9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
63,400 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. replace actuator (1 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Ford Focus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #7

Feb 022018

Focus SEL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Tried just the basic screwing the lock in and out different times, but the thing is temperamental. Would work randomly but the only way to unlock is to physically pull the lock up.

- pricelessmect, Darien, US

problem #6

Jun 152017

Focus SES 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 82,686 miles

Started out that the right rear door would not unlock nor be able to open. Became intermittent then the left rear door started doing the same. Now the Right front also does it. When this happens you cannot open the door from the inside or outside. The person is trapped in the car. You have to roll down the window and crawl out if you are able. If there was an emergency were you needed to vacate the car, it may be impossible to get out. Ford Motor Company needs to correct this issue. Took to a mechanic to get repaired and he got trapped in the vehicle! Ford Motor Company has redesigned the lock actuator but cost the consumer $500/ door. This is ridicules and Ford needs to own up to the problem. Why would they redesign the actuator unless they knew there was a problem with it?

- Todd S., Snowmass, US

problem #5

Feb 082016

Focus SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles

This problem is definatly a safety issue as far as I'm concerned. One day I accidentally closed my car doors while my car was running and the son of bitch locked me out of my car, luckily my daughter had my extra set of keys and was able to leave and get them to open the damn doors. Another incident I had was with my job. I take care of an elderly person with Parkinson's and while doing errands with and for her, it was time to exit my vehicle. Well, my passenger car door in front would not open at all and after an hour we finally had to maneuver her out the other side, needless to say she ended up hurting herself by falling on the ground. This problem started with my back seat doors off and on, sometimes one, sometimes both doors would lock and would not open. Now its my front doors, even the driver side and the key will not even open it AT ALL. Climbing in and out of my car has been the worst thing I have had to put up with. Being disabled a little myself with terrible back problems and arthritis in my hands, I find it very painful and so irritating to even drive this car any more but it's the only car I have. What worries me the most is, what happens if I ever get in a wreck with my grandchildren in the car and heavens if the car would start on fire or something and the doors won't open for me to get them out? That's serious.

- Karla M., Hoopa, CA, US

problem #4

Jun 102012

Focus SES 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Have owned this car from new on and I must say that I LUV this car,.one of the greatest vehicles I've ever had and I loaded it with every option available. About a month ago it started to intermittently decide not to unlock the rear doors first the right then both. Days later it would all of a sudden unlock them correctly for days then the problem repeated again. Doesn't seem to matter if the auto unlocks activate them when you shut the car off or if you try to unlock & lock them or lock them & unlock them on the drivers door panel or anywhere else for that matter, remote included. The HUGE problem is when they are doing this you can't open them no matter what.... even from the inside. Being a fix-it myself (not able to afford $100 per hour at the shops) I haven't pinpointed the problem yet, but if I had to haul people in the back daily someone would be getting a safety violation ass chewing for this as I see I'm not alone! One thing for sure!!!! It was built not using our tax dollars and for that I'm grateful. This problem I will find, fix, and post and Government Motors Company will NEVER be parked in my yard.

- Bob M., Glidden, WI, US

problem #3

Aug 262011

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,340 miles

It started at odd times during the summer, no rhyme or reason for the doors to lock. They'd unlock eventually, on either own. Then it got more serious. All doors would lock, seize right up. All my passengers one day had to climb out of the windows. Ford is all about safety, yet I've had my vehicle into the shop 3 times, each time offered some lame excuse (dust getting into the door handles) as for the reason the doors were seizing. It's not fixed yet. I've got a rental vehicle, wondering if this problem will ever get fixed. And the guys at the service department seemed to lighten the problem by laughing about people having to crawl out of the windows. I don't find this funny, it's a serious problem - what if the car started on fire, with no means to escape? Ford's solution? Buy a new vehicle! Yep, that's what was suggested. But instead, I've insisted it's Ford's responsibility to fix me the product I bought. We'll see what happens!

I've enjoyed 20 years of being in the Ford family, but as of lately, I feel like an unwanted cousin! I just want my car fixed!

- ingridyukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, canada

problem #2

Jul 012010

Focus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,554 miles

At first my car doors wouldnt unlock, unless i'd go from inside and open the doors. then it started not to work all together. so when i leave my car i must roll down the windows so i can open the doors from the inside, which is scary because i dont wanna leave my windows open in public. thats when i just lock everything then i have to crawl in from the trunk. blahhhhh uhhggg its so frustrating, so i took it into the dealership, so waiting to see how much its going to cost me. i already put hundreds into this vehicle and its not even a year old yet!!!!

- moyah, Bonnyville, AB, Canada

problem #1

Jul 152009

Focus SE 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

This car one day decided, well just stop working for the convenience of me and my passengers! I was parked at a grocery store with friends when we were going to jump out and get some things when...3 doors decided not to work. The locks would sound but the doors would not open ....all but the drivers door! So my 2 larger guy friends in the backseats ended up crawling out the windows. Every once in a while they would work but then it started to go really crazy...one day they would all work the next only 2 would work and then maybe only 3 would work! I have yet to see the day all 4 doors don't open and the power windows fail as well when I will have to be rescued by the fire department....or the day i get in an accident and cant escape! Thanks ford for making me pay outta my ass for a nice looking piece of sh*t and getting to endanger my own life and my sons life or the lives of people I would have in my vehicle!

- Josie O., Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada