbags not deploy and is this unique to the Focus we owned or is it a broader problem with Ford Focus design.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #3

Nov 092010

Focus

  • miles
2009 Ford Focus. Consumer states problem with ticking noise 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.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #2

May 142011

Focus

  • miles
2009 Ford Focus ([xxx]) my son was just rear ended, the car was pushed 200+ feet and the air bag did not deploy! he was sent to the hospital with injuries. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #1

Feb 012010

Focus

  • 17,300 miles
I was involved in a front end crash this am involving 3 deer. The entire front end of my car is smashed. However the air bags did not activate. This is disturbing to me, and I will never buy a Ford again. My car is a 2009 Ford Focus sel.

- Imogene, IA, USA

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